La Batelière sur Loire

If you’re not in the mood for cycling along the Loire à Vélo path, how about heading out on horseback? Touraine Cheval (15 minutes’ walk) has a range of options to choose from, including kids’ pony rides, beginner lessons, family outings and treks through the local vineyards for more experienced riders. The wineries of the Loire Valley are pretty famous – and so are the châteaux, of course. From this site you’ll be able to visit several of them, starting at Château de Langeais (five minutes’ drive) and continuing on to Château de Villandry (10 minutes), Château d’Azay-le-Rideau (15 minutes) and Château d’Ussé (20 minutes), or all the way to Château de Chenonceau (40 minutes). Your history tour may also take you to Tours (25 minutes) to see the town’s attractive half-timbered houses. If you’ve got the kids with you, it’s possible they may require a break from all the château visiting, so you may like to have alternative ideas up your sleeve – both ZooParc de Beauval and Futuroscope are about 55 minutes’ drive from the site, and either one makes a fine option for a family-friendly day out.