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Cruise The Loire
Enjoy your leisurely river cruise of the Loire River Valley (The Valley of the Chateaux) in France onboard your floating hotel. Rising in the Massif Central, the Loire River is France’s longest waterway and boasts an abundance of UNESCO heritage sites. Medieval towns, majestic châteaux and palaces that have been home to French royalty and nobility for centuries are characteristic along the banks of the river and, of course, the famous Loire Valley vineyards.
The starting and finishing point for cruises on the River Loire is the town of Nantes so you will want to fly into Nantes/NTE (3rd largest airport in western France) usually a day early as Nantes is a charming city that is worth the trip alone. Set in the historic heart of Nantes, and once the seat of the Dukes of Brittany, the Château des ducs de Bretagne (an aerial view shown below) is the city’s most important historic building, along with the Cathedral St. Pierre.
Take a stroll around the glorious riverside boulevards of Nantes by foot or guided tour, and you will find narrow streets lined with tempting chocolate and patisserie shops and past the delightful old timber-framed buildings in the Bouffay district. Wherever you venture you are sure to run into one of the 23 art installations symbolizing the modern-day city of Nantes. They include huge hoops on the river's bank and an intriguing, partially submerged house in the middle of the river.
Another feature for which Nantes is known today is the Saint-Nazaire's STX France shipyard, one of the largest in Europe.This shipyard is the birthplace of some of the greatest French transatlantic liners, such as the Normandie launched in 1935. Today, it builds vessels such as Royal Caribbean International's gigantic 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas, launched in 2016. A tour of the shipyard reveals a fascinating insight into the shipbuilding process from start to finish and, as usual, there is always a ship under construction to see.
The starting and finishing point for cruises on the River Loire is the town of Nantes so you will want to fly into Nantes/NTE (3rd largest airport in western France) usually a day early as Nantes is a charming city that is worth the trip alone. Set in the historic heart of Nantes, and once the seat of the Dukes of Brittany, the Château des ducs de Bretagne (an aerial view shown below) is the city’s most important historic building, along with the Cathedral St. Pierre.
Take a stroll around the glorious riverside boulevards of Nantes by foot or guided tour, and you will find narrow streets lined with tempting chocolate and patisserie shops and past the delightful old timber-framed buildings in the Bouffay district. Wherever you venture you are sure to run into one of the 23 art installations symbolizing the modern-day city of Nantes. They include huge hoops on the river's bank and an intriguing, partially submerged house in the middle of the river.
Another feature for which Nantes is known today is the Saint-Nazaire's STX France shipyard, one of the largest in Europe.This shipyard is the birthplace of some of the greatest French transatlantic liners, such as the Normandie launched in 1935. Today, it builds vessels such as Royal Caribbean International's gigantic 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas, launched in 2016. A tour of the shipyard reveals a fascinating insight into the shipbuilding process from start to finish and, as usual, there is always a ship under construction to see.
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Cruising up river, you soon arrive in the heart of Muscadet country in the ancient medievel town, dating back to 934, of Ancenis. The town, overlooked by its 16th century castle offers tours to historic wine producers such as Chateau Cassemichere, where the vineyard and cellars are open for tours and tastings.
Further up river is the town of Bouchemaine, known as the gateway to the fabled Chateaux of the Loire Valley since there are more than 1,000-plus Chateaux within reach of the Loire River. The closest Chateaux to Bouchemaine, and probably one of the best known is the Chateau d’Ussé (seen below), which, is quite literally the fairy-tale castle, having been the fabled inspiration for Charles Perrault to write his classic children's tale "Sleeping Beauty", and in more recent times, became Walt Disney's theme park castle trademark design.
Two other notable chateaux highlights are Chateau Azay-le-Rideau which occupies a spectacular position on an island in the middle of the River Indre, creating a mirror-like reflection in calm waters. Another is Chateau de Villandry, one of the last large castles built along the Loire River, completed in 1536. It is renowned for its six gardens which include a formal pleasure garden, tranquil water garden and decorative vegetable garden.
Your next stop along the way is the quaint town of Angers, the capital of the historic Anjou province, with its medieval cobblestone streets lined with plenty of cafes and bars to stop off and enjoy a glass of fruity Muscadet wine as well as the local orange-based liqueur, Cointreau. Anger's landmark is the 13th-century castle, with its unusual two-toned towers. The 13th century Chateau d’Angers houses the extraordinary 328-foot Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world, that was commissioned by the Duke of Anjou in 1370 and took seven years to complete.
Further up river is the town of Bouchemaine, known as the gateway to the fabled Chateaux of the Loire Valley since there are more than 1,000-plus Chateaux within reach of the Loire River. The closest Chateaux to Bouchemaine, and probably one of the best known is the Chateau d’Ussé (seen below), which, is quite literally the fairy-tale castle, having been the fabled inspiration for Charles Perrault to write his classic children's tale "Sleeping Beauty", and in more recent times, became Walt Disney's theme park castle trademark design.
Two other notable chateaux highlights are Chateau Azay-le-Rideau which occupies a spectacular position on an island in the middle of the River Indre, creating a mirror-like reflection in calm waters. Another is Chateau de Villandry, one of the last large castles built along the Loire River, completed in 1536. It is renowned for its six gardens which include a formal pleasure garden, tranquil water garden and decorative vegetable garden.
Your next stop along the way is the quaint town of Angers, the capital of the historic Anjou province, with its medieval cobblestone streets lined with plenty of cafes and bars to stop off and enjoy a glass of fruity Muscadet wine as well as the local orange-based liqueur, Cointreau. Anger's landmark is the 13th-century castle, with its unusual two-toned towers. The 13th century Chateau d’Angers houses the extraordinary 328-foot Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world, that was commissioned by the Duke of Anjou in 1370 and took seven years to complete.
Although the Loire River is the longest river in France, not all of the Loire is navigable. French-owned CroisiEurope launched the first boat offering overnight cruises on the river in April of 2015. Until then, only short daytime pleasure cruises were available, but with a draft of just 2 feet, 6 inches and two side-mounted paddlewheels, the 96-passenger Loire Princesse can sail in the shallow waters.
Thus, the main Loire itineraries are CroisiEurope's six-day and eight-day round trips from Nantes, with ports of call as indicated above.
Since the Loire River is not entirely navigatable, AmaWaterways and Viking River Cruises offer pre-cruise or post-cruise Loire Valley land extensions to their Paris and Bordeaux itineraries, and Scenic has a 23-day itinerary with a section of the land tour in the Loire Valley.
So if your heart's desires are to cruise the Loire River Valley, your choices are pretty limited. It is best to call us at Travelmodia to help you arrange everything for you.
Thus, the main Loire itineraries are CroisiEurope's six-day and eight-day round trips from Nantes, with ports of call as indicated above.
Since the Loire River is not entirely navigatable, AmaWaterways and Viking River Cruises offer pre-cruise or post-cruise Loire Valley land extensions to their Paris and Bordeaux itineraries, and Scenic has a 23-day itinerary with a section of the land tour in the Loire Valley.
So if your heart's desires are to cruise the Loire River Valley, your choices are pretty limited. It is best to call us at Travelmodia to help you arrange everything for you.
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Call Travelmodia now to help you get there!
(866) 466-6655
Call Travelmodia now to help you get there!
(866) 466-6655
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