Our experience of cycling the Loire à vélo - the famed bike route in the Loire Valley in France - was quite different from what we had imagined. We were expecting miles of smooth, asphalt bike paths, but instead, we found ourselves on gravel tracks along the Loire. We anticipated enchanting landscapes, but what we encountered were more traditional riverside sceneries, which, this time to our expectations, were adorned with magnificent castles and palaces. And it was their number, beauty and diversity that made our initial impressions of the region fade into the background. Because the Loire Valley is, above all, about the history of France, its extraordinary culture, art and architecture, bestowing upon the region a touristic splendor that ranks the Loire among the most attractive rivers to explore in Europe. https://www.cyclingthread.com/castles-and-palaces-along-loire-france-by-bike More our ride reports: https://ridewithgps.com/ride_reports/user/6880821