La Loire à Vélo day 8 - 27km from Amboise to Tours

After breakfast in the luxurious dining room of the Logis Hôtel la Brèche,

I made my way to the Château du Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci. The château is located just a short distance from the town center. The interior of the château has a mix of rooms furnished as lived in by the residents of the time, combined with rooms that are more like artist studios and workshops, containing a number of his inventions. The gardens are also filled with sculptures and models of da Vinci’s inventions.

Conveniently, for a cyclist, you can take your bike into the property, and there are lockers near the entrance to store bags securely.

It is also possible to visit his tomb at the Château d’Amboise, but I didn’t feel the need. I was more interested in the gardens and the sculptures of the Château du Clos Lucé.

The ride from Amboise leaves the river and follows paths winding through vineyards. This led me to the relatively large city of Tours with its spectacular cathedral. The Musée des Beaux Arts, located in the former bishop’s palace was an interesting stop. I didn’t go inside, but they have some very nice gardens outside with an absolutely gigantic Lebanese cedar.

One oddity in the stables of the Musée des Beaux Arts is a huge stuffed elephant with a tragic story. The elephant’s name was Fritz and he was a member of the Barnum & Bailey circus, and whilst visiting Tours in 1902, during a parade, he attacked his trainer and attempted to escape. The circus decided that he was dangerous and strangled him and soon after, had him stuffed and donated to the city.

I stayed at the Logis Hôtel des Châteaux de la Loire which is located centrally in the city, within an easy walk from most of the sights I wanted to see.

The gothic cathedral of Saint Gatien was built through the 13th and 14th centuries, and is an impressive sight. Although at the time I was in the area, there was a service in progress, so I skipped going inside. However, it is known for its stained-glass windows, so I’m sure that it would be worth a proper visit, time allowing.