Azay-le-Rideau & Villandry: a weekend trip from Paris by train
- Train
- 1 h 45 by train
- Arrival station
- Azay-le-Rideau
Two Renaissance jewels linked by the Indre and Cher, by bike from Tours.
Azay-le-Rideau on its water mirror, Villandry with some of the world's finest garden parterres — two châteaux ~15 km apart, served by the cycle route and Azay's TER station (Tours–Chinon line). The bike route from Tours follows the Cher then the Indre: Touraine at its best in one weekend.
Who is it for
- Couples : L’un des plus beaux weekends amoureux de Loire : jardins de Villandry et château d’Azay au coucher du soleil.
- Families : Parfait en famille dès 7 ans : jardins extraordinaires de Villandry et vélo plat très sécurisé.
- Solo : En solo à vélo entre Azay et Villandry : la véloroute plate relie les deux châteaux en une journée.
Things to do
Tours → Villandry → Azay bike loop
~40 km along the Cher then the Indre; TER back from Azay-le-Rideau.
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
The Renaissance masterpiece set on the Indre, grand staircase and romantic park.
Balzac museum in Saché
The manor where Balzac wrote The Lily of the Valley, 6 km from Azay along the Indre.
Villandry château & gardens
Ornamental kitchen garden, water garden and maze — the apotheosis of the French formal garden.
Coming up
- 28 November → 3 January · Noël au pays des châteaux : Villandry · Château et jardins de Villandry
- 28 November → 3 January · Noël au pays des châteaux : Azay-le-Rideau · Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Trains
- TER · 1 h 45 · Paris Montparnasse → Azay-le-Rideau
Pictures
Other weekends nearby
- Chinon · 2 h 05
- Saumur · 2 h 05
- Amboise & Tours · 1 h 55
- Blois & Chambord · 1 h 25
- Angers · 1 h 35
- Orléans · 57 min