Day 3 Chinon - Saumur

Castles, abbeys, small towns, and panoramas along the Loire. This area encompasses the best-preserved collection of monastic buildings in the world, has a very rich history, and has thus become a major tourist attraction. The abbey is not dependent on an order but is inspired by Benedictine ideals. The abbey was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the entire Loire Valley. You also cycle past the Saumur Castle. It is a white fairy-tale castle built by Louis I, Duke of Anjou, in the second half of the 14th century. The impressive buildings around the castle later became a Protestant stronghold, prison, and eventually a military camp. The castle houses two museums. The musée des Arts Décoratifs; paintings, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, etc., from the 13th century to the present. The musée du cheval. The collection showcases the development of the horse and its relationship with humans from prehistory to the present. You also pass by Muséee des blindés (tank museum), La distillerie Combier, Theater (now a tourist office), and the Hotel de Ville (town hall). Today, Saumur is best known for its sparkling wine, mushrooms, and good riders. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the city was a center of Protestant scholarship until the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which forced many Protestants to seek refuge elsewhere. Traces of this rich heritage can be seen during a walk through the old district (around the church). A route description is available at the tourist office.