Loire Valley Chateaux

Of all the places on Earth to visit for sightseeing and adventure travel, France is perhaps the most popular.  The challenging terrain, breathtaking scenery and the country’s rich history create the perfect environment to meet any traveler’s needs.  And although there are countless trails and tours to choose from, those that include visits to the Loire Valley Chateaux are by far among the most famous.

The following are five castles that are featured in our Loire Valley Classic 7 Night Tour, and are a must for any visitor’s itinerary.

Chateau de Chambord – One of the most recognized castles in the world, this is also the largest chateau of the Loire Valley.  People come from across the globe to witness this massive building’s amazing architecture, which perfectly combines both traditional French and classic Italian style.

Chateau d’Usse – Over the past several centuries, this incredible castle has been destroyed and rebuilt several times to arrive at the breathtaking modern-day version that we visit today.  It is often referred to as the “Sleeping Beauty” castle because of its picturesque fairy tale appearance.   In fact, it is said to have been one of Walt Disney’s inspirations in his creation of several Disney castles.

Chateau de Chaumont – Famous for the summertime garden festival held here, this beautiful castle has been classified as a Monument Historique since 1840 by the French Ministry of Culture.   The views from this chateau are nothing short of amazing, mainly due to its prime location, right on the banks of the Loire River.  Visitors here enjoy stunning panoramic views from all areas of the castle.

Chateau de Villandry – Known for its incredible sprawling gardens, the Chateau de Villandry is one of the most visited castles in France.  Strategically planted and laid out in formal patterns, the famous gardens here include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, and vegetable gardens.  They are certainly a unique sight to see, and something not to be forgotten.

Chateau de Chenonceau – Built along the banks of the Cher River, this amazing superstructure is known for its breathtakingly beautiful architecture, both inside and out.  It is home to an enormous library and several large halls big enough to entertain hundreds of visitors, as well as a lovely garden.   The Chateau de Chenonceau also has an intriguing history, as it is rumored to have been given as a gift to King Henry’s mistress.  This castle is one of our favorites and is included in seven of our Loire Valley tours.

A trip to France simply wouldn’t be complete without a visit to these world famous buildings.  With the exception of Chaumont, all of them are a part of The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Join us for one of our Loire Valley tours and experience these incredible and unforgettable pieces of ancient history for yourself.

Bond with the Family While Biking Through France

Fraser Family in Provence

Family travel is a hot buzzword currently in the travel marketing side of the business. Media outlets are writing about it and at all the travel shows you see “Family Friendly, Family Travel”, etc. Yea, family travel – as if this was something new!

I remember taking trips with my family as a kid – didn’t others do this? Ok, maybe our family trips in those days were not the same as what people are doing today. For sure, the family unit is quite a different thing today than it was in my youth. Parents today don’t have time nor desire to organize something for their family, and in many cases, they don’t want to be responsible for keeping their kids busy and happy during the vacation time. I know for a fact that many parents want to be able to work as well while on vacation, and so they don’t want to have their kids distracting them! Whoa, that’s not vacation is it? Yes, the modern family vacation.

Well, this is good news for some of the high end group tour companies with family trips. If you can afford to pay $5000/person including for each child, then you will have all your bases covered. If, on the other hand, you want to have time with your kids and enjoy a vacation together at a great price to value, then our self-guided formula is just what your family needs!

The self-guided model is so much the ideal trip for so many different travelers, but for the family, its ideal. First, the family of any aged children can go on a trip and know that they do not depend on others in a group, do not depend on the attention of a guide to get them what they need, and they can go in peace knowing that no matter how civilized (or not) their kids are, there won’t be other childless adults to worry about offending forming your traveling party.

The self-guided model is a trip for each party who books. This could be a couple, some friends, a group, or a family. We have equipment for all ages/sizes. We have family sized rooms, and some lower child rates in some cases, and trips never cancel for lack of participation. You can choose any date you want. For cycling, hiking, or relaxing – we can organize what each family needs within the limits of services to be found.

Some themes available:

• Star tours: this is the cycling tour where you stay in one place and ride out and back each day. Its ideal for families because it can accommodate all levels of cyclists. For example, say dad and teenager are strong cyclists – they can do a long ride and meet up with mom and younger child who want to do a shorter ride. They all start together, but the slower low mile riders can return sooner on their own itinerary. Later at the hotel, they can all go out and visit together. We offer this style of riding in Provence, the Loire Valley, Languedoc, and in Spain. We can customize for this in Italy as well. In Languedoc we are right on the beach and in Spain only 7km away –so the kids can always go play at the beach each day. A perfect family adventure!
• Older kids: Some of our tours that pass through some larger towns where older teenage kids or even college age kids can find some ambiance to keep them happy. Rather than being stuck in some quiet charming village, on our Provence Avignon to Mediterranean trip, we stay in Avignon, Uzes, Arles, Nimes, and St Remy de Provence. All larger towns with lots of activities and ambiance including dancing/discos. In July, the Festival of Avignon attracts theatre performers from around the world, typically young people and it’s a great ambiance of culture and art; but book ahead!
• Grandparents – bring them along, absolutely! We can always add car rental and if needed, we can add vehicle transfers if granny and gramps can’t ride, which in many cases they can – even better than the grandkids!

Age is not ever something we will deny a tour to a customer. With our self-guided trips, we expect each family group that is booking to be aware of what each of the family members can do and can’t do. You can ask for help, but its ultimately up to you to manage tired kids/family members, so if you know and are prepared, then we have the best family vacation of all – your own!

Cheers…

When you think of France many things come to mind including chateaux, cathedrals, snow-capped mountains, fields of lavender, and wine. Alsace is a region known for its colorful buildings, charming towns nestled in between the Vogues Mountains and Rhine River, but this region is known most popularly for its impeccable wine.  The Alsace Wine Route which stretches 170 km north to south with over 50 Grand Cru appellations is one of the most enjoyable places to cycle through in France. Grab your bike and get acquainted with the different classification of appellations and types of wine.

Alsace wines, which have a heavy German influence since the region is located on the France and Germany boarder, are produced under three different Appellation d’Origine Contrôlées (AOC) including AOC Alsace, AOC Alsace Grand Cru, and AOC Crémant d’Alsace. AOC Alsace represents 74% of the regions wine production. AOC Grand Cru has to meet many certain criteria’s including a vineyard location with altitudes between 200 m an

d 300 m, the wine has to come from a single named vineyard and the name of the vineyard must be listed on the label. Grand Crus of Alsace, because of all the specific qualifications, represent only 4% of the regions total wine production. The AOC Crémant d’Alsace is developed from secondary fermentation and considered the most desirable of sparkling wines. It makes up 22% of Alsace wine production.

Alsace produces primarily white wines. There are a handful of grape varieties to try but the most noteworthy are Tokay-Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat. The Tokay-Pinot Gris has a lovely golden-yellow color to it and tastes slightly sweet with a spicy richness. Similar is the full-bodied Gewurztraminer with its intense yellow color. Gewurztraminers possess exceptional richness and extraordinary aromatic complexity. The Muscat, on the other hand, is dry and is said to feel like you are biting into a grape. There are a handful of other wines with distinct tastes being produced in Alsace.

What is great wine without great food? Alsace offers delectable meals to accompany the different tastes of their wines. The Riesling wine goes perfect with Alsace’s traditional Choucroute or with fish and shellfish. The special Baeckeoffe would not be complete without a nice glass of Pinot Gris. The Pinot Noir, one of the few rose wines produced in Alsace, goes superbly with fruits such as berries or less sweet chocolate desserts. Your mouth will be pleased with every meal.

Discover France’s Alsace Biking Tour gives you the chance to test out the different Alsatian wines. Ride your bike along the Rhine River visiting the different appellations. The flat terrain is perfect for novist riders. Travelers will not be disappointed with the gastronomy, wines and scenery of Alsace.

Win bottles

Holiday Shopping in France

Christmas market stalls

I don’t know about the towns you live in, but in Scottsdale, Arizona (where our US office is located) street markets are rare. During certain months of the year, we will have a Farmer’s Market on certain days of the week, but these do not compare to France’s Christmas Markets, which can pretty much be found in towns big and small. What a nice way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of crowded shopping malls?

The month of December, and sometimes a week or two into January, big cities in France transform their cold, drab streets into what many call a Christmas wonderland. Many markets set up carousels, mini-train rides, and ice rinks for children to enjoy while their parents explore little chalet style sheds filled with anything from regional produce to seasonal arts and crafts. The markets offer the prefect excuse for a weekend getaway. Many people attend just to take a walk and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells with a cup of mulled wine during the festive winter nights.

While you are hurrying to try to finish your last minute holiday shopping, imagine you are roaming around one of these markets and maybe it will make your mall adventure a bit more bearable. Happy shopping!

5 Reasons to Cycle Provence

It can be argued that Provence is the loveliest region of France with its landscape ranging from white blanketed mountains to the picturesque coast of the Mediterranean. Historians, artists, as well as wine enthusiasts flock to this region for the ancient culture, breathtaking scenery and beautiful villages. Provence is divided into six departments all having several sites worthy of a visit, however cyclists particularly rave about the Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhone regions. Provence has something to offer any level cyclists, from the experienced die-hard to the weekend peddler, and here are a few examples:

Vaucluse region

• Avignon – The beautifully preserved medieval town on the Rhone River has many wonders waiting behind the fortification walls surrounding the city. One of the most impressive buildings in Europe, the Palace of the Popes, played an influential role in Catholic history housing a number of popes. With its gothic style architecture and grand size this is one castle not soon forgotten. Just a quick cycle down the road is another monumental Avignon sight, the Pont d’Avignon. Only four arches of the original twenty-two remain of this spectacular bridge. Be sure to walk across it and visit the chapel on the top or examine the remains of the bridge in full from across the Rhone.

• Gordes – Another sight to behold in Vaucluse is the town of Gordes. With ancient houses perfectly restored and lavish shops and restaurants throughout the village there is no question why it is the most photogenic village in Provence. Gordes has narrow cobbled stone streets that lead to the church and castle at the town’s hilltop. Gordes offers many historical and unique attractions from the Village des Bories at the top of the Vaucluse Mountains to Senanque’s Abbey which houses Cistercian Monks.

• Mont Ventoux – Widely known for its appearance in Le Tour de France cycling race, Mt. Ventoux offers a vision from its base as well as at its peak. Admire the snow-capped summit from the Provencal countryside through April. Advanced riders can test their endurance cycling this epic route that is very steep and be rewarded with the view from the summit of the “Giant of Provence” over cherry orchards below or the Alps to the northeast. The mountain trails are just as challenging as the roads to the top of Ventoux, and boasted just as much by hikers and mountain bikers.

Summit of Mont Ventoux

Bouches-du-Rhone

• Arles – Arles has been called “the soul of Provence,” to which art lovers, archaeologists, and historians are especially attracted. The town’s centre is filled with bustling cafes connected to narrow streets lined with attractively aged houses and shops. However, many visitors are drawn to the Roman ruins of Arles, a UNESCO world heritage site, including the Roman amphitheatre, the theatre, the necropolis and the Thermes (baths) of Constantine. The arena is still used today for various grand spectacles.

• Baux de Provence – The real highlight of Baux is its unmatchable location nestled in the Alpilles Mountains providing the perfect view of neighboring towns Arles and Camargue. One of the great monuments of Provence, Chateau of Beux de Provence, is a ruined castle perched at the top of the town filled with history dating back to the middle ages. . Few people live in Baux but many tourists stop here to enjoy the magnificent views, shops and houses along the cobbled stone roads.

Lavender

The bright sunshine is not the only thing that Provence experiences during the summer months, abundant fields of lavender begin blooming in June. Provencal residents have been picking lavender since as early as the 16^th century; some of those narrow fields are still picked by hand, although most use machines now. Lavender flowers and leaf-stalks are primarily used for perfume and soap, and it does wonders with keeping moths away. The best time to cycle along the lavender fields of Provence and experience a truly extraordinary sight is the last week of June through July.

Wine

With over 2,500 years of experience, Provence knows a thing or two about wine which is why a tasting is necessary while cycling in this region. The appellations in Provence, more specifically the regions of Cotes de Provence and Bandol, are widely branded for their rose wines. Accounting for half the regions wine production, this rarely sweet and almost always dry wine is sure to be a treat. Wine critics rant about Provence’s spicy, full-flavored red wines as well. Rest on a patch of grass and enjoy a superior glass of wine as well as the beautiful scenery.

Artists’ Paradise

Artists, especially those concentrating on impressionist art, are filled with bliss when surrounded by the beauty of Provence. From the picture perfect coast of the Mediterranean to the inland town’s landscape and architecture it is no surprise why the most famous artists found inspiration in Provence. Vincent Van Gogh owes many of his renowned paintings to the town of Arles and St. Remy. This region played muse to the grand master himself, Picasso, at times as well. Cezanne was born in Aix en Provence, also in Bouches du Rhone.

Provence is one of the most visited regions in France and it is no secret why. Everyone, especially cyclists, enjoy this region because of the quaint atmosphere, warm and inviting climate, and rich history. With something new to see down every road, Provence offers an unforgettable experience second to none.