Cycling in the Valley of Kings

Early on, fortress-castles were built in strategic locations, while later grand châteaux were designed to display wealth and power. Its proximity to Paris — today only an hour’s ride away by train — and its romantic setting proved an ideal retreat for royals to escape the crowds. Nowadays, it’s an ideal retreat for cyclists, with particular thanks to the fairly flat Loire à Vélo cycling route that stretches from central France to the Atlantic.

The best introduction to the Valley of the Kings is the strikingly handsome Orléans, one of France’s most prosperous medieval cities. Here you’ll find many nods to Joan of Arc in the form of statues, religious art, etc., for it was she who ended the siege of Orléans and captured residents’ hearts forever. Many of the towns along the route look as though they haven’t changed since the “Maid of Orléans” set foot in the region!