Vélo Vallée de la Vienne — Chinon to Candes-Saint-Martin
The flat, traffic-free cycling path along the south bank of the Vienne between Chinon and the village of Candes-Saint-Martin is one of the most beautiful short rides in the Loire Valley — 12 kilometres of poplar-lined riverbank, vine-covered hillsides and tufa cliff faces that culminate at the extraordinary confluence of the Vienne and the Loire. It requires no special fitness and rewards handsome
The route itself
Starting from the Quai Danton in Chinon, the path follows the Vienne's south bank westward through the hamlet of Huismes and past the vine plots of several Chinon AOC domaines whose labels you will have seen in every restaurant in town. The gradient is essentially flat the entire way, making it genuinely accessible for families and casual cyclists.
At the 10-kilometre mark the path rounds a bend and the village of Candes-Saint-Martin appears on a limestone bluff above the confluence — one of the most quietly dramatic sights in the Loire Valley, particularly in morning light when mist rises off both rivers simultaneously.
Candes-Saint-Martin village
Candes is classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France and earns the designation honestly: its 12th-century Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin, built on the spot where St Martin of Tours died in 397 AD, has a Romanesque portal of exceptional quality that most visitors to the Loire Valley never see because it requires this small detour.
The village has a single café-restaurant with a riverside terrace that serves simple plates and local wine — it is exactly the right place to sit for 45 minutes before cycling back to Chinon. Arrive before 12:30 p.m. if you want lunch.
Practicalities and extensions
Bikes can be rented from Détours de Loire in Chinon (on Quai Danton, near the tourist office); electric bikes are available and make the return upwind stretch trivial. The full out-and-back ride takes 2.5–3 hours at a relaxed pace including stops.
The path is part of the Loire à Vélo network, which means it is well-signed and connects onward to Saumur (30 km west) and Tours (50 km east) for those who want to extend into a multi-day cycling tour. The entire network uses dedicated paths or very quiet roads.
Vélo Vallée de la Vienne — Chinon to Candes-Saint-Martin on video
More of Chinon
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Chinon →
