From Blois To Chenonceaux. A Two Day Trail Connecting...

Blois, France

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Posted:  Tuesday, August 28
Runner:  Luis E. Arribas

From Blois to Chenonceaux. A two day trail connecting both cities, through castles, only if you are too fit. I did it in September 2000. Please get a good 1:200.000 regional map. Leave the train at Blois station, and run towards the castle. Run to the river, and cross the old bridge. All straight ahead for about 7k, then right to the Beauregard castle. The guard will tell you off, but he is a nice old chap. Run around the parking, and look right for a village (Saint Gervais la Foret). Take road to the right, and after a mile you'll see "GR" signs to your left. It is the Grand Randonnee of the Loire valley. Take left and all straight on until you get out of that nice forest. You have done about 11k. Do not panic now. Difficult crisscross of local roads that should head you (always west) to Chailles and Candé sur Beuvron. After 16k in your legs, you should keep on west to Chaumont. A nice spot here. You can follow a Grand Randonnee path along the riverside. Arrive into Chaumont sur Loire and take a rest in the castle gardens. There are two tiny shops for drinks down in the village. It is about 24k now. I recommend to take a hotel in Amboise, another 28k further away, but you can run the whole day long. After a good hour or two of rest, strecht and run west towards Amboise. You can follow tiny roads through vineyards along Rilly-sur-Loire, la Godiniére, les Hautes Noyers. Amboise is the end of this 50-ish km route. There are good hotels. The second day, run uphill and visit Amboise Castle. Great one! Run across the town heading south. You must follow signs to Chenonceaux (I found it easy). Go slowly to recover from the first day. It starts uphill for 4-5k, but it cools down afterwards. The end (about 15k from Amboise) is downhill and you should not miss the Reinassance castle. There are trains calling at Chenonceaux, so get one and go back to Tours, for easy connections.

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