Must sees in the area
Drive through the Saumur vineyards - the route to Tours is very picturesque
Wine tasting - (see over)
Smell the roses at Chedigny AKA the village of roses (see caption left)
Visit the Musee des Blindes with its collection of tanks/armoured vehicles
Be wowed by Fontevraud abbey (see over)
Visit the gorgeous fairy tale Chateau du rivau – see page 22
Discover the famous Mushroom cellars (see over)
Take a boat ride on the Loire, chill and float on a traditional wooden boat with an aperitif and watch the sun set over Blois, book at: observatoireloire.fr
Stay in a hobbit house, amazing tree house or gypsy caravan! (see over)
Be inspired by the gorgeous gardens of the Domaine Chaumont-sur-Loire (see over)
Ride a donkey! At Les Annes de Ballade, learn to brush the donkeys and get to know them and the walk them through beautiful countryside and forests, if you're under 40 kg you can ride them. Book at: les-anes-de-balaam.fr
Be thrilled by the Son et Lumieres show at the royal castle of Blois
Visit Angers, a beautiful historic town with many sites and where Cointreau is made!
Pictures: Top left, Place St Pierre, Saumur; top right: Blois at sunset; bottom the village of roses Chedigny where an annual rose festival takes places at the end of May. Then the sleepy town springs to life as the streets fill with admiring crowds who can't resist buying a rose bush to take home as a souvenir of this lovely place.