7 Best Sights in The Loire Valley, France

For sparkling Saumur wine—including a rare red—try a tour and a tasting at Ackerman.

This prestigious national equestrian academy trains France’s future riding stars. Unique in Europe, the Cadre Noir de Saumur has 400 horses, extensive stables, five Olympic-size riding rings, and miles of specially laid tracks. Try for a morning tour, which gives you a chance to admire the horses in training. A gala equestrian performance is put on for enthusiastic crowds during special weekends in April, May, July, September, and October; reservations are a must.

If you arrive in the evening, the sight of the floodlighted 14th-century Château de Saumur will take your breath away. Look familiar? You've probably seen the elegant white edifice in reproductions of the famous Très Riches Heures (Book of Hours) painted for the Duc de Berry in 1416. Inside it's bright and cheerful, with a gorgeous gateway and plentiful potted flowers. Owing to renovation of the castle walls, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Decorative Arts Museum) is now housed on the first floor, and exhibitions from the Musée du Cheval (Equestrian Museum) can be seen in the adjoining abbey; visitors can also access the gardens and panoramic terrace. In July and August, there are 30-minute medieval-style shows that include music, mime, and dance. From the cliffside promenade beyond the parking lot there's a thrilling vista of the castle on its bluff against the river backdrop.

In the center of town and easily accessible on foot or by car, Les Caves Louis de Grenelle offer a fascinating 90-minute tour through the 15th-century quarry tunnels that today serve as aging cellars; a tasting of sparkling and still wines is included.

Saumur is the heart of one of the finest wine regions in France. To pay a call on some of the vineyards around the city, first stop into the Maison des Vins d'Anjou et de Saumur for the full scoop on hours and directions.

This long-established producer of Saumur wines offers guided tours of its production facilities and cellars, followed by a wine-tasting session.