Loire Valley
 

My husband and I and our son, daughter-in-law and 6 month old grandson are planning a trip to Loire Valley the first two weeks in Oct. We plan to fly to Paris, rent a car and drive to a home near Sainte Maure. <BR>My question - what are the "must sees", keeping in mind we'll have a 6 month old?<BR>We'd like to take turns riding bikes in the area - suggestions for nice rides to chateaux, vinyards, etc.? Thanks!<BR>

My favorite chateau is Chenonceaux. That is the only must see, but if you are going to be in the valley for 2 weeks, you will have the opportunity to see almost all of them. <BR><BR>What is Sainte Maure near?

Hi. Don't worry about a 6-month old baby. The French love babies and go out of their way to help young parents. It's a great way to meet people. You might want to aim at sights that will allow you to take the baby outside if necessary. Another suggestion would be to visit the more rural ch&acirc;teaux so you don't have long walks to parking and can easily get to the car. There is always time to visit "city" ch&acirc;teaux in later trips. It's a long way from Ste. Maure, but you might try Ch&acirc;teau Villandry. The gardens are even better than the ch&acirc;teau and you can wheel the baby around with lots of company . . . although in October, do go on a sunny day! Have fun.

You can start right in Saint Maure itself, by visiting the ch&acirc;teau, the priory, the church, and the restored old half-timbered houses. And since Saint Maure has produced one of the most famous of French cheeses since the middle ages, a visit to a cheese factory might be in order.<BR><BR>Then you could branch out and visit other sites of the Touraine. Pick a few ch&acirc;teaux (for a nice contrast, visit Chenonceaux and Amboise), check out the Clos Luc&eacute; in Amboise, visit an outdoor market, have a picnic along the banks of the river, buy a handmade basket in Villaines-les-Rochers, take a day trip to the other end of the valley and see the ch&acirc;teau d'Angers, then go see the Jean Lur&ccedil;at tapestries, have lunch on the river in Saumur, visit a troglodyte dwelling (or have dinner in one at les Caves de Marson).......

You might also like to try taking a baby backpack. It would work much better than a stroller in many places! <BR><BR>bon Voyage!