Free walking tours in Saumur and what to see

Must-sees

Saumur looks out over the Loire in the Maine-et-Loire department, within the stretch of the valley on the World Heritage list. Its château, with white towers on a rise, dominates the river and the bridge, and inside houses the town museum, with collections of decorative arts and another devoted to the horse. From the château you walk down to the old town, with Place Saint-Pierre, its half-timbered houses and the church of the same name, and to the quays, lovely for a stroll at sunset.

The other side of Saumur is horses and stone. The National Riding School, home of the Cadre Noir, is on the outskirts and shows its facilities and its riders’ exercises. Tufa, the pale local stone, was quarried for centuries and left kilometres of galleries that are now sparkling wine cellars, mushroom farms and troglodyte dwellings. Many of these caves are concentrated in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, and a few kilometres upriver are Montsoreau and the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud.

Free tours and guided visits

Civitatis lists no free walking tours in Saumur. What’s on offer are tickets and experiences in the surrounding area: a mushroom museum in underground galleries, a museum of sculptures carved in tufa, local gardens and a visit to a Saumur appellation vineyard. For something different, there is a sidecar ride that leaves the town and tours the nearby villages and vineyards.

How long to spend

A day is enough for the château, the old town and the quays. If you want to see the Cadre Noir and visit a cellar or cave, allow two days. With three you can add Fontevraud, Montsoreau and the troglodyte villages along the river, easy to explore by car or by bike on the Loire cycle route.

Where to stay

The most convenient place to stay is the centre, between the château and the quays, with hotels in old houses and everything within walking distance. The Île d’Offard, in the middle of the river, has views of the château and is a step from the bridge. If you prefer the world of cellars and caves, Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent has guesthouses, and some nearby villages have rooms carved into the rock.