Turquant: tuffeau cliff, cave workshops, AOC Saumur vines
The village sits between the Loire and a cliff face riddled with troglodyte caves turned working studios.
Artisan workshops cut into the rock, and a 19th-century apple-drying cave you can walk through
Turquant's tuffeau cliff runs from Montsoreau towards Saumur, and the caves carved into it are still in use. The Village Métiers d'Art hosts potters, jewellers, glassmakers and other craftspeople working in galleries open to the public. The Troglo des Pommes Tapées at 11 rue des Ducs d'Anjou is a separate cave site: a one-hour guided visit covering the 19th-century industry of slow-dried apples, with ovens, tools and tasting included. About 160 hectares of Chenin and Cabernet Franc vines sit above the village, with a dozen AOC Saumur producers selling direct from cave cellars.
Things you can do here
What people said
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding bike rental service!
I cannot recommend Saumur Bike Hire highly enough. From the very first contact, the communication was superb — we booked the day before and everything was arranged quickly…
Visited in July 2026
Bike rental with SaumurBikeHire Activities nearby
Canoe rentalArtannes-sur-Thouetabout 10 km, to the activity
The Loire à Vélo through the Côte Saumuroise
Turquant sits on the Loire à Vélo route, which runs along the riverbank and climbs onto the hillside between Montsoreau and Saumur. The hillside sections involve real gradient — enough that a plain bike makes the climb a physical event rather than a ride. An eas-e E-BIKE levels that out, so the stops at Turquant, Parnay, Souzay-Champigny and Dampierre-sur-Loire become the point of the day rather than a recovery break.
Vineyard visiting on foot and by road
The dozen or so AOC Saumur domaines around Turquant are spread across the hillside above the village. Reaching them on a warm day, on foot or under your own pedal power, rules out a longer run along the valley. An eas-e E-BIKE gets you up to the ridge-line vineyards and back without the effort becoming the dominant memory of the visit.
Marion
★★★★★
Thanks again for the great service Tim! You made our dream happen!🚲🚲🚲🏰🥖🧀🍷
Visited in September 2026