A farming village on the north bank, where the Vienne meets the Loire
Strawberry and asparagus fields run down to the river, with Montsoreau and Candes-Saint-Martin visible across the water.
Varennes-sur-Loire grows its food in the old riverbed
Varennes-sur-Loire sits on the Loire's north bank midway between Angers and Tours, on flat sandy ground that was once the Loire's own bed. The town's market gardens produce strawberries and asparagus sold at the Friday and Saturday market on Place du Jeu-de-Paume. From the higher ground above the levée, you can see the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne, with the listed villages of Montsoreau and Candes-Saint-Martin directly opposite. The Loire à Vélo route runs through the commune, and a gravel riverside trail connects the village to the water's edge.
Things you can do here
Activities nearby
Canoe rentalArtannes-sur-Thouetabout 12 km, to the activity
The Loire à Vélo on quiet, flat ground
The Loire à Vélo passes through Varennes-sur-Loire on lanes and gravel river paths that follow the levée and the bank. The terrain here is about as flat as cycling gets. An e-bike removes the only remaining variable — a headwind on the exposed riverside track — so you can ride as far east as Montsoreau or west towards Saumur and choose when to turn back, not when your legs decide.
Across to Montsoreau by bridge
The Pont de Varennes-Montsoreau crosses the Loire just south of the village, putting the Château de Montsoreau and the Fontevraud Abbey circuit within a short, flat ride. On an e-bike, the crossing and the return are equally effortless, so you can spend time at the other bank rather than rationing it.
Marion
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Visited in September 2026
