Our grand tour of southern Spain February 16th Day Thirty-four A day around Saumur in France

 What is there to do in Saumur?

A lazy day. The plan is to cycle part of the Velo route along the Loire Valley but the weather is cold, grey, damp and drizzly. We sit here looking out of the windows. There is a chilly breeze and cycling doesn’t look that inviting!

Plan B – we will go visit the chateau and stroll around the town. We will walk down to Decathlon so I can decide whether to buy some new outdoor trousers.

The Chateau proves a worthwhile visit with great views over the town and some interesting displays of furniture, pottery and wooden carvings. Six-euro entry fee each – it was worth it.

On the way to Decathlon, we discover the French Military school of cavalry. Big military complex comprising of tank and mechanical workshops, horse riding stables, horse riding indoor and outdoor areas. Lots of accommodation, its on a par with the Royal Marine barracks we have across Plymouth. We see soldiers strolling around heavily armed; we see horses being mucked out; a few tank exhibits around a memorial area.

Decathlon fails to have the trousers I’m looking for. We wander back into town stroll around the old area, admire the big hole being dug for new pipework straight through the narrow shopping street. Two crepes – a lemon one and a Mont Blanc one with ice cream, Chantilly cream and warm chocolate sauce (we will leave you to work out who piggy was) are most welcome.

Useful information:

Costs: 12 euros for the chateau.

Tourist information sites for Saumur: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-saumur-france/  and https://thegoodlifefrance.com/what-to-see-and-do-in-saumur-loire-valley/

So, the tank museum, the chateau, the town museum, cycling along the Loire valley, the art museum, the theatre, Pierre et Lumière carvings and models, the Musée du Champignon (yep a museum about mushrooms), the Cadre Noir (French national horse riding school displays), the museum of cavalry, the Bagneaux Dolmen (one of the largest portal dolmens in Europe) – whetted your appetite yet?