France > France travel > Pays de la Loire > Saumur
Saumur, Pays de la Loire, travel guide
Saumur is best known for the Chateau du Saumur, the highlight of your visit.
Walk along the river front and admire the imposing Hotel de Ville and the other attractive river side buildings all with the white stone and grey slate rooves characteristic of the area. Climb up the steps to the château and enjoy some spectacular views of the town and the lovely stone bridge crossing the River Loire below.
In the Château du Saumur you can visit the dungeons and the tower and also the Musée des Arts Decoratifs and the Musée du Cheval which are in the château.
Wander around the town and enjoy the colombage houses on the Place St Pierre and take a look at the carvings of monsters in the church. Other churches of note in the town are the Church of Notre Dame des Ardilliers , and the Church of Notre Dame de Nantilly.
Saumur played an important role in the Second World War, both in 1940 when France was first occupied - the Battle of Saumur was one of the last battles fought before the occupation - and in 1944 when strategic bombing of the town significantly delayed the advance of German troops to meet the D-Day forces. These events are commemorated in the Cavalry Museum in Saumur.
Saumur is also famous for its elite riding squad, the Cadre Noir, and you can visit their base, the Ecole National d’ Equitation in St Hilaire St Florent, a suburb of Saumur. Various galas and shows take place throughout the year.
Don’t forget to sample the delicious sparkling white wine ‘methode champagnoise’ which is made in the region.
The region around Saumur is well known for its prehistoric traces such as troglodyte caves and dolmens. Until the dark ages these caves were a very popular place to live and you will see many as you tour the region. To the south of Saumur, those at Rochemenier are perhaps the most interesting, with a whole underground village being found in the carved out rock. The dolmen at Bagneux is also particularly impressive.
Saumur is a gem of a town and makes a perfect base for visiting this area because as well as being very attractive it is a good size and so has plenty of hotels, restaurants and shop.
The renowned Fontevraud abbey is a little north of Saumur.
Note: Honore de Balzac lived at Saumur from 1816 to 1827, and wrote an important part of his Comedie Humaine while in the town.
Saumur: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
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Visit Saumur, France
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Map of Saumur, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Saumur
See the Visit Saumur section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Saumur car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Saumur
- Candes Saint Martin, Centre Most beautiful village
- Chateau de Saumur Chateau
- Fontevraud Abbey, Centre Renowned abbey
- Montsoreau Most beautiful village, Pays de la Loire
- Thouars Medieval town, castle
- Saumur Loire valley town
- Bauge Pretty Loire town and castle
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Saumur, France
This Saumur tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
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