Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire brings together natural landscapes, parks and cultural sites. In the Val de Choisille, a 10.4-kilometre hiking loop runs along the river, slopes and forests; the La Vallée de la Choisille cycling route, by contrast, is eight kilometres long and takes about an hour. The parks also offer distinct highlights: plants and sculptures take centre stage in the Parc de la Perraudière, while the Parc de la Tour has a literary focus. You can shape your days of exploration around exercise, nature or culture.
The Val de Choisille on foot and by bike
The protected natural area of the Val de Choisille extends across Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, Fondettes and La Membrolle-sur-Choisille. Its landscape includes marshes, wet meadows, woodland and steep slopes above the valley; diverse flora and fauna are also characteristic of the area. The 10.4-kilometre hiking loop runs along the river, slopes and forests. It offers a longer route through varied landscapes, rather than focusing on a single feature.
The La Vallée de la Choisille cycling route is a separate option: it is described as an easy eight-kilometre route that takes about an hour. It first follows the streets of Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire before reaching the Choisille Valley. The start and finish are at Quai des Maisons Blanches. The estimate of about an hour applies to this cycling route, not to the longer hiking loop.
Quai des Maisons Blanches also offers a historical connection to the river landscape. Until the 19th century, all economic activity in the port area of Les Maisons Blanches centred on the river; the circular route is linked to the quay. This historical perspective offers another way to experience the cycling route.
Gardens and art in the Parc de la Perraudière
The Parc de la Perraudière is open to the public and is also an arboretum. More than 120 plant species are labelled there. Sculptures are placed at various points throughout the park, each relating to its surroundings and landscape. The variety of plants and the artworks offer two different ways to explore the park: you can focus on the labelled species or on how the sculptures engage with their setting.
Other features of the park include the Pavillon Charles X and a puppet theatre. The pavilion displays works by local artists and craftspeople, as well as themed municipal exhibitions. The puppet theatre is located on a south-facing terrace overlooking the Loire. These attractions take different forms: exhibitions are the focus at the pavilion, while the theatre provides a dedicated performance venue.
Literary sites and cultural programme
The Parc de la Tour is a literary park created from a restored former private park dating from the 19th century. Its installations explore the theme of literature, including reading alcoves, performance areas, giant letters, quills and oversized herbarium pages. Unlike the arboretum at the Parc de la Perraudière, the Parc de la Tour is shaped by literary forms and objects.
Literary events are held regularly in the Parc de la Tour, which also hosts contemporary art exhibitions. Another cultural venue is the Manoir de la Tour. For the 2025–2026 season, its programme included exhibitions, performances and conferences, as well as several artistic events, including the Art et Poésie de Touraine exhibition.
Choose according to the focus of your stay
For an activity-focused itinerary, the routes differ mainly in how you travel and in their stated duration: the easy cycling route is eight kilometres and takes about an hour, while the hiking loop in the Val de Choisille is 10.4 kilometres long. If you are more interested in parks and art, the Parc de la Perraudière offers plant species and sculptures, while the Parc de la Tour has a different focus, with literary installations and recurring events. Cultural venues round out the options with exhibitions, performances and conferences.
Discover more destinations: Abilly, Langeais, Ports, La Riche, Louestault, Chouzé-Sur-Loire, Reignac-Sur-Indre, Saint-Antoine-Du-Rocher.
Return to the regional travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
