Saumur
18 km from Camping Paradis les Nobis d’Anjou, don’t miss a visit to Saumur, an essential stop on your Loire Valley camping holiday.
Recognised by the elegant silhouette of its Renaissance château perched above the Loire, Saumur is best known for its equestrian destiny: it was in the 16th century that the first riding academy was founded there. The famous Cadre Noir, a corps of elite riders, gives internationally renowned galas there.
Straddling the Loire and dominated by its Renaissance château, Saumur holds many treasures. Lively throughout the summer, the town organises plenty of events on the theme of the horse, the Loire or the Middle Ages.
Saumur’s cavalry school can be visited: with a guide you discover the training riding halls and the Grand Manège, the tack rooms, the costumes and the stables. A family-friendly visit, it offers direct contact with the school’s horses and the chance to watch them at work. The cavalry museum traces the history of the French cavalry, from its birth under Charles VII to today.
Museums and cellars in Saumur
Saumur has many other museums and sites to visit, especially around wine and military traditions — but not only! The tank museum displays a collection of 200 military vehicles from around the world, from the first tanks of 1914–18 to the latest Leclercs. Another museum devoted to combustion engines houses restored specimens from the mid-19th century to the present day.
Local know-how is celebrated through public visits to Distillerie Combier, the oldest in the Loire Valley still in operation, or the mushroom museum: set in a working mushroom cellar, it lets you learn more about mushrooms and methods of growing and harvesting.
Many visits to Saumur Brut cellars and spirit houses are possible in Saumur and the neighbouring associated towns: go to Ackerman, Langlois-Château, Bouvet-Ladubay, Robert & Marcel, Veuve Amiot, Louis de Grenelle or Gratien & Meyer to uncover the secret of the fine sparkling wines and enjoy tastings.
Châteaux and art in Saumur
Still under the rock, the troglodyte site Pierre et Lumière welcomes you into a fairy-tale world: in an underground gallery, around twenty of the Loire Valley’s finest monuments and sites have been meticulously carved in tuffeau stone and highlighted by sublime lighting. Art lovers and enthusiasts should also not miss Saumur’s Bouvet Ladubay contemporary art centre, which notably hosts works by César, Basquiat and Combas.
Château de Saumur, perched on a rocky spur above the Loire, is a former fortress remodelled as a pleasure château by the dukes of Anjou in the 14th and 15th centuries. It houses a collection of decorative-art objects and an exhibition on the horse. Its gardens are a pleasant place to walk and offer a unique view of the town and the Loire.
Events in Saumur
Saumur town centre is readily explored on foot, strolling through the pedestrian streets, but can also be visited by horse-drawn carriage or tourist mini-train. Stop at Place Saint-Pierre, where you can admire old half-timbered houses and cool off on a terrace. Around the Grand Théâtre, the town comes alive on market days.
Many events and festivals mark the year in Saumur. During your stay, don’t miss the Cadre Noir galas, the harvest festival at the château, the Loire boatmen’s festival in June, or Anjou Vélo Vintage.
3 activities not to miss in Saumur
The town centre is readily explored on foot, through the pedestrian streets. Stop at Place Saint-Pierre, where you can admire old half-timbered houses.
Visit the Cadre Noir of Saumur, the National Riding School listed in 2011 by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With a guide, discover the stables, tack rooms, riding halls, horses at work and costumes.
Don’t miss the Fête de la LOIRE in Saumur: gabares, traditional flat-bottomed boats, fill the Loire to the great delight of spectators.
Visit the Château de Saumur, built in the 14th and 15th centuries. It houses the decorative arts museum and the harness museum.
If you are looking for a holiday rental near Saumur, contact 4-star campsite Les Nobis on 02 41 52 33 66 to check availability.
