Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Cher River - in Civray-de-Touraine, France


Rating: Four Stars - How many rivers can you kayak that will take you thru a castle? The Chenonceau Castle is the second most visited castle in France second only to Versailles. The rest of the Cher River is just pure green joy.

  Put in at Rue de l'cluse
  in Civray-de-Touraine.
Paddle up on Le Cher to
  D80 bridge and return.
Estimated round trip
  distance = 3.5 miles
Canoe Company
  outfitter
Château de
  Chenonceau
Needle
  Dam

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

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Kayaking on Cher River - in Civray-de-Touraine, France

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Canoe Company


Number of original photos on this page : 82
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The grapevines of the Loire Valley.
In Civray-de-Touraine, France.
Trip date is June 2018.


Wheat fields (I think).


The needle dam on Le Cher River at the end of Rue de l'cluse.


Canoe Company on the river bank of Le Cher.


The launching dock on Cher River in Civray-de-Touraine.


Launching our rented canoe from the Canoe Company with some help from our friend.


The Boston Kayaker and wife just launched on Cher River in Civray-de-Touraine, France.


The Boston Kayaker at the back seat.
Sun directly on our faces. It is before 10am.


We are paddling upriver eastwards to the Chenonceau Castle.


Blue skies. Current temperature about low 80sF (comfortable and not too hot).











Sign says we are entering the Chenonceau estate and no landing allowed.


We can now see the right end of the Chenonceau Castle.


Not sure what this sign meant . . . ?





Approaching the Chenonceau Castle from the west.





Tourists on the right bank.








The ride of choice to see the Loire for the paddle-disabled.











Picture above taken hours later from the castle looking out east on Le Cher showing the gardens of Chenonceau.
On right side of this picture is the moat we are about to enter.





We will turn left and enter the castle's moat.


Land-bound tourists on the castle.


Entering the castle's moat to our left.



On Chenonceau Castle moat.





View from above.


Will turn right at this moat corner.








Just turned right on the next moat corner.


Now on the last side of the moat.


After rounding the moat, the castle is now on our right and the continuation of Cher River on left.





Picture above taken hours later from the castle showing the gardens of Chenonceau.


We are now east (upriver) of the Chenonceau Castle. Continuing our paddle upriver.





The picture above taken hours later from the inside the castle looking out east upriver on Le Cher.





The D80 bridge at Chisseaux now visible.




















The D80 Rue de la Gare bridge in Chisseaux.


Just turned around. We are now paddling with the flow of Cher River.





Now approaching Chenonceau Castle from the east (upriver).











The wife turned around just to get a better picture.

















Picture above taken hours later looking out from the castle into this arch.























This boat just turned around. It can not really go farther downriver past the needle dam.














We can now see the dock.


Landed. Paddle time is 2 hours.


At the grounds of Chenonceau Castle.