Château-du-Loir
Château-du-Loir is in Pays de la Loire. It is a small market town on the river Le Loir (not the larger La Loire further south).
Understand
Château-du-Loir has all the normal services that would be expected, supermarket, shops, medical, legal, Gendarmerie, banks, etc. aimed at serving the local community and surrounding areas. Being close to the A28 (junction 26), many visitors will be stopping off for a break on their way past rather than actually visiting the town itself. The town gets very busy during the Le Mans 24h race period.
Get in
By car
The town is 3 km from Jct 26 of the A28 motorway.
By rail
SNCF station with trains to and from Tours, Le Mans and Caen
- 1 Station, Rue du Val de Loir 72500 Château–Du–Loir. M-F 06:15–11:45 &12:10–19:30. Sa 08:15–12:30 & 14:30–17:30. Su 14:45–21:00. (Bank Holidays daily 14:45–21:00).
Get around
The town is small enough to see by walking around. Bicycle hire see La Boîte à Vélos below. Parking in the main square opposite Hôtel de Ville (but this is used for the market on S so parking can get difficult).
See
As a working town, it is best used as a base for exploring the surrounding surrounding areas and countryside, e.g. Lavardin 30 km, Le Mans 40 km, Tours 40 km, Amboise 50 km, Langeais 40 km, Le Lude 20 km, etc..
- 1 Rotonde Ferroviaire de la Vallée du Loir, Route de Nogent, Montabon (across the tracks from Gare de Château du Loir), ☏ +33 6 77 55 55 63. W,Sa 14:00-18:00. A group of train enthusiasts are restoring a decripid railway roundhouse (rotonde ferroviaire) and have a small collection of vehicles including a sleeper coach from the Orient Express.
Do
- 1 Sailing Club/School (Club de Voile de Marçon), Espace de Loisirs, 72340 Marçon (9 km ENE of Château-du-Loir), ☏ +33 2 43 79 90 10. Sailing dinghy/windsurf hire and tuition. Windsurf hire €15 / hour. Dinghy hire €20 / hour. Canoe €10 / hour. Cheaper for longer times.
- 2 Descent of The Loir By Canoe (Descente du Loir en canoës), Espace de Loisirs, 72340 Marçon (9 km ENE of Château-du-Loir), ☏ +33 2 43 79 90 10. 2 or 3 people per canoe. Start upstream at La Chartre sur le Loir and canoe downstream to Marçon. Approx 2½ hrs. Adult €18. Child €12.
As the agricultural harvest comes to an end (through Aug) you will see large agricultural figures made of bales of straw start to appear alongside main roads advertising the local Agricultural Comice similar to an agricultural oriented village fete. In some cases this can become an opportunity for locals to "unwind" after the busy harvest time.
- 3 Cinema (Réseau Ciné-Off), Espace Les Récollets, Rue du Théâtre, 72500 Montval-sur-Loir, contact@cine-off.fr. French language films. 123 seats. digital 3D, Dolby 7.1 €7.
Buy
There are good range of shops in and around the town centre.
- 1 E.Leclerc, 47 rue nationale, 72500 Vouvray sur Loir (Located in southern part of Château-du-Loir), ☏ +33 2 43 44 05 15. M Tu W Th Sa 08:45–19:30 F 08:45–20:00. Large supermarket selling wide range of food and goods (incl. fair range of bicycle spares). Incl petrol station.
- 2 Intermarché (supermarket), Route du Mans (D73) Monconseil, 72500 Luceau (Located in Luceau 2 km north of Château-du-Loir town centre), ☏ +33 2 43 44 38 24. M-Sa 08:45–19:15. Su 09:00–12:15. Supermarket, incl petrol station.
- 3 La Boîte à Vélos, 63 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 18 39, loirvelos@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 10:00–13:30 & 14:00–18:00. Bicycle shop (sales, repairs, all types of bike). Also bicycle hire.
The 1 central square opposite the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) has a weekly market (used to be S am). The market is primarily for locals selling food, clothing, fruit & veg., etc.
Eat
Many restaurants but many closed on Monday.
- Andouillette. You can find traditional French Andouillette (sausages made from tripe) served in some restaurants the area.
- 1 La Michonniere (Crêperie), 9 place de L Hôtel de ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 89 66.
- 2 [dead link] L'Imprévu Brasserie (Pizzeria), 21 place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 04 08. M-Sa 10:00-15:00 & 18:00-23:00.
- 3 Les délices d'Oana, Place Clemenceau, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 6 23 56 64 15. Tu-F 11:30-18:00. Lunch, drinks and coffee
- 4 McDonald's (Fast Food), ZAC du Chêne Vert (C.cial Leclerc) Centre Commercial Leclerc ZAC Chêne Vert 72500 Vouvray sur Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 53 46. 08:30-23:00 (daily). Free Wi-Fi
- 5 Elau Food (Pizza/fast food), 25 av Jean Jaurès, 72500 Château du Loir, ☏ +33 2 52 50 00 32, contact@elau-food.fr. Tu-F 11:00-14:30 & 18:22:30. Sa 09:00-14:30 & 18:00-22:30. Su 18:00-22:30. Pizza 5.5€-14€.
Drink
Many bars but many closed on M
- 1 Comme à la Maison (Restaurant/bar/cafe), 7 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 00 60.
- 2 Le Celtique, 74 Rue Aristide Briand, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 01 17. M-Sa 07:00-20:00. Bar, tabac, lotto, presse
Sleep
Hotels, B&B, gîtes, camping in town and surrounding areas. Can get booked up during the Le Mans 24 h race week.
- 1 Hôtel le Grand Hôtel, 59 Rue Aristide Briand, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 38 25 85, legrandhotel72@orange.fr. 60€€.
- 2 Hôtel de la Gare, 170 av Jean Jaures, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 00 14. Hotel, restaurant & bar.
- 3 [dead link] La Nuitée (B&B), 22 rue de L’Hôtel de Ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 03 38, dilegoff@free.fr. Wi-fi available. 68€.
Stay healthy
- 2 Patrick Minard (Dentist), 5 rue Bascule, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 52 98.
- 3 Pharmacie du Centre (Pharmacy), 2, Place Lemonnier, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 00 03. M-F 08:45-12:30 & 14:00-19:30. Sa 08:45-12:30 & 14:00-18:00.
Connect
- 4 Post Office (La Poste), 9 place Lemonnier, 72500 Montval sur Loir.