All of Saumur is hewn from the soft tuffeau stone, the château of Saumur itself, a multitude of other châteaux, sixty or so listed churches, the largest monastic complex in Europe, dozens of megaliths, the prestigious National Riding School, even the famous wines and miles upon miles of troglodytic caves. All this washed down by the Loire , which flows by at the apex of its beauty. Open your eyes . . there's so much to see.

One thing that everyone agrees on ... Saumur is a great place to eat ! Sparkling Loire fish, with their beurre blanc sauces, plump chickens, pork rillauds, rump of veal, fruit pies from the Loire Valley and the famous fouées (fresh oven breads) and galipettes (stuffed flat mushrooms) all grace of our table. The feast is accompanied by the reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines made from neighbouring vineyards the production of which has colour and depth. All you have to do is enter into one of these Rabelaisian temples of good living, be it a country inn, a medieval eatery or a charming troglodytic restaurant.

The Loire people have courted their river for centuries and many have followed in their path: princes, artists, master horse riders, pilgrims, wine-makers and bargees have all helped open the way for the ramblers, amateur riders, and photographers of today. The same gestures, the same pleasures with a few centuries in between. Is this really a coincidence ? Seeing Saumur, it all seems obvious : here is a destination to delight and stimulate the senses whether by walking, bike riding, canoeing, sailing or especially, of course, horse riding.

Saumur, an equestrian capital to be visited; the National Riding School, the Cadre Noir presentations, equestrian and cavalry museums, saddle and boot makers and the hippodrome of Saumur/Verrie.