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 visiting the town. The town gets very busy during the Le Mans 24-hr 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

  • 🌍 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). (updated Mar 2017)

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, or Le Lude 20 km.

  • 🌍 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. (updated Mar 2020)

Do
  • 🌍 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. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 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 hr. Adult €18, child €12. (updated Mar 2017)

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 village fete. In some cases this can become an opportunity for locals to "unwind" after the busy harvest time.

  • 🌍 Cinema (Réseau Ciné-Off), Espace Les Récollets, Rue du Théâtre, 72500 Montval-sur-Loir, . French language films. 123 seats. digital 3D, Dolby 7.1 €7. (updated Mar 2017)

Buy

There are good range of shops in and around the town centre.

  • 🌍 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. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 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 and petrol station. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 🌍 La Boîte à Vélos, 63 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 18 39, . Tu-Sa 10:00–13:30 & 14:00–18:00. Bicycle shop (sales, repairs, all types of bike). Also bicycle hire. (updated Mar 2017)

The 🌍 central square opposite the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) has a weekly market. 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. 
  • 🌍 La Michonniere (Crêperie), 9 place de L Hôtel de ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 89 66. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 🌍 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. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 🌍 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 (updated Apr 2017)
  • 🌍 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 (updated Apr 2017)
  • 🌍 Elau Food (Pizza/fast food), 25 av Jean Jaurès, 72500 Château du Loir, ☏ +33 2 52 50 00 32, . 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. (updated Apr 2017)

Drink

Many bars but many closed on M

  • 🌍 Comme à la Maison (Restaurant/bar/cafe), 7 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 00 60. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 🌍 Le Celtique, 74 Rue Aristide Briand, 72500 Château-du-Loir, ☏ +33 2 43 44 01 17. M-Sa 07:00-20:00. Bar, tobacco, lottery, newspapers. (updated Apr 2017)

Sleep

Hotels, B&B, gîtes, camping in town and surrounding areas. Can get booked up during the Le Mans 24-hr race week.

Stay healthy

Connect
  • 🌍 Post Office (La Poste), 9 place Lemonnier, 72500 Montval sur Loir. (updated Apr 2017)

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