This Loire Valley town has a grand 10th-century hilltop chateau overlooking the river. Local vineyards produce fine wines, and visitors can explore medieval churches and a small zoo.
In Saumur, you'll walk cobblestone streets past white tufa stone buildings, climb to a 14th-century château, and descend into ancient cave dwellings where families once lived. Watch riders practice classical dressage at the Cadre Noir riding school, taste sparkling wines in underground cellars, or explore one of Europe's largest tank museums with its collection of military vehicles from World War I to the present day.
Exploring Saumur's Medieval Center
Walk from the Loire River up to Place Saint-Pierre, where you'll find the 12th-century Church of Saint-Pierre with its colored stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes. Stop at one of the cafes housed in 15th and 16th-century half-timbered buildings around the square. The 15th-century Maison du Roi, where both Charles VII and Henri IV once stayed, still displays its original carved wooden facade.
The Prestigious Cadre Noir Riding School
Visit the National Riding School to see the Cadre Noir instructors, recognizable by their distinctive black uniforms, as they train horses and riders in classical dressage. You can watch morning training sessions Tuesday through Friday (booking required), or attend evening galas from April to October where riders demonstrate traditional cavalry movements.
Underground Wine Culture
Step into the cool limestone cellars of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, where winemakers age their sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc grapes. Many cellars open daily for tours and tastings, including Bouvet-Ladubay and Langlois-Chateau. The region's Saumur-Champigny reds, produced from Cabernet Franc grapes, age in similar underground caves throughout the area.
Unique Museums and Collections
The Musée des Blindés houses 880 tanks and armored vehicles, including rare specimens from both World Wars. Visit Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. Inside Château de Saumur, walk through rooms filled with tapestries, furniture, and ceramics dating from the 14th to 18th centuries. The Mushroom Museum, set in former limestone quarries, shows how local farmers grow over 12 million tons of mushrooms yearly in these underground spaces.
Local Food Specialties
Try fouées - small bread pockets baked in wood-fired ovens and filled with local goat cheese or pork rillettes. Local restaurants serve galipettes, large mushrooms stuffed with herbs and regional ingredients. You can eat these specialties in traditional restaurants or in cave restaurants dug into the tufa stone, particularly along Rue Haute Saint-Pierre.
Day Trips Around Saumur
Visit the Abbey of Fontevraud, 15 kilometers away, to see the medieval monastery where Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart are buried. Drive 20 minutes to Château d'Ussé, with its fairy-tale towers that inspired Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty. In Chinon, 30 minutes away, climb the ramparts of its medieval fortress for views over the Vienne River valley.
