Visiting Saumur

To see and to do in and around Saumur....

- The Abbey of Fontevraud

At 20 minutes driving. Discover this great monument listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is one of the most vast monastic constructions left from the Middle Ages. The royal abbey, the main cloister, the abbatial church, its kitchens and other outbuildings make it the biggest abbey of Europe.

- The castle of Saumur

At 10 minutes walking from the hotel, this castle is the most emblematic construction of Saumur. Listed as World Heritage of Humanity in the year 2000, this fortress will offer its visitors a journey through time.

The castle now houses a great number of collections (fine art, ethnology, archeology, etc.)

- The "Manège des écuyers"

Assist to different horse shows at just 10 minutes walking from the Hotel Cristal.

The famous school of the Cadre noir organises gala nights all through the year. Every year, the town of Saumur hosts the International Acrobatic Contest.

- The "Musée des blindés"

This museum, located in the town centre of Saumur, holds the world's most important collection of armoured vehicles.

http://www.museedesblindes.fr/en/

- Original visits around Saumur!

- Tourist train

- Horse-drawn carriage

- Bicycle (a hirer is located at 200 metres from the Hotel Cristal)

- Cave dwellings:

- Caves GRATIEN & MEYER in Saumur

- Caves ACKERMAN , VEUVE AMIOT, and caves BOUVET-LADUBAY in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent

- Distillerie Combier in Saumur

Visiting the area

- The Cadre Noir

At 15 minutes driving. This site, born from military traditions, gathers teachers of the National Horse Riding School today. Assist the backstage visits and galas of the Cadre Noir.

http://www.ifce.fr/en/cadre-noir/

- Visit the castles in the area:

At just 15 minutes driving from the Hotel Cristal

- Château de Montreuil-Bellay

- Château de Montsoreau

- Château de Brézé

At 35 minutes driving from Saumur

- Château Chinon

- Château Montgeoffroy

Photos