Lined by magnificent French castles frozen in time, the Loire is nicknamed the royal river, with its breathtaking views of these jewels of Renaissance architecture. But the river is also a place to escape, to get back to nature and to discover a lesser-known heritage.  In Chaumont-sur-Loire, an association is bringing traditional flat-bottomed boats back to life, in order to offer tourists an exceptional view of the region's castles. Meanwhile, thanks to the development of a network of cycling paths, the most athletic visitors can now choose to admire the beauties of the royal river by bike.