Choose France’s most appealing cycling routes by terrain and by the way you enjoy traveling. The Loire à Vélo combines riverside towns with châteaux. The Calavon explores the Luberon along a former railway. The roads of the Vercors require more confidence on climbs and descents. These itineraries are not all separated from cars. A long-distance cycle route may alternate dedicated paths and shared roads. Grand Angle prepares cycling holidays in France, with stages and logistics detailed in each program. Compare the 11 destinations below, then choose a section suited to your daily distances and rail connections.
| What you would like | A route to explore | The deciding factor |
|---|---|---|
| A first holiday beside the water | Loire à Vélo or Garonne Canal | Choose short stages and check access to accommodation |
| A day on a greenway | Calavon cycle route | Arrange the return if riding one way |
| The Atlantic coast | Vélodyssée | Wind, summer traffic and urban sections |
| The Channel coast | Vélomaritime | Hills and sections on shared roads |
| Mountain passes and balcony roads | Vercors roads | Ascent, confidence descending and road conditions |
11 ideas for exploring France by bike
- The Loire à Vélo
- The Vélodyssée
- The Canal des Deux Mers
- The ViaRhôna
- Burgundy by bike
- The Calavon cycle route
- The Vélomaritime
- Brittany’s greenways
- The Véloscénie
- The Flow Vélo
- The Vercors roads
To prepare a touring holiday with suitable stages, compare our routes and their practical arrangements.
1. The Loire à Vélo: châteaux and riverside towns
The Loire à Vélo (in French) links Cuffy, near Nevers, to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins over about 900 km. You can also explore it over a few days. Riverbanks alternate with villages and detours to historic buildings. A château visit can fill a substantial part of the day. Keep that in mind when comparing stages (in French).
The terrain is often moderate beside the river, but approaches to hillsides and accommodation can add climbs. The route combines dedicated paths and shared roads. Our weekend guide to Nantes helps you plan time in the city beside the Loire. Our holiday from Blois to Angers explores this area in more depth. With children, also compare the stages of the Amboise to Saumur (in French) program.
2. The Vélodyssée: from Brittany’s harbors to the Basque coast
From Roscoff to Hendaye, the Vélodyssée (in French) covers about 1,300 km. It first follows inland routes in Brittany before reaching the Atlantic coast. Canals give way to pine forests, with sections near seaside resorts. Choose your area before looking for a specific stage.
Along the coast, wind can change the effort considerably. In summer, paths near beaches are used by people traveling at different speeds. Be ready to slow down at junctions and beach access points. Check urban sections and other connections in the stage description.
The route from La Rochelle to Royan introduces the landscapes of Charente-Maritime. Farther south, the great lakes and pine forests bring a different atmosphere before the hills of the Basque Country.
3. The Canal des Deux Mers: following locks toward southern France
The Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo links Royan to Sète over about 750 km. It does not follow a canal for the entire distance. The start crosses the Gironde estuary. The route then reaches the Garonne Canal and the Canal du Midi.
Towpaths provide long stretches of moderate terrain, but surfaces vary. On the Canal du Midi, some sections may be narrow or have exposed roots. A suitable bicycle and securely attached luggage matter as much as distance. Check the state of the route before departure.
Our holidays along the Garonne Canal between Bordeaux and Toulouse and the Canal du Midi between Toulouse and Sète let you choose part of the itinerary.
For a stop near Agen, Le Prince Noir is a hotel and restaurant in a former manor house in Sérignac-sur-Garonne. Check its position relative to your stage and the bicycle arrangements before booking.
4. The ViaRhôna: from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean
The ViaRhôna follows the Rhône corridor for about 815 km, between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean. It changes character between regions: hills near the river in the north, valley towns, then southern landscapes. The first areas near Lake Geneva are more demanding than some downstream stages.
The itinerary includes dedicated paths, shared roads and temporary sections. Compare the precise description instead of judging the difficulty simply because it follows a river. Our stages from Geneva to Lyon (in French) and Condrieu to Avignon (in French) illustrate 2 ways to explore this route.
5. Burgundy by bike: choose your canal or vineyards
The Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo brings several itineraries together. A canal stage and a day among the vines will not necessarily have the same terrain. For a first touring holiday, towpaths provide steady progress, punctuated by locks and villages.
The Nivernais Canal (in French) and the Burgundy Canal (in French) are 2 separate options. Choose a starting point around rail access, then the number of days available. A cellar or abbey visit fits better into a short stage than an already full day. Our Burgundy weekend guide compares towns and nearby outings for a shorter stay.
6. The Calavon: a greenway in the Luberon
The Calavon cycle route mainly follows a former railway. Vélo Loisir Provence’s description gives 45 km between Robion and the D48 near Le Castellet, with about 190 m of ascent and 3 hours of cycling. This time covers a one-way ride without breaks. It does not include returning to the start.
Most of the route is on greenway, with some shared roads and crossings that need care. You can enjoy the landscape without climbing into every hilltop village. For a hillier holiday, our cycling tour of the Luberon (in French) also explores villages and their uphill approaches.
7. The Vélomaritime: the Channel and North Sea coasts
The Vélomaritime links Roscoff to Dunkirk over about 1,500 km. It passes through very different areas, from Brittany’s coast to the beaches of northern France. Mont-Saint-Michel and the Normandy coast are landmarks, but a holiday takes shape by choosing a few stages that work together.
Coastal hills and shared roads require confidence. A maritime cycle route may include repeated climbs, so it is not equally suitable for young children throughout. Our route along Brittany’s north coast toward Mont-Saint-Michel lets you examine one area in detail.
8. Brittany’s greenways: choose one suitable area
Former railways and towpaths reveal an inland Brittany different from its coastal headlands. Beside the Blavet, locks mark your progress. On former railways, the route tends to cross valleys while keeping a steady gradient.
Check surfaces and announced diversions. Not every greenway is paved. A local closure can also interrupt a towpath. Choose a turning point before departure if you plan an out-and-back ride. Our holidays in Brittany let you compare areas and activities. For time on foot, our Brittany walking guide compares the coastal areas.
9. The Véloscénie: Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel
The Véloscénie links Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel over about 450 km, passing through Chartres and the hedged countryside of Normandy. It combines greenways with minor roads. Its landscapes and visits suit a holiday over several days, but the terrain varies between areas.
The official description gives about 2,000 m of ascent across the whole route. Choosing just one greenway section allows a shorter visit. To reach Mont-Saint-Michel, plan bicycle parking and site access too. The cycling route and an abbey visit are 2 separate parts of the day to organize.
10. The Flow Vélo: from Sarlat to the Île d’Aix
The Flow Vélo has changed. The official itinerary now links Sarlat to the Île d’Aix over about 400 km. The former description limited to Thiviers and Rochefort no longer covers the whole route. From Dordogne, it reaches the Charente Valley and then the coast.
The Dordogne sections have hills. The itinerary alternates dedicated paths and shared roads. Choose stages according to your confidence and that of any children. Arriving on the Île d’Aix involves a boat crossing to arrange. Our Flow Vélo holiday from Angoulême to Rochefort (in French) covers a specific section. It does not automatically include the complete route.
11. The Vercors roads: for cyclists used to hills
The roads of the Vercors appear in this selection for their balcony roads and mountain passes. These are mountain roads shared with vehicles. You need to manage climbs, descents and narrow sections. They call for different experience from a day on a greenway.
Our scenic Vercors cycling routes (in French) and Grand Tour of the Vercors (in French) detail stages to compare. An e-bike helps with climbs. Plan its range and charging, and make sure you can control it on descents. Check road openings before each day.
Prepare the stages and the return journey
A total distance helps place a cycle route in context. To choose a holiday, compare each day’s distance and planned detours first. Then look at departure and arrival stations, bicycle carriage rules and the return to the start. Depending on the train, a bicycle reservation may be necessary.
Grand Angle services vary between holidays. Check each program for accommodation, luggage transport and any bicycle rental. Our selection covers routes in several regions.
Compare stages in our selection of cycling holidays in France.
Practical questions about cycling routes in France
What is the difference between a cycle path and a long-distance cycle route?
A cycle path is infrastructure reserved for bicycles. A long-distance cycle route connects places. It may use cycle paths, greenways and shared roads. Check the make-up of your chosen section.
Which route suits a first cycling holiday?
A section of the Loire à Vélo or a canal may work, with stages suited to your experience. Check ascent, surfaces and access to accommodation. A trial day with your luggage helps you set a realistic distance.
Can you follow these itineraries by e-bike?
Many are suitable, with a bicycle adapted to the terrain. Check charging options and battery capacity for each stage. The bicycle’s weight also matters when maneuvering and boarding trains.
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Article written by
Passionate about travel and a keen advocate of slow travel, I am fortunate to turn my love of adventure into engaging stories. As editorial lead at Grand Angle Tours, an agency specialising in trekking and cycling… Read more
