Châteaux de la Loire

All those who love the little queen naturally head for this meeting point - in agreement with the one in Orléans on the Quai Cypierre - which links up with the signposted route along the royal river. The same goes for walks in France's largest state-owned forest, Orléans, as well as in the Sologne and Loir valleys... An audacious route for those with stamina: Orléans - Montargis - Châtillon-sur-Loire - Orléans, the nec plus ultra of Loirétains circuits.

Saddle up! From Nevers in central France to Paimboeuf in Loire-Atlantique, the "Loire à Vélo" route offers almost 800 kilometers of signposted itinerary. This journey links the beginnings of the royal river to its mouth on the Atlantic coast. The route, full of unmissable, unusual and little-known places, is a real encounter with yourself and others. At your own pace, with family, friends or on your own, hundreds of establishments welcome you along this magnificent and fascinating route. In Maine-et-Loire, the Loire à Vélo runs from Montsoreau (on the Indre-et-Loire border) to Champtoceaux. The route crosses the département from end to end, combining cycle paths and little-traveled back roads. There are two routes through Angers: the first through the city, where you share the road with other vehicles, or the second through the south (via Trélazé and Les Ponts-de-Cé), where you can enjoy the tranquility of the outlying communes and their lush green landscapes. After Angers, on the way to the Atlantic, you'll have the opportunity to discover Savennières and its enchanting landscapes, or the island of Béhuard and its open-air church, both classified as "Petite cité de caractère". From Bouchemaine, Montjean or elsewhere, join the adventure from wherever you please! Find all the information you need at local tourist offices, or on the "Fan de Loire à Vélo" Facebook page.

The Layon and Aubance hillsides, famous for their sweet wines, are a delight for two-wheelers. 13 circuits are listed according to their level of difficulty. Here, routes for all levels (blue, red, green) will take you through the many vineyards of the area to discover where it is good to taste the local wines, with moderation if you have to get back on your bike..

The circuit from Beaulieu-sur-Layon to Bonnezeaux, with a difference in altitude of more than 300 m and 38 km, promises strong sensations, doubled with aesthetic joys.

Do you want to take your time and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature? Everything is here in this new feature as we like them, which gives pride of place to soft mobility. Since June 2021, this former railway line that crosses the South Touraine has been transformed into a greenway. Between Descartes and Preuilly-sur-Claise, the first 26 kilometres are already open. Eventually, 42 kilometers will lead us to the gates of the Regional Natural Park of the Brenne. Opening planned for the summer of 2022. In the meantime, this route already has many surprises in store for you. Starting with its starting town. The city of Descartes, birthplace of the famous philosopher, welcomes you with its museum, but also in a bucolic botanical garden. We take the pedals and the handlebars towards Abilly and its mill. Then the Grand-Pressigny and its gallery of creators installed in the old station. Don't miss the Museum of Prehistory, perched on the hill. From its terrace, you will find a magnificent view of the whole valley. The journey continues: Etableau and the ruins of the castle, the Chaumussay dam and the Saint-Marc fountain, the Romanesque church of Saint-Médard... Finally, Preuilly-sur-Claise in sight! This medieval town is worth a visit! In the middle of the narrow streets and old houses stands the Saint-Pierre abbey, a jewel of Romanesque art.
A great way to discover the many little-known tourist and heritage assets of South Touraine!

This route connects the towns of Châtillon-sur-Loire and Beaulieu-sur-Loire along the Loire River. Both banks of the river are equipped for cyclists. Moreover, the south bank will make you discover the island of Ousson and the lock of Mantelot, two classified sites. The north bank allows you to visit the villages of Bonny-sur-Loire and Ousson-sur-Loire, by crossing the suspension bridge of Châtillon. This bicycle path is part of a 21 km section linking Briare to Beaulieu-sur-Loire.

This easy itinerary along the Loire allows you to cover the 14 km between Briare and Gien in just 1 hour. You start by crossing the Loire and the Canal Latéral on the Briare canal bridge. You'll then pass through the villages of Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire and Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire, where you can stop to visit its ^12th-century château. All that remains is to cross Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre before arriving in Gien and its medieval castle.

In addition to renting a mountain bike to discover Touraine, you also have the possibility of accompanying your hike with a donkey, which will know how to break the monotony of your walk, or to opt for a descent in a canoe or kayak. You can also go on a 20 km treasure hunt, guided by a GPS. Since 2014, nature and cycling holidays, canoe and kayak tours in Indre-et-Loire and Maine-et-Loire are very popular. Your bikes are delivered where and when you want them on your entire itinerary from the Loire to Vélo.

Orléans offers many possibilities for cycling and cycle touring enthusiasts. The USO Free Bike is a mountain bike club with around 40 members of different levels and ages. The club organizes group outings on a variety of routes throughout the year. There are no fixed weekly training sessions, but an annual schedule of meetings is proposed for interesting organizations. Everyone is free to participate and share the cost of car pooling. In addition, Sunday outings are organized several times a month by the club's rando referent. USO Free Bike also takes part in cross-country competitions at departmental, regional and national level, as well as randonnees, raids and 24h VTT. The club strives to offer a wide range of activities, so that everyone can practice according to their desires and abilities.

Le Grand-Bi is a bicycle rental service located in Saumur. It also offers bike sales and repair services.

Located in the 12th arrondissement, near the magnificent Bois de Vincennes park and forest, this eco-friendly, cyclist-run hotel offers free storage for bikes and bike boxes. It's also conveniently located, close to the metro line leading to the Eiffel Tower, as well as Paris Bercy and Lyon stations (for trains from Bourgogne/Dijon and Lyon Part Dieu). By bike, you can reach the hotel from Gare du Nord or Montparnasse in less than half an hour, and the EuroVelo 3 route passes close by. The hotel is certified ecological and strives to be 100% plastic-free. They compost, use vegetable-based paint and all breakfast products are organic. In addition, they have a fleet of bicycles for hotel guests. There's a large storage room in the basement for bikes and bike boxes, as well as a courtyard for daytime storage. Wifi is free of charge. This hotel is definitely top of the list if you need a place to stay with your bike in Paris.