Unique about this trip
- Easy to moderate well-marked cycle route
- Through 3 different regions & 7 different 'départments'
- Mostly along winding rivers and canals
- Crossing 3 regional nature parks
- Along 25 historical towns and villages
More than 600 km/375 mi long, mainly along rivers
The ‘Vélo Francette’: a new, uninterrupted bike route in West France. The route is completely marked and follows the rivers and other waterways for the greater part. Cycling is going to be lovely along beautiful towns and picturesque villages through an unspoiled part of France, following the five divers stages. This is ‘slow travel’, in its literal sense!
Stage 1: The Orne Valley from Ouistreham to Domfort (126 km)
The ‘Vélo Francette’ starts from the Norman D-Day beaches of WW ll via Caen and Flers to Domfrontais. In the hills, jokingly called ‘La Suisse Normande’ (Norman Switzerland), you follow the winding valleys of the rivers Orne, Noireau and la Varenne and you pass the iconic ‘Roche d’Oetre’. The tracks and deserted country roads often offer a 360 degree view of the typically Norman landscape
Stage 2: The Mayenne Valley from Domfort to Angers via Laval (174 km)
This longer route follows no less than four different, lovely meandering rivers: The Varenne, Mayenne, Oudon and Maine. These confluent rivers take you, via different branches, to the most natural and beautiful river, the royal Loire.
All this is a superior chance to enjoy, to your heart’s content, the magnificence and beauty of this lovely landscape of river banks North France has to offer you.
Stage 3: The Loire valley from Angers to Saumur (58 km/39 mi)
A beautiful part of the Loire Valley is included too. Here you enjoy the clear, natural light on the impressive heritage in this exceptionally beautiful region. From the village of Gennes you go to lively Saumur. You can choose whether you take the north- or south bank of the Loire.Which ever you take both routes offer lovely views and many cultural surprises (on the way).
Stage 4: The river Thouet from Saumur to Niort (166km /103 mi)
From Saumur you cycle south and follow the ‘Thouet á Vélo’route. The Thouet is your guide on this trip to Parthenay. Discover on the way through the valley the fortified towns and admire the rich heritage along the river: old castles, bridges, mills and also a subterranean well…moreover on your way south the climate becomes milder and the rhythm of life calmer and more relaxed.
Stage 5: From Niort to La Rochelle – (90 km/56 mi)
On the way to the Atlantic Ocean you cycle through a magnificent maze of green- and blue coloured canals. You cycle along umbrageous waterways through a breathtaking swamp, called La Venise Verte’’( Green Venice). After that ‘La Belle d’Aunis takes you, via broader and more open canals, to La Rochelle situated on the coast; an appropriate and fantastic end of this new bike tour