Menu
Your cycle route, ‘Loire à vélo’, runs from Burgundy town of Nevers all the way to the city of Orléans, known for Joan of Arc.
The upper course of the Loire still shows what this river has always been: a natural, untamable stream. Cycle along the sandbanks, old river curves and islands. Pass age old bridges and medieval castles. Admire the technical ingenuity of the canal bridge in Briare. And enjoy: ‘Chavignol up to Sancerre’!
Enjoy towns like La Charité sur Loire with its Monastery church, wine villages like Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire. Following the Loire Valley takes you back to the truly rural atmosphere in France.
Talking about highlights: both the Briare Aqueduct, built by Gustave Eiffel, and Orléans, city of Joan of Arc, art and history, which is beautifully located on the banks of the river Loire.
Interested in another bike and hotel tour in France?
South Burgundy: Beaune to Tournus
We also have the Loire tour as a bike and barge tour. Interested? check following link:
Day 1: Arrival in Nevers
You individually travel to Nevers. Check in at your hotel and take a walk through the charming town centre. Visit the potters, known for their faience pottery, a skill introduced by Italian craftsmen in the 16th century. Palais Ducal with its renaissance façade is also worth a visit. It’s one of the first castles that was built along the Loire. Nevers is a stop on the well known pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostella.
Day 2: Nevers – La Charité-sur-Loire (cycling ± 45 km)
You leave the Burgundian town Nevers and you go on your way to the village Cuffy, the place where the Loire and the Allier unite. This is the official start of the long ‘Loire a Vélo’ route, 800 km in total, ending after 13 stages at the Atlantic Ocean. You go to the monastery town Charité-sur-Loire where you reach the magnificent Roman church ‘Notre Dame’ via the oldest bridge (16th cent) across the Loire. This monastery church, included in Unesco’s heritage, is certainly worth a visit.
Day 3: La Charité-sur-Loire – Sancerre (cycling ± 27 km)
Cycle through the beautiful natural reserve ‘Loire Valley’ along vast, undulating vineyards. Admire the lovely bell tower/belfry of the church in Pouilly-sur-Loire. You go on through the woods and fields to the famous Sancerre wine region. Take a break on the way to taste a local wine grower’s (white) ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, of course this should be accompanied by a Chavignol goat’s cheese. Enjoy the magnificent view of the Loire Valley from Sancerre situated somewhat higher and dominated by its 15th cent donjon.
Day 4: Sancerre – Briare (cycling ± 54 km)
Leave Sancerre via the tow path along the ‘Canal Latéral’ and go via Bannay to the flower town Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, beautifully situated on the right bank. Then go to Belleville-sur-Loire, Beaulieu-sur-Loire and finally the small town Briare. Admire the metal canal bridge, a monumental piece of hydraulic engineering, realized at the end of 19th cent. It bridges the Loire by a giant step and connects the 2 adjacent canals. With its 72 lampposts and decorated pilasters a beauty of former technique.
Day 5: Briare – Sully-sur-Loire (cycling ± 42 km)
Cross the Loire river via the canal bridge, the ‘Pont Canal de Briare’, and cycle to Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire with its medieval castle, specialized in catapults and cannons. This is followed by the lively town of Gien with its panoramic view. Here too is situated the castle of Anne de Beaujeu, built about 1500, and the beautiful 18th cent bridge with 12 pillars. Your destination is Sully-sur-Loire with again a remarkable medieval castle, completely surrounded by canals/moats and with a gorgeous view of the river.
Day 6: Sully-sur-Loire – Orléans (cycling ± 51 km)
Today on your way to Orléans. Enjoy the grand views on the way to Saint-Benoit.Once there visit the 11th-13th cent abbey that belongs to the most remarkable Roman churches in France. Then go to Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, one of the important ports of the Loire in the 18th cent. You get the first sight of your destination: Orléans, the town of ‘art and history’, liberated from the English (rule) by Jeanne d’Arc. Be sure to take a walk through the beautiful, historic centre.
Day 7: Departure from Orléans
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Orléans. Once it was the capital in the early French Middle Ages, but nowadays it’s a lively, modern town where there’s a lot to be seen.
Prices 2023 per person
| Room | |
| Double/twin room |
€ 620 |
| Single room |
€ 970 |
Dates 2022
You can arrive every day in the months April till October
Included:
Excluded
