Cycle Touring in France

Eight one- or two-week cycle tours selected to offer cyclists of all levels a taste of France’s diverse landscapes and superb scenery. Covering some of the most picturesque parts of Brittany, Picardy, Alsace, Auvergne/Languedoc, Provence, Dordogne/Lot, the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Twice as big as the United Kingdom and four-fifths the size of Texas, France is a country rich in diverse landscapes and beautiful scenery, offering some of the best cycle touring in the world.

The routes in this guidebook have been specifically selected to give cycle tourists a taste of eight individual areas of France. Whether you want to tackle some of the steep mountain climbs of the Tour de France, or simply cycle alongside meandering rivers overlooked by hill villages and châteaux in the Dordogne and Lot, there is something here for everyone. The rugged, rocky coastline of Finistère and the magical, mythical woods near Huelgoat in Brittany; the vineyards and battlefields of the Marne, and beautiful forests of Retz and Compiègne in Picardy; the lavender fields and olive groves of Provence; the Route des Vins d’Alsace near the border with Germany; the volcanic Auvergne and wild Cévennes in the Massif Central – there is wonderful cycling country wherever you decide to go.

The eight routes – ranging from 209km (131 miles) to 354km (221 miles) in length – have been divided into several stages. Newcomers to cycle touring or cycling in France may wish to consider Routes 1, 2, 3, 5 (excluding the optional climb of Mont Ventoux) and 7, since none exceeds 2000m in total ascent, and all offer a splendid introduction to the country. Routes 6 and 8 (and the climb to Mont Ventoux in Route 5) will appeal to cycle tourists who are looking for more challenging rides in more remote or mountainous parts of France. Route 4 is reserved for those who want to attempt some of the classic Alpine climbs of the Tour de France, involving nearly 6000m of ascent between Geneva and Grenoble with some steep inclines at altitude.