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.

Introduction
Which Route and When To Go?
A Short History
Getting There
Bicycles on Trains in France
Roads
Maps
Passports, Visas, Health and Insurance
Money, Banks and Payphones
Public Holidays
French Food and Wine
The Tour de France
About the Bike
What to Take
How to Use this Guide

Cycle Tours
Route 1 Finistère, ‘the End of the World’: Brittany
    Stage 1 Morlaix to Le Folgoët/Lesneven
    Stage 2 Le Folgoët/Lesneven to Lanildut
    Stage 3 Lanildut to Brest
    Stage 4 Brest to Le Faou
    Stage 5 Le Faou to Huelgoat
    Stage 6 Huelgoat to Morlaix

Route 2 Champagne and The Kings’ Forest: The Marne Valley and Picardy
    Stage 1 Aeroport Paris CDG to Charly-sur-Marne
    Stage 2 Charly-sur-Marne to Dormans
    Stage 3 Dormans to Villers-Cotterêts
    Stage 4 Villers-Cotterêts to Pierrefonds
    Stage 5 Pierrefonds to Compiegne and back

Route 3 The Wine Road and Bas-Rhin: Alsace
    Stage 1 Colmar to Barr
    Stage 2 Barr to Saverne
    Stage 3 Saverne to Niederbronn-les-Bains
    Stage 4 Niederbronn-les-Bains to Haguenau

Route 4 An Alpine Experience: Geneva to Grenoble
    Stage 1 Geneva to St Jean-de-Sixt
    Stage 2 St Jean-de-Sixt to Albertville
    Stage 3 Albertville to St Jean-de-Maurienne
    Stage 4 St Jean-de-Maurienne to Le Bourg d’Oisans
    Stage 5 Le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez and back
    Stage 6 Le Bourg d’Oisans to Grenoble

Route 5 The Land of Lavender: Provence
    Stage 1 Arles to Cavaillon
    Stage 2 Cavaillon to Caromb
    Stage 3 Caromb to Buis-les-Baronnies
    Stage 4 Buis-les-Baronnies to Sault
    Stage 5 Sault to Mont Ventoux and back
    Stage 6 Sault to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Route 6 Meadows and Mountains: Pyrénées
    Stage 1 Foix to St Girons
    Stage 2 St Girons to St Bertrand-de-Comminges
    Stage 3 St Bertrand-de-Comminges to Arreau
    Stage 4 Arreau to Bagnères-de-Bigorre
    Stage 5 Bagnères-de-Bigorre to Argelès-Gazost
    Stage 6 Argelès-Gazost to the Col d’Aubisque and back, then Lourdes

Route 7 Rivers and Castles: Dordogne and Lot
    Stage 1 Brive-la-Gaillarde to St Céré
    Stage 2 St Céré to Figeac
    Stage 3 Figeac to Cahors
    Stage 4 Carhors to Monpazier
    Stage 5 Monpazier to La Roque-Gageac
    Stage 6 La Roque-Gageac to Souillac

Route 8 Rugged and Remote: Auvergne and Languedoc
    Stage 1 Meymac to Riom-ès-Montagnes
    Stage 2 Riom-ès-Montagnes to St Flour
    Stage 3 St Flour to Marvejols
    Stage 4 Marvejols to Florac
    Stage 5 Florac to Alès

Appendix A Glossary: Bicycle Parts and Other Useful Cycling Terms
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Further Reading
Appendix D Regional Specialities and Wines of France
Appendix E Information Centres
Appendix F Embassies and Consulates