Nantes sits at the crossroads of two indisputable stars of bike travel: “la Vélodyssée” (EuroVelo 1) and “la Loire à Vélo” (EuroVelo 6). Nantes is also the perfect starting point for exploring the Traversée Bretonne by bike. From Nantes to Mont-Saint-Michel, from land to sea, this Traversée Bretonne reveals little-known treasures, as well as historical and architectural heritage, along with contemporary artworks.
La Vélodyssée
La Vélodyssée is the French leg of the Atlantic Coast Route (aka, EuroVelo 1). From Roscoff in Brittany to Hendaye in Basque Country, these 1,200 km (745 mi.) of bicycle paths rarely stray far from the Atlantic Ocean, offering riders an invigorating ride.
Vélodyssée cycling route
La Loire à vélo
La Loire à Vélo is a 900-km-long (560 mi.) bicycle route that links Cuffy near Nevers to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins in the Loire-Atlantique region of France. Travel through time, from the Châteaux de la Loire to the Atlantic Ocean.
Loire valley by bike
Traversée Bretonne – by bike
Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, La Baule, Rennes, Saint-Malo, to the Mont-Saint-Michel
Five towns in the west of France – Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, La Baule, Rennes, and Saint-Malo – come together to present their regional heritage: from art to gastronomy, architecture to natural landscapes, and the historical to the contemporary. This unprecedented collaboration traces an itinerary that is singular and truly exceptional when discovered from behind a set of handlebars: it is an ode to roaming free, to the joys of being a nomad for a brief moment, and to discovering the unexpected with each new stop, where a surprise awaits you at every turn. From the Atlantic Ocean to the English Channel, from land to sea, this Traversée Bretonne reveals little-known treasures, secret beaches, natural landscapes, and excellent spots to eat and rest, where you can experience the region like never before.
Whether you’re on an electric bike or the old-fashioned kind, Traversée Bretonne is an itinerary that is perfectly secured and accessible to all, where you will always find rental shops, repair stands, or fellow cyclists to help repair your bike in the event of a technical mishap (within reason, of course…). Be it as a family, among friends, on your own, or in tandem, this cycling itinerary is divided into 6 sections, borrowing some of the greatest hits from other circuits like La Loire à Vélo, La Vélodyssée and La Vélomaritime, and covering a total of 500 km! Before leaving, make sure to bring along a basic repair kit (inner tubes, patches, a pump), wear a helmet, fill your water bottle to the brim, bring your trail mix, and keep in mind that the entire itinerary has been tested and secured for your cycling pleasure. So, giddy up for the new adventures awaiting you!
Brittany by bike
The Régalante cycle route
The Régalante cycle route links the Mont Saint-Michel to Nantes, enabling cyclists to travel peacefully down the eastern Marches of Brittany.
It guides you north-south via a string of medieval fortresses, large and small, that once guarded the border zone between the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France. So, history effectively created this trail! Take the odd detour to unearth delightful little gems off the beaten track, hidden in beautiful countryside. Along the way, also enjoy tranquil rivers, lakes of different types, forests, character-filled villages, medieval castles, former mines and engineering wonders… so many varied, unusual facets that add interest the length of this cycle route. With lovely stretches of greenways, reasonable daily distances to cycle, and culinary pauses at which to enjoy Breton specialities (such as a galette saucisse, a sausage wrapped in a pancake!), this is a perfect route to test out a gentle cycling adventure for the first time.
See the cycle routeVélidéale
From the Lac de Vassivière, in the heart of the old region of the Limousin, to Saint-Nazaire, a major port at the mouth of the Loire, La Vélidéale cycle route provides a cycling adventure across a large swathe of western France that demonstrates the biodiversity of these parts, linking five Parcs Naturels Régionaux, plus further fragile, protected natural areas, espaces sensibles.
See the cycle route