Awaken your senses with an epicurean tour for all those who enjoy the small things in life!
More than just sporty excursions, bicycle adventures on La Vélodyssée come with:
Treats for your taste buds:
Wherever you find yourself along the cycling route, you can create your own epicurean tour by trying all sorts of renowned French culinary specialities!
In Brittany, try the famous kouign amann, a type of cake, and the essential galette de blé noir, a savoury crêpe, accompanied by a glass of cider. In the Loire Valley, try a brioche vendéenne with breakfast or, for dinner, fresh fish with beurre blanc, which will go great with a nice glass of wine. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, you don’t want to miss trying the Marennes Oléron oysters or Bouchot mussels. And let’s not forget the famous Bayonne ham, if you visit the south…
Who said that travelling La Vélodyssée meant nothing but exercise?
Sights to behold:
From essential tourist sites to vistas you don’t want to miss, you will not be disappointed with so many great spots along your route. On bike, explore medieval Brittany with sites like Bon Repos Abbey and the Château de Josselin, as well as wild, natural sites that have inspired myths, like the forest in Huelgoat. Discover the Loire Valley and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes, or the charming little town of Pornic. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, you’ll fall in love with port cities like La Rochelle, with its historic seaport, and Rochefort, a port of call for the frigate Hermione. Take the ferry in Royan to see towns along the ocean to Arcachon Bay. Wander through the largest forest of maritime pines in Europe and admire the immense beaches of Landes. Continue your epicurean tour in Basque Country, where you’ll see the colourful houses of Bayonne, marvel at the sunset in Biarritz, and visit the magnificent Abbadia Castle and Observatory in Hendaye. The destination doesn’t much matter, as long as the journey to get there is filled with discoveries.
Exhilarating smells:
As you pursue your bicycle adventures along France’s Atlantic coast, breathe in the fresh, salty air coming off the ocean, from Hendaye to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. While taking La Vélodyssée from Nantes to Roscoff, smell the verdant grass and trees of inland Brittany. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the middle of this pristine nature. Breathe.
🤏 Touch: feel things
With many fine sandy beaches along the route, you will enjoy letting the sand run through your fingers or wiggling your toes under a few centimetres of sand!
👂 Hearing: enjoy a genuine ASMR experience
Between the sound of boat cables and ropes in the harbours, the surge of the sea, the rustling of the treetops, the birdsong... you will reconnect with the essential!
