A family cycling holiday

An exhibition of contemporary art is displayed all the way down the estuary on this shared stage of La Vélodyssée and La Loire à Vélo. Some surprising changes of scenery are guaranteed to brighten up your departure from the bustling city of Nantes.

A stretch of water between the Loire, marshes and hedged farmland, the Martinière canal is your ‘Ariadne’s thread’ helping you to track your course along this shared stage of La Vélodyssée and La Loire à Vélo. Enjoy the narrow, tranquil routes whilst soaking up the pastoral atmosphere, typical of the Loire Estuary. Final stage for the La Loire à Vélo and another starting point along the sea for La Vélodyssée, cycling to the rhythmic comings and goings of the tide. Your arrival at the estuary really immerses you in a new, really seaside atmosphere.

This stage of La Vélodyssée starts by crossing St-Brevin between the sea, dunes, pine trees and villas. It continues into the countryside of the Pays de Retz towards St-Michel-Chef-Chef and the charming tourist seaside resort of Pornic.

La Vélodyssée route continues its tour of the Bay of Bourgneuf, brushing past the Breton Marshes in the search for out-of-the-ordinary landscapes in an area rich in birds local to the region. Human activity makes itself felt in the form of the fisheries and the small working ports which dot the coastline. One last gourmet stage on the Loire-Atlantique, La Vélodyssée route continues its tour of the Bay of Bourgneuf. We find ourselves in oyster country, encountering numerous little oyster ports and pits used to cultivate the oysters.

The last stage of La Vélodyssée in the Bay of Bourgneuf-en-Retz (your pedals keeping time with the sweeping circles of its wind turbines!) before arriving at the very lively Port-du-Bec in Epoids. The highlight of the day will be crossing the famous Gois causeway to the Island of Noirmoutier, tides permitting!

This stage of La Vélodyssée focuses entirely on the sea, the beach, the forest and the dunes. There are 18 kms of cycle paths winding through the national forest of Pays de Monts, after which you come to the very lively seaside resort of St-Jean-de-Monts. Before reaching the Vendéenne Cove and its famous boulders at Sion-sur-l’Océan, La Vélodyssée heads towards an old fishing village in the commune of St-Hilaire-de-Riez, adjoining Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. A superb stage.

Saint-Gilles Croix-de-Vie is an essential stop on the Vendée Vélodyssée! A renowned seaside resort, it boasts a busy port focused on fishing for blue fish: sardines and mackerel. Take time to stroll along its large beach before heading back towards the coast towards Brétignolles-sur-Mer and skirting the vineyards of Brem-sur-Mer.

The Vélodyssée cycle route gradually moves away from the coast and winds between the Olonne forest and the former salt marshes, now a protected area. This route reaches Les Sables-d'Olonne via the marina, Port Olona.

In this fairytale setting are both Les Sables (world capital of yacht racing) and La Rochelle, (the ‘broken rebel’ capital of Aunis) centre stage. The Vendéenne coast brings the cycle routes back to the Poitevin Marshes. Once past the Sèvre Niortaise River, we find ourselves at Charente-Maritime and the Marans canal which leads straight to the Old Port. After Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, La Vélodyssée winds its way into the large national forest of Longeville, drawing close to the sea on two occasions from where beautiful beaches can easily be accessed, such as Les Conches. A quick dip is a must on this stage!

On your bike ride between La Tranche-sur-Mer and L'Aiguillon-La-Presqu'île, the La Belle-Henriette lagoon is a unique place, separated from the sea by a narrow strip of sand. Then, La Faute-sur-Mer, which stretches towards the Pointe d'Arçay, will delight you. Next, head to Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm via the Marais desséché (dry marsh). Between Vendée and Charente-Maritime, this stage of the Vélodyssée cycle route takes you to the so-called "dried" section of the Marais Poitevin.

Cycle through vast expanses of marshland and farmland dotted with farms and cabins until you reach Marans, a pleasant riverside town bordered by the Sèvre Niortaise River. Be curious and explore the marina, the historic center, and the church with its futuristic bell tower, all of this town that lives to the rhythm of the water.

Nature takes centre stage during this leg of the journey, as you cycle past the water that flows through the charming canals which join the Poitevin marshes. We pass Marans, the ancient watchtower on the estuary of the Niort Sèvre which looks out over the marshes, and follow the canal that leads us to La Rochelle and onto the ocean.

Start your journey opposite the famous towers defending the port of La Rochelle, then follow the cycle path along or in the immediate vicinity of the ocean to the Belle Époque villas of the seaside resort of Châtelaillon-Plage. Early in the morning or at sunset, the bay of Châtelaillon-Plage and the Pointe des Bouchôleurs offer a breathtaking panorama.

Your cycle route continues inland to reach the banks of the Charente River and the remarkable town of Rochefort, a City of Art and History, the historic birthplace of the Hermione, the Corderie Royale, and the Maison Pierre Loti, in the heart of the "Charente Estuary - Rochefort Arsenal" Grand Site de France.

It’s with great regret that we leave behind Rochefort and its gardens on the banks of the Charente. We take the former steam-train tracks – now the greenway – and La Vélodyssée meets the marshes, criss-crossed with little channels, before heading onto the oyster centre of Marennes.

Cross the Marennes region by bike, between salt marshes and the Seudre estuary. Then, from Ronce-les-Bains, savor the scent of sea spray and pine trees along the cycle route, a cycle path in the middle of the Coubre forest, all the way to La Palmyre. Park your bikes and enjoy a swim on one of the beaches of the Côte Sauvage. After all, isn't the coastline from La Palmyre to Royan known as the Côte de Beauté?

The Vélodyssée offers you a royal stopover with a sea view, a cycle path that winds through the coastal forest and past pretty beaches, all the way to Royan and its Belle Époque villas. Unforgettable!

Upon entering the Gironde, a new world reveals itself to travellers on La Vélodyssée. La pointe de Grave also marks the end of the Médoc, a landscape of great variety, depending on whether you cross the west coast or the estuary and the vineyards. Pleasant cycle lanes wind their way from Verdon to the charming Soulac-sur-Mer with its lively streets and pretty seaside villas, we take the trail towards Montalivet. To the north of this stage, the sea entices you in for a cooling dip; to the south there is a more forested area which is most pleasant in fine weather.

From Montalivet to Naujac (apart from a large chicane and a gentle bend) you can ride on autopilot on this part of La Vélodyssée as you breathe in the scent of the pine trees – there is very little chance of getting lost here: head directly south through the Flamand national forest. The Côte d’Argent truly is the kingdom of cycle lanes. La Vélodyssée follows the central path to meet Hourtin via the forest. The surrounding area offers numerous choices of where you can stop for a refreshing splash in one of the vast lakes, one of which is Hourtin - the largest in France!

Still in the forest and still on cycle paths. The natural reserves encountered throughout the route demonstrate that these large spaces are populated, rich in wildlife and a lot more diverse that we may first think…

A pleasant stage of La Vélodyssée on designated lanes between dunes and the forest. Take time out to stray off the cycle lane and appreciate one of the handful of connections to the sea and enjoy the fantastic ocean views. Take care on the Atlantic beaches! You’re constantly discovering new horizons in the direction of Bassin d’Arcachon Bay. A hugely different atmosphere with a return to the land of oysters. Here we can take a splendid alternative route down the tracks leading to Cap Ferret

Those nostalgic for the trains of yesteryear, welcome! Except for a shared section with traffic between Lège and Arès, La Vélodyssée now follows the former steam-train tracks. We pass stations and you’ll need to “go off the rails” to truly enjoy Arcachon Bay and surrounding villages.The forests of Gironde disappear, to be replaced by urban landscapes during this stage around the Bassin d’Arcachon. A little way after Lanton, we find ourselves in the Regional Natural Park of the Landes de Gascogne, which is fragrant with the iodised and authentic air of Aquitaine.

After an essential trip to the top of the Dune of Pilat to appreciate the beauty of the area and the views, we once again set off on a long crossing through the Landes Forest. Just before the Biscarrosse-Plage, La Vélodyssée takes you seamlessly from La Gironde into the Landes.

From Gironde to the Landes nothing really changes, apart from the section of military land which forces La Vélodyssée away from the seafront to make a long detour inland, where the blues of the vast ponds replace that of the sea. You may try out the hydroplanes, common to this part of Biscarrosse!

After the Biscarrosse and Parentis Lakes, the trail follows secondary roads and takes us to the more secluded northern lake of Aureilhan. Several access paths later, the trail brings us onto the western bank, for a moment of relaxation and a swim on the beach.

Having soaked up the atmosphere of the Mimizan-Plage seaside resort, it’s back on the saddle to once more find the inner calm of the forest: its silence and delicate fragrances, with the deep sense of tranquility, and being master of this happy space, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world. La Vélodyssée encourages meditation…The woodland trail bringing a feeling of peace, reinforced by the fragrant pine trees. You have to leave the trail to enjoy the seaside beaches near Contis-Plage or St-Girons-Plage, or those of the Léon Lake beaches that you come to.

La Vélodyssée now heading north, advances to a few hundred yards from the Côte d’Argent, gradually getting closer to Moliets-et-Mâa and Messanges. The route finally meets the powerful ocean at Vieux-Boucau, the former port (until the river Adour was re-routed to Bayonne in 1578) and today a very pleasant stopping point. Here La Vélodyssée sails past the iconic seaside, surfing and health resorts of Hossegor and Capbreton. These two towns are separated by the Boudigau - the redirected former Adour River – but their names are linked by their proximity and their huge popularity with tourists in the central areas of the Landes.

This stage between the Landes and the Basque Country lets us enjoy forest and large beaches as we make our way along beautiful cycle lanes. As we approach Boucau, La Vélodyssée enters more urbanised surroundings.

! Particular attention should be paid when crossing Tarnos and Boucau.