Cycling is probably the best way to discover Mayenne, as the department is particularly verdant and boasts numerous cycle paths and towpaths running alongside its various rivers. What's more, you'll discover a rich culture and perhaps take a break to taste the famous Pays de la Loire wines. So here's a selection of the best bike rides in the Mayenne region, with tours for all levels, and suitable for both road bikes and mountain bikes.
1. The Vélo Francette
- Distance: 95 km
- Duration: 1 to 2 days
- Itinerary
The Vélo Francette is in fact a long-distance bicycle route, stretching 630 km from La Rochelle to Ouistreham, in other words from Normandy to Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Along the way, it crosses the Mayenne département for 95 km. To cover this section, you'll need one day at an intense pace, or two days with a more leisurely ride and breaks. To do this, you'll start one of the most beautiful bike rides in Mayenne in the city of Laval, the prefecture of Mayenne, and pedal through the heart of the Mayenne valley, until you reach Angers, in Maine-et-Loire. Although this is a fairly easy itinerary, you'll need to be prepared for this multi-day cycling trip.
2. The Mayenne valley
- Distance: 70 km
- Duration: 1 to 2 days
- Itinerary
This route is without doubt one of the most beautiful bike rides in Mayenne, as it winds its way through the heart of the Mayenne valley. You'll pedal through rolling countryside, past historic castles and pretty villages. The Mayenne towpath is one of the most beautiful cycle paths in France. You'll start your journey in Mayenne, and finish in Laval. It's an easy route, as it follows the course of the water, with little or no gradient. It can be completed in one day, if you pedal hard, or in two days if you prefer a more leisurely pace.
3. The greenway from Laval to Renazé
- Distance: 45 km
- Duration: 3 h 30
- Itinerary
Departing from Laval, you'll cycle along an old railroad line to Renazé. This is a very scenic route, crossing an aqueduct and passing through beautiful countryside. Once again, this is not a very difficult circuit, since it has only a slight gradient (138 m in all) and follows exclusively rough-surfaced cycle paths. So it's a perfect choice for a family outing.
4. The Mayenne towpath
- Distance: 12.6 km
- Duration : 1 h 15
- Itinerary
Here's another bike ride on the Mayenne towpath, this time a little shorter, as you leave Mayenne and stop in the small village of Rochefort. You can cycle this route on either a road bike or a mountain bike, and dogs are also allowed, on a leash. On the way back, you can retrace your steps along the same route, for a total duration of around 3 hours. Along the way, you'll pass through some beautiful natural scenery, including a wetland formed by a pond, so you're invited to reduce your ecological footprint by not leaving any garbage behind.
5. Voie verte from Ambrières-les-Vallées to La Chapelle-Anthenaise
- Distance: 40 km
- Duration: 3 h
- Itinerary
The "voie verte" from Ambrières-les-Vallées, a village in the north of the département, to La Chapelle-Athenaise, in the center of the département, is one of the most beautiful bike rides in Mayenne. All along the way, you'll follow a railroad track through a lush green landscape. It's an ideal family cycling itinerary, as it has almost no gradients, and uses only rough-surfaced cycle paths. The most beautiful part of the route is when you cross the Rosserie viaduct, a stone bridge built in 1873 over the Mayenne river, where it still offers a choice view.
6. The Ruisseau de Lassay circuit
- Distance: 8.4 km
- Duration: 1 h
- Itinerary
The Ruisseau circuit, as its name suggests, follows the bed of a small stream, forming a loop in the heart of the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park. It's one of the most beautiful bike rides you can do in Mayenne, but you'll need a mountain bike to ride it, as you'll sometimes be riding in the forest on dirt roads. But it's a particularly beautiful trail, allowing you to discover the 15th-century Château de Lassay and its charming commune. It's not a very difficult circuit, but it's sure to be a lot of fun on a mountain bike.
7. The greenway from Pré-en-Pail to Mayenne
- Distance: 47 km
- Duration: 2 h 30
- Itinerary
The green route from Pré-en-Pail to Mayenne also follows an old railroad line through the heart of the département. This is an easy route, with little or no gradient. With the exception of a short section in the middle of the route, you'll pedal mainly on cycle paths, with smooth and rough surfaces that are perfectly suited to road bikes. All along the way, you'll pass through beautiful countryside and even a goat farm where you can stock up on goat's cheese. The Mercerie goat farm also offers on-site tastings.
8. The Table des Diables circuit
- Distance: 17.7 km
- Duration: 2 h 30
- Itinerary
The Table des Diables circuit is one of the most beautiful bike rides in Mayenne, provided you have a mountain bike. You'll be cycling along dirt roads in the middle of a forest. You'll start your outing in Sainte-Suzanne, one of France's most beautiful villages, before making your way to the Table des Diables dolmen. This will be a slightly more challenging route, with 450 m of ascent and descent. But it's perhaps one of the most beautiful cycling routes in France, and can also be done on foot.
9. The plateaus and valleys of Ouette
- Distance: 6.6 km
- Walkingtime: 45 min
- Itinerary
This is a circuit starting from Parné-sur-Roc, in southern Mayenne. It's a fairly short loop around the village, and not very difficult, althougha mountain bike is required. Stop off in the village, which has been awarded the " Petite Cité de Caractère" label, to discover its pretty little streets, medieval heritage and half-timbered houses. It's a great place to visit in the Pays de la Loire, and less touristy than other destinations in the region.
10. Circuit n° 34, Saint-Pierre circuit
- Distance: 7.2 km
- Duration: 1 h
- Itinerary
Once again, this is a mountain bike circuit, as you'll cross a few fields and admire the Mayenne countryside as you follow the course of the Erve, but not only that! The route also passes through the charming village of Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve, which has been awarded the " Petite Cité de Caractère" label, as well as prehistoric sites such as the Cave à Rochefort, one of the Saulges caves.
11. The Claire Fontaine circuit
- Distance: 10 km
- Duration: 1 h 30
- Itinerary
The Claire Fontaine circuit is a 10 km loop that requires a mountain bike, as some parts can be muddy and the trail has few smooth roads. You'll set off from Fougerolles-du-Plessis before skirting the north shore of the Etang de Goué, passing the 14th-century Château de Goué. This is an easy, effortless route, but it can be a little gritty at times.
