From spring on, you have exceptional tourist sites and superb panoramas to discover by bike, why not with electric assistance for the whole family to enjoy and friends of different levels. Set off to new horizons on a bike tour, a mountain bike or a Gravel bike, or a combination of both. Ready to go? Pedal! The French Cycling Federation, in partnership with the Petit Futé, has selected 5 unmissable bike tours among more than 4,000 available on veloenfrance.fr/, for all levels, for all types of bikes and throughout France.
On a road bikein the land of golden wheat
Welcome to the Loiret where you will cross wheat fields and a whole heritage. You will ride through a land rich in its nourishing crops and its colors, especially in spring and early summer. During your journey, you will notice the large farms with closed courtyards and the small villages around their bell tower and their traditional collective pond. Take a detour to discover the Rougemont castle where Louis XIII stayed and which the Fénelon family owned for a while. Between wide open spaces where wheat is grown and emblematic churches of the 13th century, this land of cycling combines many assets of the French heritage. See the circuit
Starting point : Neuville-aux-Bois (Loiret, 45000)
Type of route : road
Distance : 72 km
Time of the route : 6h
Difference in height : 80 m
Difficulty : easy
Practical information : Loiret Tourist Development and Reservation Agency, 8, rue d'Escures, 45000, Orléans, 02 38 78 04 04 - email : [email protected] - See the website.
The Bavella pass in Corsica for a total change of scenery
Head for the island of beauty! Take part in one of the most beautiful cycling tours in Corsica. You leave from Porto-Vecchio, then ride along the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea to Solenzara, at the foot of the Bavella pass, known as one of the most beautiful passes in France. After the marine program of this itinerary, you attack the mountain part with the ascent of the pass of Larone then the pass of Bavella accompanied on your right by a succession of majestic needles. And the show goes on for the final part of your itinerary where you take a fabulous descent, with for point of view the cut of the gulf of Porto-Vecchio. You will go through no less than 10 passes on this complicated and sportive route, but you will really enjoy riding through the most beautiful peaks of the island.
Starting point : Porto-Vecchio (Corse-du-Sud, 20137)
Type of route : road
Distance : 119 km
Time of the route : 6h45
Difference in altitude : 2 153 m
Difficulty : very difficult
Corsican Regional Committee of the French Federation of Cycle Tourism 06 60 81 82 26 [email protected] See the website
In the Pyrenees by mountain bike, from the Ourteau to the Gave d'Ossau
The clubs of the federation invite you to discover this natural sport with more than 80 certified mountain bike bases on the whole territory. From these locations, mountain bikers can find marked trails of all levels. We suggest here two particularly rich and attractive routes, one of which belongs to the Crozon peninsula mountain bike base! Let's start with the one from Ourteau to the Gave d'Ossau.
Dirt tracks mixed with some road portions and a descent in the undergrowth, make up this aesthetic and technical loop, which is one of the must-do mountain bike trails! Enjoy an exceptional forest atmosphere that will put your senses on the alert. From one corner to another, the river will take you to the heart of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and you will be the privileged witnesses of a wild and rugged nature that will stimulate your passion for mountain biking. See the circuit
Starting point : Eysus (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 64400)
Type of hike : Mountain bike
Distance : 21 km
Time of the course : 2h
Difference in altitude : 473 m
Difficulty : difficult
Tourist office: Allée du Comte de Treville 64400 Oloron-Sainte-Marie 05 59 39 98 00. See the website
Heading west
Discover the famous Crozon peninsula and the magnificent panoramas it offers along the coast ! Heading towards the 3 major points of the commune of Camaret-sur-Mer, this predominantly coastal family itinerary unveils the variety of landscapes and heritage of Camaret, until you catch a glimpse of the famous port of Camaret. For mountain bikers, go inland where moorland landscapes, meadows, forests and chapels await you. A very valuable heritage ! See the circuit
Starting point : Camaret-sur-Mer (Finistère, 29570)
Type of hike : Mountain bike
Distance : 20 km
Time of the course : 2h10
Difference in altitude : 250 m
Difficulty : very easy
Communauté de communes du Pays de Châteaulin et du Porzay, quai Robert Alba BP 43, 29150 Châteaulin 02 98 16 14 00 See the website
Cycle tourism and crossing the Jura
Traveling by bicycle is tourism par excellence: at your own pace, with the wealth of encounters. The Federation provides advice to make the experience unforgettable. Hundreds of great itineraries are proposed on veloenfrance.fr, among them, here is a circuit that allows you to ride in the heart of the Grande Traversée du Jura, an ideal route in summer that will take you to the heart of the mountains! The route totals 375 km between the city of Montbéliard (Doubs) in the north and Culoz (Ain) in the south, passing through Morteau, Pontarlier or Morez and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. This cycling adventure opens the doors of the Jura massif to you! Crisscross its vast spaces, its charming villages and its mountains to discover splendid panoramas. In the heart of the middle mountains, you will make mythical ascents like the Faucille pass or the Grand Colombier. Have a good trip! See the circuit
Starting point : Montbéliard (Doubs, 25200)
Type of route : Road
Distance : 375 km
Time of the route : 25h
Difference in altitude : 5 125 m
Difficulty : very difficult
Association Grandes Traversées du Jura 15-17 Grande rue, 39150, Les Planches en Montagne 03 84 51 51 51Seethe website
Cycling all year round, it's possible
Thanks to its 3,000 clubs throughout France and its 4,000 free and permanent circuits, the French Cycling Federation offers a multitude of activities and bike rides.
Visit the federation's website.
