With more than 2,000 km of cycle routes, Brittany offers a wealth of beautiful bike rides. There's something for everyone, from the easy to the more challenging, from the flat along the water's edge to the more rugged in the hills, from town to town or in the countryside, from a few hours to several days. One thing's for sure: all of them allow you to discover the most beautiful landscapes in Brittany.
1. The Vélodyssée
- Distance: 275 km
- Duration: 3 to 6 days
- Itinerary
La Vélodyssée is the name given to the French part of Eurovelo 1, an international itinerary running along the entire European Atlantic coast. But let's concentrate on the Breton section. It stretches from Roscoff, in Finistère, to Redon, in Ille-et-Vilaine. It represents 275 km of the 1,300 km total length of La Vélodyssée in France. On this moderately long route, you'll start by the ocean, then follow the Nantes-Brest canal through the heart of Brittany. This beautiful bike ride in Brittany has very few gradients, except for a few sections in the middle, which remain accessible.
2. Route 6 Bretagne, from Carhaix to Saint-Méen-le-Grand
- Distance: 130 km
- Duration: 2 to 3 days
- Itinerary
Route 6 Bretagne is one of the most beautiful bike rides in Brittany, as it allows you to admire not only the coastline, but also the inland countryside, particularly the Monts d'Arée. It stretches across the heart of Brittany, between Carhaix, in Finistère, and Saint-Méen-le-Grand, in Ille-et-Vilaine. To do this, Route 6 mostly follows the route of a former railroad line. Between the natural landscapes, you'll also discover some of France's most beautiful villages. Because of its location in the Monts d'Arée, this walk varies greatly in altitude, but is still accessible to beginners. If you only have a few hours to spare, you can also choose to do just one section.
3. Route 7 Bretagne, from Roscoff to Concarneau
- Distance: 147 km
- Duration: 2 to 3 days
- Itinerary
Like Route 6, Route 7 also starts (or finishes, depending on the direction) in Roscoff. In fact, this commune in the magnificent Côtes-d'Armor department is the starting point for many other cycling and walking routes. This time, the route crosses Brittany from north to south, from the English Channel to the Atlantic. It ends in Concarneau, in Finistère, famous for its old fortified town on the water. This pleasant, easy itinerary is fully signposted, and for the most part is a greenway, with the exception of some 30 kilometers shared with cars. Along the way, you'll find more than twenty accommodations with the Accueil Vélo label: hotels, gîtes, as well asexcellent campsites.
4. Route 5 Bretagne from Pont-l'Abbé to Bénodet
- Distance: 20 km
- Duration: 3 h
- Itinerary
The voie 5 Bretagne is a regional project, with the ambition of becoming one of the most beautiful bike rides in Brittany. Ultimately, the idea is to create a cycling itinerary along the Breton coastline, similar to that of the Sentier des douaniers. Although the project is currently under development, several sections have already been completed, including the route between Pont-l'Abbé and Bénodet. The route passes through Île-Tudy and its old Breton fishing port, then Sainte-Marine, before arriving in Bénodet after crossing the Odet estuary. This is a medium-level route, with 140 m of ascent in 3 hours. You can follow it from either side. To the west, Route 5 Bretagne runs to the Pointe du Raz, while to the east, it runs to Le Pouldu, south of Quimperlé.
5. The Vélomaritime
- Distance: 390 km
- Duration: 4 to 8 days
- Itinerary
The Vélomaritime is the name given to the French section of Eurovélo 4, which runs from Roscoff to Kiev in Ukraine, crossing Central Europe. In France, the route runs exclusively along the coast, from the north to Brittany. The Breton section of the Vélomaritime covers 390 km between Roscoff and Cancale. It's a challenging route, not only because it's so long, but also because it includes several climbing sections! Of course, you can also choose to do just part of it, for a slightly shorter and more enjoyable bike ride in Brittany.
6. Route 2 Bretagne, from Saint-Malo to Rennes
- Distance: 103 km
- Duration: 1 to 2 days
- Itinerary
This is one of Brittany's most beautiful cycle routes, crossing the region from north to south, between Saint-Malo and Arzal. But we're only interested here in the section between Saint-Malo and Rennes, which can be completed in a day for the more athletic, before going back the other way. This superb, easy section runs mainly along the Ille-et-Rance canal, through superb countryside. It's an ideal route for a first cycling trip.
7. Broceliande forest
- Distance: 41 km
- Duration: 2 h 40
- Itinerary
The forest of Brocéliande, rich in legend and home to the tomb of Merlin the Enchanter, is an ideal summer destination. In the shade of its tall trees, you'll be spared the extreme heat, and there's nothing like a storyteller-led evening for a truly Breton experience. This itinerary is a section of Route 3 Bretagne from Saint-Malo to Rhuys. Here, we're only interested in the section between Saint-Méen-le-Grand and Ploërmel, which winds its way through the heart of the mythical Brocéliande forest, following the basin of the Yvel river. It's an easy walk with very little change in altitude.
8. From Vannes to the Rhuys peninsula
- Distance: 44 km
- Duration : 2 h
- Itinerary
This beautiful walk in Brittany is in fact a section of Route 5 Bretagne, another part of which we presented earlier. This time, you'll set off from Vannes, the capital of Morbihan, to cycle to the Rhuys peninsula, a rural and ecological destination whose tip closes off the Gulf of Morbihan. All along the way, you'll ride around this small inland sea, admiring its maritime landscapes. And don't forget to bring a pair of binoculars to admire the different species of birds that inhabit the island.
9. The Quiberon peninsula
- Distance: 30 km
- Duration: 1 h
- Itinerary
This short family trail lets you discover the Quiberon peninsula by bike. Two-thirds of the trail is on cycle paths, and one-third is shared with vehicles, but it's still pleasant and particularly panoramic all the way. Starting from Erdeven, you'll cross the famous wild dunes from Gâvres to Quiberon, a landscape classified as a Grand Site de France.
10. Route 8 Bretagne, from Lorient to Pont-Augan
- Distance: 35 km
- Duration: 1 h 20
- Itinerary
This beautiful ride in Brittany is a section of Route 8, stretching from Saint-Brieuc to Lorient. Here, you'll complete its southernmost leg, from Lorient to Pont-Augan. This easy, family-friendly walk takes you along the banks of the Blavet, in the shade of oak and chestnut trees. Along the way, take a break in the medieval village of Hennebont, famous for its ramparts and forges. Of the 35 km of this trail, 24 km are on greenways, and 12 on roads. But what's rare in Brittany is that this walk is exclusively on smooth surfaces, making it particularly suitable for outings with children or city bikes.
