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France is the perfect place for a cycling holiday (even with the kids)
With 13,120 miles (26,115 km) of cycle paths and greenways, France is a paradise for cyclists. And even if the Tour de France country is the world’s second biggest cycling destination, it is aiming to get on the podium by improving its infrastructure, services and expertise. There are many reasons to choose it as a cycling destination: easy routes for children and families, signage everywhere, incredible views of the sea, giant sand dunes, mobility perfectly integrated with trains and buses, pedalling along vineyards, rivers and canals, visits to fairytale castles.
So here are some of the reasons why France is the perfect place to travel by bike.
In France, cycling is a legend: have you ever heard of the Tour de France?
If there is one film that best captures the magic that surrounds the Tour de France, it is Les Triplettes de Belleville. The main character is Champion, a shy, quiet child who dreams of one day riding in the Tour de France. After years of hard training, with the help of his grandmother, Champion realises his dream: he rides the Tour and his drawn image resembles Fausto Coppi. We are not Champion and our dream is not to ride the Tour de France, but cycling here will always have the flavour of a romantic legend.
There is a site dedicated to French cycling tourism with all the answers you are looking for
Green routes, low-traffic byways, Eurovelo routes: the possibilities for cycling in France are truly endless, and to help you clear up some of your doubts, we recommend the France Vélo Tourisme website. There you will find lots of route ideas based on the level of difficulty, the number of days available and the places you would like to visit. Easy, right?
Bike mobility integrated with trains and buses
Cycling in France is a serious business, and super-efficient signage helps people get around without getting nervous or getting lost. But that’s not all: the integration of cycling with public transport, such as trains and buses, also makes things easier. Legislation due to come into force in 2021 will require every train to have at least eight places for cyclists. Good news for anyone planning a bike trip in France! Find out more about bicycles on trains.
Routes within reach of all, even the youngest
France by bike is also perfect for families, thanks to well-marked routes, often designed and built on flat ground, along the banks of rivers, lakes or man-made canals, or on the route of disused railways. From discovering medieval castles and châteaux in the Loire Valley to jumping and racing through dunes and moorland with views of the sea, there are plenty of attractions to keep even the youngest members of the family entertained.
You ride with a view of the ocean
The ocean, the scent of the sea and the pine forests, towering dunes (the highest in Europe): when you cycle like this, you don’t even feel tired. The cycle route that skirts the ocean is the Vélodyssée, a 1,000-kilometre cycle route from Roscoff, a small village in Brittany, to Hendaye-Plage in the French Basque country at the foot of the Pyrenees. Pedal after pedal, your eyes will be filled with wonder.
Hunting for castles and gardens
There are cycle routes that seem to have come out of a fairy tale. Castles, churches, small medieval villages, flower gardens, in France you can cycle between history and nature. You can choose to cycle among more than 300 magnificent castles in the Loire Valley, or in old medieval villages, amidst folklore and the highest tides in Europe, in Brittany. It will always be magical.
Cycle routes along rivers and canals
Cycling in France means immersing yourself in the green of parks and mountains, but also in the blue of water, seas, rivers and canals. There are so many cycle routes along waterways, and an unusual experience is to travel by bike and barge, combining pedalling with overnight stays and boat trips to reach the starting points of the routes while enjoying the view from the water.
Cycling between the vineyards along the Wine Routes
Raise your hand if you do not think of good wine when you think of France. And what better way to discover the best wines than by cycling? If you can’t resist the world’s most famous bubbles, you can choose the vineyards of Champagne, or if you prefer a rich red, there’s Burgundy with its Wine Route. For cognac lovers, there is also a beautiful hilly route between castles and abbeys.
If your next wish is to cycle in France, discover all the Girolibero tours: voilà!
