In the vineyards, Canals & intimate rivers, Nature & small heritage
1 week or more
350 Km
I begin / Family
Le Lardin Saint-Lazare
Île-d'Aix
Going from the Périgord Vert in the Dordogne to the Atlantic, La Flow Vélo cycle route provides a lovely adventure beside rivers and through the département (or French county) of Charente. The 290km route starts at Thiviers. Extremely relaxing, it crosses picturesque, verdant landscapes and character-filled towns and villages. Several unmissable places cry out for you to enjoy a halt: Angoulême, French comics capital; Cognac, renowned for its eponymous brandy; and Rochefort, with its exceptional maritime heritage. This cycle route leads on to the Atlantic. At the end, you might explore the islands of Aix or Oléron, just out to sea, or head up to the coastal city of La Rochelle.

Waytypes of the cycle route

Cycle path: 210,29 km By road: 140,99 km

Surface of the cycle route

Lisse: 223,88 km Rugueux: 98,21 km Accidenté: 5,29 km Inconnu: 13,16 km

Route marking

The Flow Vélo is entirely signposted from Thiviers to the Atlantic Ocean. Arrangements to bring the itinerary as close as possible to the Charente River are planned, read the descriptions of the different stages to keep you informed. 

Trains and transport along La Flow Vélo

The route is well served in stations, but be careful in peak periods when the transport of bicycles is complicated on TER trains.

  • Thiviers station (departure): TER line Limoges - Périgueux with TER connection Périgueux - Bordeaux
  • Angoulême train station: TER and TGV stations (Paris, Bordeaux, Poitiers) - TER line Angoulême - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente - Jarnac - Cognac - Saintes - Saujon - Royan
  • Cognac train station : TER line Angoulême - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente - Jarnac - Cognac - Saintes - Saujon - Royan
  • Saintes train station: TER line Angoulême - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente - Jarnac - Cognac - Saintes - Saujon - Royan; TER and Intercity lines for La Rochelle and Bordeaux
  • Rochefort train station (last station on the route) : TER and Intercity lines for La Rochelle, Saintes, Bordeaux

Boats to and from the island of Aix

  • Link Fouras - Island of Aix
  • Island of Aix - La Rochelle
  • Island of Aix - Island of Oleron

The best cycling holiday breaks

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