Elevation of the route
Waytypes of the cycle route
Surface of the cycle route
La Flow Vélo: 400 km from the Dordogne to the Atlantic
Cycle route signposting
The Flow Vélo is signposted in both directions from Lardin-Saint-Lazare to the Atlantic Ocean. Work is still in progress to bring the route as close as possible to the Charente river, so be sure to read the descriptions of the various stages to keep up to date.
Only the first stage (from Sarlat-la-Canéda to Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare) is still provisional, with markings currently being finalized.
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
Cycle routes connected to La Flow Vélo :
- La Scandibérique: shared route between Marthon and Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, continuing south to Bordeaux and north to Tours.
- La Vélodyssée: around Rochefort, a shared itinerary, the route continues along the coast south to Royan and north to La Rochelle.
The best cycling holiday breaks
Sarlat-la-Canéda / Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare
The Flow Vélo now starts in Sarlat-la-Canéda, capital of the Périgord Noir region. The cycle route joins the valleys [...]
Thiviers / Nontron
This stage invites you to dive deep into the natural beauty of the Dordogne and Périgord Vert. You set off on a lovely [...]
Excideuil / Thiviers
This stage of the Flow Vélo plunges you into the heart of the natural beauty of the Dordogne and Périgord Vert. In [...]
Nontron / Marthon
This stage of La Flow Vélo will delight those of you who appreciate nature and tranquillity. The cycle route crosses [...]
Marthon / Angoulême
La Flow Vélo now heads for Angoulême, French capital of comics and drawing. Following Le Bandiat’s valley, the [...]
Angoulême / Châteauneuf-sur-Charente
The Charente River now becomes the main thread on your journey along La Flow Vélo. The route takes you gently out of [...]
Châteauneuf-sur-Charente / Cognac
Taking you through the heart of the Charentais vineyards, La Flow Vélo zigzags between river and vineyards. The neat [...]
Cognac / Saintes
Riding off along the town of Cognac’s quays makes for a fine start to the next stage of La Flow Vélo. Along this [...]
Saintes / Saint-Savinien
After Saintes, you feel the pull of the ocean. The rivers become tidal and there are regular river ports along the way, [...]
Saint-Savinien / Rochefort
Leaving Saint-Savinien, you first repeat a bit of the way from the end of the previous stage, then head through fields [...]
Rochefort / Ile d'Aix
Escape Rochefort’s arsenal for the last stage of La Flow Vélo, the sea’s influence increasingly evident. The route [...]
Travellers’ reviews