The Scandibérique / EuroVelo 3

Helping link Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Scandibérique – the French section of cycle route EuroVelo 3 – runs diagonally northeast to southwest across France for just over 1,700km. Leaving Belgium’s Wallonia Region, the Sambre Valley serves as the thread up to Maubeuge, then the route crosses the Thiérache area for Guise via the Avesnois and Axe Vert greenways. Next, it’s on to the Oise River and its parallel canal, turning for Halatte Forest and Senlis, crossing paths with the Avenue Verte London Paris cycle route. After this forested stretch, the Canal de l’Ourcq guides riders smoothly to the heart of the French capital. Then it’s the Seine’s banks southeast as far as St-Mammès, followed by the Loing and Briare Canals. After this, the Loire à Vélo and Scandibérique share the same route to the city of Tours. Next, it’s south via the Vienne River and the two Charente counties, stopping at Angoulême, French cartoon capital. South again, Bordeaux’s vineyards stand out, among many wine areas on this cycling adventure. The Scandibérique even does a little pirouette, following a stretch of the Canal Latéral à la Garonne and its accompanying Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo cycle route. Finally, our pilgrims’ route tackles Gascony as far as St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and an iconic Pyrenean pass.