Illiers-Combray / Châteaudun

Determined cyclists might begin this journey by the source of the Loir, at Saint-Éman. Many will opt to start from the little historic town of Illiers-Combray, immortalized in Marcel Proust’s masterpiece, Remembrance of Things Past. South through fields and pastures, you come to the walled medieval town of Bonneval, nicknamed the Little Venice of the Beauce area. Finally comes the town of Châteaudun, a member of the association “Les Plus Beaux Détours de France”. Its historic centre and vast château look down dramatically on the Loir.

The route

Follow quiet county and smaller country roads signposted “Vallée du Loir V47”. Leaving Illiers-Combray, be careful of traffic along the D941. This stage shares the way with the Saint-Jacques à Vélo route, hence the double signage. The very first stretch, between the Loir’s source at Saint-Éman and Illiers-Combray, is c.6km in length. Illiers Combray is also a stop on the Véloscénie (or Veloscenic) Paris-Mont-Saint-Michel cycle route.