Canals & intimate rivers
Short trip
140 Km
I cycle often
Montrond-les-Bains
Paray-le-Monial
Thanks to the Véloire route, discover, by bike, the upper reaches of what the French call the last major wild river in Europe. At time of writing, the route has been laid out between Montrond-les-Bains and Paray-le-Monial, but there are plans to extend it further upstream towards the Loire’s source. Along the Véloire, you’ll see another side to the Loire, discovering a green, secretive world where villages and châteaux follow in quick succession along the 140km. Departing from the thermal resort of Montrond-les-Bains, you follow the river’s course via minor roads through hedge-divided pastures. The way continues in a country setting, on a calm greenway beside the Canal de Roanne à Digoin. Paray-le-Monial and its famed basilica mark the end of the Véloire route, but why not consider carrying on cycling along the Loire on EuroVelo 6.

Elevation of the route

864 m 755 m

Waytypes of the cycle route

Cycle path: 60,82 km By road: 74,74 km

Surface of the cycle route

Lisse: 126,47 km Inconnu: 9,09 km

Véloire: a 140km-long route on minor roads and greenways

Layout and signposting along the route

The section between Montrond-les-Bains and Roanne guides you along minor roads, but requires care and is more suited to seasoned cyclists. The second part of the journey, from Roanne to Paray-le-Monial, is along a towpath beside the Canal de Roanne à Digoin, a joy for children and grown-ups alike.

The route’s signposting includes the official logo, plus the route number, V71. 

Getting around by train along the route

  • Regional TER line Roanne - Saint-Etienne serves the stations at Le Coteau, St-Jodard, Balbigny, Feurs and Montrond-les-Bains 
  • There are no train services between Roanne and Paray-le-Monial, but there are links by regional TER coaches from the stations at Charlieu and Pouilly-sur-Charlieu
  • The regional TER line Moulins - Mâcon does serve the stations at Paray-le-Monial. From Moulins and Mâcon there are connections for Paris (on Intercité trains), plus you can use the TER regional service between Mâcon and Lyon

Connection with EuroVelo 6

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