Via Allier

Description All stages Reviews

Canals & intimate rivers

1 week or more

455 Km

I cycle often

Nevers

Langogne

The Via Allier cycle route offers cyclists the chance to tackle the Allier, a major Loire tributary, heading upstream. The way starts from the Allier’s confluence with the Loire, close to the city of Nevers, going down to Langogne, a town close to which the Allier springs. The adventure begins where the Allier’s waters meet the Loire’s, at the Bec d’Allier. Follow, by bike, the migrating wild salmon journeying this way from the Atlantic, heading up the Allier, crossing the historic region of Auvergne north to south! Along the way, admire a whole variety of landscapes, going from alluvial flood plains and cereal plains, via the Auvergne’s volcanoes and its heritage-filled towns and villages, to the spectacular finale of the Allier Gorges. This cycle route mostly follows quiet country roads. It doesn’t present any particular difficulties, except along the final third, where it becomes markedly steeper.

Official Website

Elevation of the route

2778 m 3491 m

Waytypes of the cycle route

Cycle path: 66,48 km By road: 386,24 km

Surface of the cycle route

Smooth: 409,12 km Rough: 14,22 km Unknown: 29,39 km

435km by bike following the Allier River from Nevers to Langogne

Signposting and layout along the Via Allier

The Via Allier cycle route is mainly laid out along quiet country roads with little traffic. Between Billy and Saint-Yorre, a greenway has been put in place.
The cycle route is signposted with green and white signs, sometimes featuring the route’s logo.

Levels of difficulty and terrain

Between Nevers and Pont-du-Château, the Via Allier cycle route doesn’t present any particular difficulties. On the final third of the route, between Pont-du-Château and Langogne, there are much steeper sections only suitable for seasoned cyclists or those on electric bikes.

Trains and train stations (gares in French) to use to reach this cycle route

The Via Allier cycle route is pretty well served by SNCF (French National Railways) train stations. These stations lie close to the route, allowing you to join or leave it with ease by train.

Most of the train lines in these parts are served by TER regional trains, for which you’re not required to reserve a space in advance to board with your bike. Note, though, the exception of the Intercités trains serving the Clermont-Ferrand > Paris line via Vichy, Moulins and Nevers, for which you need to reserve both a seat for yourself and a space for your bike (at time of writing, the cost was €10€ per bike).

Some lines connected to the main towns of the Via Allier

To return to Nevers by train from Langogne

From Langogne, change at Clermont-Ferrand to reach Nevers.

TER Langogne > Clermont-Ferrand (3h15) then TER or Intercités Clermont-Ferrand > Nevers (1h30)

Cycle routes interconnected with Via Allier

La Loire à Vélo : common section between Nevers and the Bec d'Allier
La Grande Traversée du Volcan à vélo : near Brissac-les-Mines