Le pont canal de Briare
D. Darrault - CRT Centre Val de Loire
J. Damase - CRT Centre Val-de-Loire
Découverte du vignoble à Sancerre à vélo
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - P. Forget
Les vignes de Sancerre à vélo
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - P. Forget
Entrée d'un bateau sur le pont canal de Briare
© P. Forget - Centre Val-de-Loire
Sculptures en pierre à Briare - La Loire à vélo
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - J. Damase
La Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - J. Damase

Loire by bike from Nevers to Orléans

230 km of pleasure along the Loire and parallel Canal Latéral

Follow the Loire and parallel Canal Latéral along this superb stretch linking Burgundy to the Loire Valley. The luminous Loire is wild in parts, more generous in others, with prestigious vineyards along its banks, as well as historic mariners’ towns, plus there’s the Val de Loire Nature Reserve. The way is easy, a delight for fans of culture and local produce.

CRT Centre-Val de Loire - T. Martrou

Wine and cheese in Sancerre

On your journey, Sancerre is an unmissable stop to discover its vineyards and goat’s cheeses. Whether dry, semi-dry, fresh or blue, this cheese pairs beautifully with Sancerre wine, which is produced on the same terroir. The village also offers a stunning view of the Loire Valley and its vineyards.

Visite du Château de Sully-sur-Loire - Loire à vélo
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - P. Forget

Visit to the Château de Sully-sur-Loire

At the gateway to the Vallée des Rois, the Château de Sully-sur-Loire is the first of the Loire châteaux. Set in the heart of extensive grounds, this impressive medieval fortress reflects its unique architecture in the still waters of its moat. Home to the first Duke of Sully, the château reveals within its walls all the grace of Renaissance interiors.

Week-end vélo en Val de Loire
CRT Centre-Val de Loire - P. Forget

Along the Canal Latéral à la Loire

The Canal Latéral à la Loire, which joins the Canal du Nivernais at Decize, stretches for 196 km parallel to the Loire. Opened in 1838, it features 37 locks and crosses the Loire at Le Guétin and Briare via two canal bridges. Thanks to cycle tourism and river tourism, the once-important river ports of Decize, Nevers, Marseille-lès-Aubigny, St-Thibault and Briare are becoming vital service hubs for cycle tourists and passing boatmen.

J. Damase - CRT Centre Val-de-Loire

The Briare Canal Bridge, the longest in France

A well-known attraction for river tourism, its 662-metre span welcomes nearly 300,000 visitors a year. The Briare Canal Bridge was built between 1890 and 1896, bringing an end to 58 years of perilous crossings of the Loire riverbed. The foundations consist of stone piers and the deck is entirely made of metal. Forming part of the ‘La Loire à Vélo’ cycle route, it is perfectly suitable for cycling.

Cathédrale Sainte-Croix à Orléans
© F. Delong - CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Orléans, Joan of Arc and the Loire

Situated on the banks of the Loire, Orléans is one of France’s most iconic cities. It offers an authentic experience, where history, Joan of Arc and the Loire play a central role.

.

Tailor-made itineraries

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Check all Uncheck all

Filtres

Map options

Caption
Je débute
J'ai l'habitude
Aventure
Itinéraires connexes

Tailor-made itineraries

Nevers / Cuffy

1 Nevers / Cuffy

13 km
53 min
I begin
Near the majestic Bec d’Allier (where the Allier River joins the Loire), Le Guétin’s canal-bridge makes quite an impression on this EuroVelo 6 stage leading on via Cuffy to the Loire à Vélo cycle route. The Canal Latéral à la Loire then acts as a link between Burgundy and the Loire Valley. This charming stage, starting at the unique city of Nevers, with its many services and shops, is almost entirely on greenways.
Cuffy / Marseilles-lès-Aubigny

2 Cuffy / Marseilles-lès-Aubigny

15 km
1 h 01 min
I begin
This Loire à Vélo stage runs for some way right beside the Canal Latéral à la Loire, then moves onto a raised levée to reach Marseilles-lès-Aubigny. This charming port is a great spot to stock up on provisions, what with its shops, giving you a boost to continue cycling. This is a very easy stage, mainly along greenways.
Marseilles-lès-Aubigny / La Chapelle-Montlinard / La Charité-sur-Loire

3 Marseilles-lès-Aubigny / La Chapelle-Montlinard / La Charité-sur-Loire

12 km
47 min
I begin
This EuroVelo 6 stage leads you to the splendid riverside town of La Charité-sur-Loire, with its fabulous basilica and strong literary links. The route is easy and offers an inspiring concentration of Loire nature, culture and heritage. There are cycle tracks practically all the way along. Enjoy the exceptional views down on the Val de Loire Nature Reserve too.
La Charité-sur-Loire / La Chapelle-Montlinard / Couarges / Pouilly-sur-Loire

4 La Charité-sur-Loire / La Chapelle-Montlinard / Couarges / Pouilly-sur-Loire

13 km
52 min
I begin
L’île du Faubourg, an island at La Charité-sur-Loire, provides an exceptionally scenic view of the Loire, on the frontier between Burgundy and Centre-Val de Loire, both regions famed for their wines. On this Loire à Vélo stretch through the heart of the Val de Loire Nature Reserve, enjoy the river’s wonderful shifting light. This stage is very easy, mainly on greenways.
Pouilly-sur-Loire / Couargues / Sancerre

5 Pouilly-sur-Loire / Couargues / Sancerre

11 km
42 min
I cycle often
This is a short, easy Loire à Vélo stage, encouraging you to enter Sancerre’s glorious hilly countryside and taste its famed wines. Here you can mix cycling with gastronomy and oenology, of course making sure you drink in moderation! A detour up to the historic town of Sancerre itself is highly recommended.
Sancerre / Beaulieu-sur-Loire

6 Sancerre / Beaulieu-sur-Loire

29 km
2 h 06 min
I cycle often
This Loire à Vélo stage, going along the eastern edge of the old French province of Berry, alternates between stretches beside the wild Loire and others alongside the Canal Latéral à la Loire. Between Léré and Belleville-sur-Loire, the heritage of centuries of river trade is everywhere to be seen. This stage is very easy, mainly sticking to greenways.
Beaulieu-sur-Loire / Briare

7 Beaulieu-sur-Loire / Briare

14 km
56 min
I begin
Travel by waterway has pride of place along this beautiful stretch of the Loire à Vélo. The highlight is Mantelot Lock by Châtillon-sur-Loire, where boats once gathered to cross the Loire, before the construction of the canal-bridge at nearby Briare. Lock and canal-bridge are both splendid constructions not to be missed. This section is easy, mainly on greenways.
Briare / Gien

8 Briare / Gien

12 km
49 min
I cycle often
The Briare canal-bridge is the highlight on this Loire à Vélo stage. The route then continues via hilly little roads to the town of Gien, renowned far and wide for its pottery. See how its haughty castle stands aloof above the town as you approach Gien via the Loire’s south bank. On this stage, several stretches are on roads with slopes.
Gien / Sully-sur-Loire

9 Gien / Sully-sur-Loire

28 km
1 h 52 min
I cycle often
This Loire à Vélo stage runs in part beside the Loire. Here, you reach the eastern end of the stretch of the Loire Valley designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval Château de Sully provides a brilliant introduction, guarding the river, surveying cylists as they pass by. Several stretches of the route are along roads, with some significant slopes.
Sully-sur-Loire / Germiny-des-Prés

10 Sully-sur-Loire / Germiny-des-Prés

16 km
1 h 03 min
I cycle often
Leaving the superb Château de Sully-sur-Loire behind, this Loire à Vélo stage follows the great meanders in the Loire to the city of Orléans. Glorious, calm halts here include the magnificent Abbey of St-Benoît-sur-Loire and the ancient church at Germigny-des-Prés. This is an easy stage, mainly on greenways.
Germiny-des-Prés / Jargeau

11 Germiny-des-Prés / Jargeau

13 km
50 min
I cycle often
This Loire à Vélo stage sticks close to a great Loire meander leading to Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, a town with a museum dedicated to Loire mariners and trade. Lovely grounds planted with rare trees provide a peaceful place to stop. Continue to south-bank Jargeau via a raised levée affording lovely views across the Loire. The route is easy, on quiet roads and greenways.
Jargeau / Orléans

12 Jargeau / Orléans

22 km
1 h 23 min
I begin
The dramatic skyline of the city of Orléans can be seen from afar, shifting with the meanders in the Loire as you draw closer. The outdoor sports and recreation centre of the Ile Charlemagne offers a green lung in the city, a place to relax before exploring this intense town. The route is easy, mainly on greenways.

See also