Aubusson / Royère-de-Vassivière

From Aubusson, on the route de la Tapisserie to Felletin, a 46 km stage that follows in the footsteps of Tour de France legends. Royère de Vassivière, overlooking Lake Vassivière, offers wide-open spaces for cycling in an exceptional environment. The 23.5 km "circuit des légendes" takes you around the lake, a large part of which was used during the 3 time trials (1985: Greg Lemond victory, 1990: Erik Breuking victory, 1995: Miguel Indurain victory) of the Tour de France held in Vassivière. The great men of cycling who have competed on the roads of Vassivière wanted this circuit to pay tribute to the iconic champion Raymond Poulidor, who was born in Creuse, just a few kilometers from Bourganeuf. Today, his grandson, Mathieu Van der Poel, Road World Champion 2023, continues the family tradition!

The Route

This stage is shared with the Tour de Creuse cycle route. You ride along small roads with light traffic, covering a distance of 49km. Totalling a 360m positive shift in altitude, this stage is relatively short, much of it downhill, and it presents few difficulties. However, take care tackling the gentle but long slope lasting 8km from Aubusson up to the village of Saint Amand. All along this stage, green and white signposts guide you along the way.

Liaison
Loop around the Lac de Vassivière.

Do not miss

• Aubusson : the art of Tapestry, a town with the "Most Beautiful Detours in France" label, and with Tapestry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Felletin : designated a Ville d'Art et de Savoir-faire, another cradle of tapestry-making in France, the town centre boasting a fine religious heritage, notably with Le Moutier Church and its murals, and the castle church, alongside a wider architectural heritage, reflected in fine houses and the Pont Roby bridge.
• Lac de Vassivière : a vast man-made reservoir covering 1,000 hectares, boasting 45km of waterside banks full of twists and turns, and including woods and beaches, giving the area the feel of ‘‘a Canada in miniature’’.