Royan / Talmont-sur-Gironde / Mortagne-sur-Gironde
Past Royan’s port, this stage begins at Royan’s Grande Conche Beach. Head along the seafront on a lovely shaded cycle path. The cycle route then threads between tracks and quiet roads to Meschers-sur-Gironde before reaching Talmont-sur-Gironde, an astonishing look-out post onto the estuary and part of the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Caillaud Cliff and the square fishing nets suspended above the waters add to the atmosphere. The stage continues via quiet, sometimes steep roads and tracks to Mortagne-sur-Gironde, a port well protected from the temperamental Gironde.
Gradients and elevation
Slope breakdown
Road types
- Cycle path
- Routes reserved for cyclists and pedestrians (greenways, cycle tracks, towpaths), separated from cars for maximum safety.
- Shared road
- Quiet minor roads with little traffic (unless otherwise stated in the stage details). Shared with cars (stay alert).
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
- Provisional
- Section on a road or cycle path awaiting better-quality facilities (see stage details).
Surface
- Smooth
- Asphalt, tarmac or smooth concrete. Optimal comfort.
- Rough
- Fine gravel, compacted stabilised surface or worn tarmac. Less comfortable, vibrations possible.
- Natural
- Dirt, grass, roots or stones. Under 5%: short sections with little impact. Higher percentage: route suited to mountain or gravel bikes only.
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
The route
Follow the cycle track to leave Royan.
Then use a mix of quiet roads and tracks up to Talmont-sur-Gironde.
From Caillaud Cliff to Mortagne-sur-Gironde, the route is steeper, going along a mix of tracks, greenways and quiet but rough small roads.
Between Les Monards and Mortagne-sur-Gironde, the paths along the route are, for the time being, very rough.
Take care:
- Be especially careful when crossing at Port-des-Monards: the RD 145 road here is narrow and winding and can be dangerous.
- Take particular care at the place named Chez Gautron: crossing the RD 145 here requires caution; then you have to negotiate a steep, 10% grassy slope for 210 metres, forcing you to dismount from your bike.
SNCF train stations
Royan station :
TER regional trains and Intercités trains serve Saintes (7 to 10 trains daily) ; Correspondence from Saintes to Angoulême/Poitiers/Tours/Paris/Niort/La Rochelle/Nantes
Tourist offices
- Office de Tourisme de Royan
- Office de Tourisme de Talmont
- Office de Tourisme de Saint Georges de Didonne
- Office de Tourisme de Meschers sur Gironde
