Raucoules / Riotord

J.Damase - Via Fluvia

J. Damase - Viafluvia

Chapelle et tableaux Flamands à Montfaucon

J.Damase - Via Fluvia

R.Vezin - Via Fluvia

J.Damase - Via Fluvia

J.Damase - Via Fluvia

R.Vezin - Via Fluvia

Itinéraire sur voie verte vers Le Riotord

R.Vezin - Via Fluvia

Itinéraire Via Fluvia, voie verte vers Montfaucon en Velay

J.Damase - Via Fluvia

J. Damase - Via Fluvia

15 km

1 h 01 min

I begin

Raucoules

Riotord

Old railway

Nature & small heritage

This Via Fluvia stage brings to mind the great railway age of the past. Riding through the heart of the countryside, you follow in the tracks of an astonishing railway heritage, with its former stations, its viaducts, aqueducts and tunnels. The last original working station is the Gare d’Oumey, starting point for the steam train, the Velay Express. Even if you don’t embark on a journey on this locomotive, enjoy watching it set out, the curls of smoke rising from it as it gathers speed. The train’s whistles still ringing in your head, cycle on to Riotord, following Les Dunières Gorges in a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Gradients and elevation

Ascents: 137m

Descents: 135m

Lowest point: 787m

Highest point: 918m

Road types

15km (100%) Cycle path

Surface

15km (100%) Smooth

Via Fluvia from Raucoules to Riotord

This Via Fluvia stage is entirely on greenway with a smooth surface (accessible to wheelchairs, prams, scooters, rollerbladers, etc). Leaving Oumey Station (Raucoules), cross the D64 road, followed by the D105 just before Montfaucon en Velay. Further on, cycle through a tunnel a few hundred metres long. Leaving the large village of Dunières, cross the D44 road. You then come to several remarkable engineering works, including Sarcenas Viaduct, the route here shared with motorized vehicles for some 50m. Take care on a stretch of several hundred metres after the wooden chalet at Riotord, as the small factory here can attract traffic.

Liaison en train touristique avec la Dolce Via - Gare d'Oumey

You can embark, along with your bike, on the Velay Express steam train up to the town of Saint-Agrève, which lies on the Dolce Via cycle route.
You need to reserve your seat and a place for your bike on the official website for the Velay Express, where you can find prices, etc

Don't miss

Raucoules (Oumey Station): the Velay Express, providing heritage trains which you can board to discover the Velay Plateau, the Lignon Gorges and the area of St Agrève
Montfaucon en Velay: a collection of 12 Flemish paintings by Abel Grimer, dating back to the 16th century, listed as historic monuments
Dunières: for an adventure on vélorails (rail bikes) taking you through wild, unspoilt corners of the Velay via a mountain railway track that includes viaducts, tunnels and some long descents
Romanesque Church of Saint Martin, from the 12th century, listed as an historic monument, a masterpiece of the Poitou Romanesque style, unique in the Velay