Sancerre / Beaulieu-sur-Loire

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.

Route

Take care crossing the D 82 road at the level of the electricity power station and the Maison de Loire du Cher. Pay close attention, as soon as you’ve crossed the bridge at Belleville-sur-Loire, to descend straight away to the right onto the landscaped towpath, then after 20 metres, turn right onto a 100 m stretch on a grassy track. A detour to Boulleret or Cosne is worth the while.

Links

From Sancerre, descend the hill following the signposts. Take care on the steep slope at the end of the greenway, just before the Canal Latéral à la Loire. On the link towards Cosne-sur-Loire, take care crossing the bridge over the Loire.

Don’t miss

Belleville-sur-Loire: its Gallo-romain site; the Maison de Loire du Cher (with exhibitions on the Loire here); the port; lake-fishing; the summer jazz festival
Bannay: the historic town, pretty church and lock.
Cosne-sur-Loire: the pretty historic town centre, the museums on the Loire and French postmen; a variety of services and shops
Léré: the collegiate church of St Martin

Markets

• Léré : Saturday morning
• Cosne-sur-Loire : Wednesday and Sunday morning