Elevation of the route
Waytypes of the cycle route
Surface of the cycle route
Signposting and state of the itinerary
The Vélodyssée / EuroVelo 1 is entirely marked with road signs on both sides from North to South. The Vélodyssée logo is accompanied with its EuroVelo 1 ID.
Itinerary mainly developped on securised lanes. Some difficulties can be faced on the end of the itinerary between Bayonne and Hendaye (roads sections, some ups and downs).
Services and accomodations "Accueil Vélo" ("Cyclists Welcome") on The Vélodyssée
Nearly 430 accomodations (campings, hotels, lodges, guest houses) "Accueil Vélo" ("Cyclists Welcome") are located at less than 5km away from the itinerary and they guarantee quality services for cyclists such as a closed garage for example. We strongly advise to book your accomodations in advance (including campings), especially in touristic areas.
Climate
The itinerary can be ridden in good conditions form spring to autumn. The towpath alongside the Nantes to Brest canal can be a little trickier in case of important rain. West wind often present.
Trains and public transports alongside The Vélodyssée
The itinerary is well served with trains, although you need to be careful during peak periods when bicycle transports can become complicated in TER.
- TER between Nantes et Roscoff
- Intercité between Nantes et Bordeux
- TER between Bordeaux and Le Verdon-sur-mer
- TER between Bordeaux > Arcachon > Biarritz > Hendaye
- Ferry crossing between Royan and Le Verdon
Long-time parkings on The Velodyssée
Cycling route ideas on the itinerary
The best cycling holiday breaks
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Roscoff > Morlaix
After leaving the old port enjoy a stage filled with scents from the fields of early fruits and vegetables in the Pays [...]
Morlaix > Carhaix
The seaside atmosphere slips into the background once the greenway reaches the upper part of town. From here on, this [...]
Carhaix-Plouguer / Rostrenen
La Vélodyssée goes up past the Kergaden Lock on the Nantes to Brest Canal. The large wooded cutting at Glomel [...]
Rostrenen / Mûr-de-Bretagne
At the heart of the Guerlédan-Argoat Country is a steep sided valley where the Blavet winds through the woods until it [...]
Mûr-de-Bretagne / Pontivy
Designated track and very steep descent into the Guerlédan dam towards Pontivy. Here the Blavet is no longer [...]
Pontivy / Josselin
A section of La Vélodyssée with a dedicated cycle path and one rich in waterway heritage: 54 locks and the Rigole [...]
Josselin / Peillac
There is a medieval feel to this stage of La Vélodyssée, both in Malestroit and in Josselin with their timber-framed [...]
Peillac / Redon
The area of Île-aux-Pies, with its almost Mediterranean feel – pine trees and rocky peaks – brings a chic ambience [...]
Redon / Blain
Staying close to the Brière and the confluence of the Isac and the Vilaine, this stage of La Vélodyssée follows the [...]
Blain / Nort-sur-Erdre
This is the last, very easy going and enjoyable stage of La Vélodyssée along the Nantes to Brest canal. The [...]
Nort-sur-Erdre / Nantes
Quiheix’s second lock marks the end of the Nantes to Brest canal towpath. Gradually you return to the hustle and [...]
Nantes / Le Pellerin
An exhibition of contemporary art is displayed all the way down the estuary on this shared stage of La Vélodyssée and [...]
Le Pellerin / St-Brevin-les-Pins
A stretch of water between the Loire, marshes and hedged farmland, the Martinière canal is your ‘Ariadne’s [...]
St-Brevin-les-Pins / Pornic
This stage of La Vélodyssée starts by crossing St-Brevin between the sea, dunes, pine trees and villas. It continues [...]
Pornic / Bouin
La Vélodyssée route continues its tour of the Bay of Bourgneuf, brushing past the Breton Marshes in the search for [...]
Bouin / La Barre de Monts - Fromentine
The last stage of La Vélodyssée in the Bay of Bourgneuf-en-Retz (your pedals keeping time with the sweeping circles [...]
La Barre de Monts - Fromentine / St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
This stage of La Vélodyssée focuses entirely on the sea, the beach, the forest and the dunes. There are 18 kms of [...]
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie / Les Sables d'Olonne
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, working port, well-known seaside resort, significantly located on a river whose name means [...]
Les Sables d'Olonne / La Tranche-sur-Mer
In this fairytale setting are both Les Sables (world capital of yacht racing) and La Rochelle, (the ‘broken rebel’ [...]
La Tranche-sur-Mer / Marans
La Belle-Henriette Lagoon, separated from the sea by a narrow band of sand, and then your arrival into La Faute-sur-Mer [...]
Marans / La Rochelle
Nature takes centre stage during this leg of the journey, as you cycle past the water that flows through the charming [...]
La Rochelle / Rochefort
As the famous towers which defend the port of La Rochelle hove into view, a cycle path section takes us to the Port of [...]
Rochefort / Marennes
It’s with great regret that we leave behind Rochefort and its gardens on the banks of the Charente. We take the [...]
Marennes / Royan
The Marennes Country, home to the leading oyster farms in Europe, spreads over salt marshes and the Seudre estuary. [...]
Royan / Montalivet-les-Bains
Upon entering the Gironde, a new world reveals itself to travellers on La Vélodyssée. La pointe de Grave also marks [...]
Montalivet-les-Bains / Hourtin-Plage
From Montalivet to Naujac (apart from a large chicane and a gentle bend) you can ride on autopilot on this part of La [...]
Hourtin-Plage / Lacanau-Océan
Still in the forest and still on cycle paths. The natural reserves encountered throughout the route demonstrate that [...]
Lacanau-Océan / Lège-Cap-Ferret
A pleasant stage of La Vélodyssée on designated lanes between dunes and the forest. Take time out to stray off the [...]
Lège-Cap-Ferret / Arcachon
Those nostalgic for the trains of yesteryear, welcome! Except for a shared section with traffic between Lège and [...]
Arcachon / Biscarrosse-plage
After an essential trip to the top of the Dune of Pilat to appreciate the beauty of the area and the views, we once [...]
Biscarrosse-plage / Parentis-en-Born
From Gironde to the Landes nothing really changes, apart from the section of military land which forces La Vélodyssée [...]
Parentis-en-Born / Mimizan-Plage
After the Biscarrosse and Parentis Lakes, the trail follows secondary roads and takes us to the more secluded northern [...]
Mimizan-Plage / Léon
Having soaked up the atmosphere of the Mimizan-Plage seaside resort, it’s back on the saddle to once more find the [...]
Léon / Capbreton
La Vélodyssée now heading north, advances to a few hundred yards from the Côte d’Argent, gradually getting closer [...]
Capbreton / Bayonne
This stage between the Landes and the Basque Country lets us enjoy forest and large beaches as we make our way along [...]
Bayonne / Biarritz
La Vélodyssée now heading north, advances to a few hundred yards from the Côte d’Argent, gradually getting closer [...]
Biarritz / Saint-Jean-de-Luz
This stage of La Vélodyssée is punctuated with vantage points enjoying exceptional ocean views but it is sometimes [...]
Saint-Jean-de-Luz / Hendaye-Plage
Final stage of La Vélodyssée before reaching the Spanish border and the rhythm of the Bolero. After St-Jean-de-Luz [...]
Travellers’ reviews