La Vélidéale

Description All stages Reviews

Nature & small heritage

1 week or more

665 Km

I cycle often

Royère-de-Vassivière

Saint-Nazaire

From the Lac de Vassivière, in the heart of the old region of the Limousin, to Saint-Nazaire, a major port at the mouth of the Loire, La Vélidéale cycle route provides a cycling adventure across a large swathe of western France that demonstrates the biodiversity of these parts, linking five Parcs Naturels Régionaux, plus further fragile, protected natural areas, espaces sensibles. Not only will you cross many rivers along the Vélidéale, but also many beautiful protected marshes. Wander the lanes of several historic small towns and villages designated Petites Cités de Caractère and take refreshing pauses beside a number of lakes. This cycle route also offers variety in terms of countryside, towns, even a coastal stretch… Consider putting together your very own cycling adventure, as there are ten cycle routes connected to the Vélidéale, including the Loire à Vélo, the Scandibérique and La Vélo Francette. So, you might combine sections of several and return to the Vélidéale at various stages. Focusing on the Vélidéale itself, it sets a certain tone and pace, offering freedom to contemplate peaceful, precious natural environments that need cherishing. This cycle route might be considered a new ambassador for slow tourism!

Official Website

Elevation of the route

4356 m 3618 m

Waytypes of the cycle route

Cycle path: 165,45 km By road: 502,90 km Unknown: 15,53 km

Surface of the cycle route

Smooth: 402,57 km Rough: 82,01 km Unpaved: 8,72 km Unknown: 190,58 km

"La Vélidéale", a 665 km-long cycle route, from the Lac de Vassivière to the Atlantic

Signposting & shifts in altitude

Signposting: signage has been put in place along the Vélidéale. Signs carry the national numbering for the cycle route, V93, as well as its logo.
Shifts in altitude: out east, there are some significant slopes to tackle in the départements (French counties) of Creuse and Haute Vienne. Riding on westwards through Charente and Deux-Sèvres (and the Gâtine area), there are only gentle slopes. After the town of Mauléon, slopes are rare, but there are some to tackle in the Sèvre Nantaise Valley and at La Montagne, not a mountain, but a village set back from the Loire west of the city of Nantes.

Access

This cycle route has a good number of railway stations dotted along the way that cyclists can use and that offer both high-speed TGV and TER regional train services, including:

Access to La Vélidéale from Paris :

Paris > Limoges by Intercités : 3h30 average journey time
Paris > Niort by TGV Inoui : 2h38 average journey time
Paris > Nantes > St-Nazaire by TGV Inoui : 3h22 average journey time

Access to La Vélidéale from Bordeaux :

Bordeaux > Limoges by TER : 3h16 average journey time
Bordeaux > Niort by TGV Inoui et TER : 3h31 average journey time
Bordeaux > Nantes by TGV Intercités : 4h34 average journey time

Connections with further cycle routes

Tour de Creuse at Royère de Vassivière
La Vagabonde at Royère de Vassivière
La Scandibérique - EuroVelo 3 from St-Quentin-sur-Charente to Confolens
La Vélo Francette from Niort to Parthenay
Vendée Vélo Tour from Cugand to Mallièvre
La Régalante at Nantes
La Loire à Vélo - EuroVelo 6 at Nantes
La Vélodyssée - EuroVelo 1 at Nantes
Vélocéan at St-Nazaire