Vallée et Gorges de l'Aveyron by bike

Canals & intimate rivers

Short trip

85 Km

I cycle often

Montauban

Laguépie

Between Toulouse, Montauban and Cahors, uncover the secrets of the Quercy region via the Vallée et Gorges de l’Aveyron à Vélo cycle route. It takes you through fertile plains and impressive gorges, following the meanders of the Aveyron River to allow you to make great discoveries. Among highlights are the châteaux at Bioule, Montricoux and Nègrepelisse, plus those at Bruniquel and Penne, perched above the valley, or then there’s the splendid medieval village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. Don’t miss the pink-brick town of Montauban, Grand Site Occitanie, a great culinary and cultural stop. Along the way, as well as enjoying beautiful landscapes and bathing spots, consider canoeing, rock-climbing and pot-holing, or hiking, horse-riding and mountain-biking trails. Plus there are challenging local cycle trails to tackle.

Elevation of the route

476 m 547 m

Waytypes of the cycle route

Cycle path: 3,49 km By road: 78,50 km

Surface of the cycle route

Smooth: 81,99 km

Signposting and state of the route

The route is signposted along 85 miles, in both directions, between Montauban and Laguépie. You can continue on from the latter to the outskirts of Najac using the signposted Circuit n°11 du Pays Midi-Quercy.

The route is linked to the Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo going from Montauban via Montech. In the future, the aim is for the route to cover the Aveyron Valley upstream towards Villefranche-de-Rouergue and Rodez.

The route at present consists of a portion of greenway outside Montauban (c. 5%) and a range of quiet roads following the Aveyron Valley (c. 95%). Along the stretch up to Montricoux, there is little change in altitude, but the whole route proves enjoyable for experienced cyclists covering it in its entirety. There are some quite steep sections between Bruniquel and Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val that are only really suitable for sporty types, although others could tackle them on electronic bikes.

A free cycling map published by Tarn-et-Garonne Tourisme provides all the details on the route.

Trains and transport along the Vallée et Gorges de l’Aveyron à Vélo

Montauban: Intercité Paris - Cahors - Toulouse and Intercité Toulouse – Agen – Bordeaux. – TER (regional trains) Toulouse – Montauban – Cahors – Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Laguépie: TER Toulouse – Figeac – Aurillac (c.1hr 15mins Laguépie – Toulouse)

Close by:

Caussade: TER Toulouse – Montauban – Cahors – Brive-la-Gaillarde
Najac: TER Toulouse – Figeac – Aurillac (c.1hr 30mins Najac – Toulouse).

There are many options for embarking on Train + Vélo circuits, leaving either from Toulouse or Montauban; for example, take the train Toulouse > Montauban / join the véloroute from Montauban to Laguépie / return by train Laguépie > Toulouse.

There’s also the possibility of enjoying a combination of the Vallée de l’Aveyron and Le Canal des 2 mers à Vélo routes; travel between Agen, Montauban and Toulouse, with or without using the train.