The Scandibérique continues through the Gâtinais area, along the towpath beside the Canal du Loing. This canal crosses gentle landscapes, with a mix of woods, fields and lakes. At the level of the hamlet Les Varennes, to enjoy a recreational break, ride over to the outdoor leisure centre at Souppes-sur-Loing, bathing here a treat on hot days. Also consider a detour to the historic fortified town of Château-Landon, with its interesting heritage. After the hamlet of Pont de Dordives, the cycle route reaches Buges Lock, where the Loing, Briare and Orléans Canals meet. Ride on to the town of Montargis, nicknamed the ‘Little Venice of the Gâtinais’.

Leaving Montargis, you change canal, the Scandibérique leading you on via the towpath beside the Canal de Briare. The Loing River meanders on by next to the canal, providing a green setting along this most peaceful of stages. Greet the lock-keepers and those on boats on the canal as you head down this friendly waterway, the route dotted with charming Gâtinais villages. You reach the highlight of this stage of the Scandibérique adventure at Rogny les 7 Écluses, the name giving away the reason for this village’s fame – its flight of seven locks! Do pause here for a picnic, taking in the grand view.

From Rogny-les-7-Écluses, the Scandibérique continues to follow the course of the Briare Canal, first taking you beside the Étang-Neuf supply channel running parallel to Rogny’s flight of seven locks. While waiting for the definitive route, a provisional route guides you between Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses and the place called "Le Petit Chaloy". Engineering constructions put in place for the benefit of the canal’s boatmen are dotted along this stretch, which proves a delight for nature lovers too. Briare is renowned for its historic bridge-canal and its boating tourism, plus it’s the place where the Scandibérique joins the Loire à Vélo route, in a picture-postcard setting!

You couldn’t wish for a more elegant link between the Scandibérique and Loire à Vélo cycle routes than via the majestic Briare bridge-canal. Next, continue your cycling cruise in the direction of the Atlantic by following the Loire! Gien, with its fine stone bridge over the great river, is well worth visiting for its château, containing a museum on hunting, and its pottery museum, honouring local crafts. Then you enter the hallowed swathe of the Loire Valley recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site; the fabulous Château de Sully-sur-Loire marks its eastern boundary in splendid fashion, a memorable guard overseeing the Loire and the many cyclists following the serpentine meanders of France’s most regal river so closely.

After enjoying the green surrounds of the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, this Scandibérique stage leads you beside the Loire, drawing great meanders up to Orléans. Enjoy rustic stops at Germigny-des-Prés Church and Fleury Abbey, the latter dominating St-Benoît-sur-Loire. At Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, the Musée de la Marine de Loire focuses on river mariners, while the grounds contain rare species of trees and provide a fine picnic spot. Cycling along the Loire-side levée to Jargeau affords you filmic views on the river. Heading for Orléans, the city’s distinctive silhouette dominated by its cathedral comes into view on the north bank. Before reaching its urban bustle, the outdoor leisure centre on Ile Charlemagne offers you a green break where you can unwind.

A main gateway to the Loire Valley, Orléans is a city where the Loire and French history meet dramatically. The town is welcoming, its centre geared to pedestrians who can enjoy a slow pace and a peaceful atmosphere exploring the historic quarters and Ste-Croix Cathedral. After a good wander, time to get on your bike again, starting by enjoying discovering the lovely confluence of Loiret and Loire Rivers. Next, the route takes you in part along a stretch of Loire levée, allowing you to look across the wide agricultural and market-gardening lands up to Meung-sur-Loire. In this historic town, the Château de Meung-sur-Loire’s dungeons once housed disruptive medieval poet François Villon!

Beaugency, a member of the association Les Plus Beaux Détours de France, boasts an unmissable heritage, including its 12th-century bridge with 23 arches spanning the Loire. In summer, its quays transform into a beach, and a maize field turns into a labyrinth! Families cycling the route will love stopping here. Elsewhere, the striking contrast between picturesque villages and castles and St-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear power station reminds tourists of the Loire’s shifting importance down the centuries. Reaching the bridge at Muides-sur-Loire, either follow the Loire closely as far as Blois, or head away from the Loire’s south bank, not sticking faithfully to the Scandibérique, to explore Loire castles covered by Les Châteaux à Vélo…

The Scandibérique route leaves Blois along the Loire’s south bank, going via vine-covered slopes to Candé-sur-Beuvron. The Beuvron River then becomes your thread until rejoining the regal Loire close to the perched Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, surrounded by extraordinary gardens. Next, you ride past prestigious vineyards thriving beside the Loire. By now, you’ve entered beautiful Touraine, with its cliff-side caves and exceptional wineries, inciting you to stop for a tasting. The Château d’Amboise served as childhood home for major French Renaissance prince, the future François I; on becoming king, he called on Leonardo da Vinci to join his court, offering him the Clos Lucé as his home. This stage takes you to the heart of the French Renaissance.

On this Scandibérique stage, to see the startling Chanteloup Pagoda, you need to follow the link towards the Cher River. Otherwise, on this stage, you stay close to the Loire, with tempting wines to be found in the many cliff-side cellars and restaurants along the way, so resist over-indulging (as well as the sun), or else you may risk arriving at an unseemly hour at your accommodation! The gentle capital of Touraine, Tours, proves very welcoming, its historic centre teeming with fine culinary stops and things to discover. To carry on downstream, cycle down Avenue de Grammont, known for hosting the final sprint in the classic Paris-Tours cycle race. This stage then takes you along some gravel stretches and portions along beautiful slopes covered in vines. Enjoy the heady mix of Loire local traditions and new sporting opportunities along here!

The Loire, Cher and Indre are the three major rivers you’ll ride alongside, in that order, on this Scandibérique stage leading you south. You cross an agricultural plateau, the town of Ste-Maure de Touraine at its heart, to link up with the Vienne Valley. Following minor roads from village to village, enjoy remarkable discoveries, some marking the time Frankish leader Charles Martel fought off Arab invaders in these parts in the 8th century. Spot parks, keeps, churches, statuary, reliquaries… The markets are packed with fine local produce. On a picnic, savour different Sainte-Maure goat’s cheeses (laitier and fermier), with their distinctive cylindrical shape and straw through the middle. At the end of your meal, see who draws the short straw to have to transport all the local goodies you’ve bought to your next stopover!

Here, following the Scandibérique brings you back beside a river, this time the Vienne, at Marcilly-sur-Vienne. This stage follows its west bank, offers views of lovely landscapes. Vaux-sur-Vienne, climbing the slope from the river, is a village in a lovely green setting from which to embark on walks. Finally, the town of Châtellerault comes into view. Before and after World War I, it was known for manufacturing Lebel guns; after the factory closed in 1968, it was subsequently transformed into an ice-skating rink and cultural space, a sign of peace for future generations.