Une boucle de 800 km à vélo entre Nantes, La Rochelle, Niort et Angers
Un itinéraire cyclable en boucle qui vous fera découvrir le Grand Ouest de la France sous ses multiples facettes. Vous pourrez voguer le long de la Loire à vélo entre Saumur et Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, en profitant du voyage pour visiter les villes d'Angers et de Nantes. Les baignades dans l'Atlantique seront au programme en pédalant aux abords du littoral sur La Vélodyssée.
À Marans, le parcours oblique à l'Est pour une traversée du Marais Poitevin qui vous fera découvrir la "Venise Verte" et ses chemins carrossables au bord de canaux ombragés. À Niort, vous serpentez au fil de la Vallée du Thouet pour y découvrir ses nombreuses cités fortifiées et son petit patrimoine.
- Départ : Ville au choix sur la boucle (Nantes, La Rochelle, Niort, Angers ...)
- Distance : ~ 770 kilomètres
- Balisage : boucle vélo 100% balisée dans les 2 sens / empruntant plusieurs itinéraires
- La Loire à Vélo (Saumur - Saint-Brevin-les-Pins)
- La Vélodyssée - itinéraire certifié EuroVelo (Saint-Brevin-les-Pins - La Rochelle)
- La Vélo Francette (La Rochelle - Saumur)
L'Atlantique en roue libre
La sortie de Nantes par l'estuaire et ses oeuvres à découvrir au fil du parcours est une bonne introduction pour cette première section aux accents maritimes. Au plus près de la côte, suivez l'itinéraire balisé de La Vélodyssée. Sur votre route l'île de Noirmoutier, l'île d'Yeu et l'île de Ré vous invitent à musarder et à ralentir votre progression...
Une échappée dans le marais Poitevin
À Marans, on quitte la façade maritime de cette grande boucle pour s'enfoncer dans le marais Poitevin. Au fil des canaux, vous suivez l'itinéraire de La Vélo Francette. Petits ports, faune et flore et charmants villages sont au programme de cette excursion 100% nature jusqu'à Niort.
Changement de braquet sur les rives du Thouet
La vallée du Thouet est bordée par un riche patrimoine. Petites cités médiévales, châteaux, ponts romans et églises romanes se succèdent sur ce parcours entre Poitou et Anjou.
À la poursuite de la Loire
Cette grande boucle s'achève par la majestueuse Loire que vous suivez entre Saumur et Nantes. Sur La Loire à Vélo, vous accompagnez les derniers kilomètres du plus long fleuve de France. Vignobles, Châteaux et villes dynamiques
Tailor-made itineraries
Tailor-made itineraries
35 Nantes / Le Pellerin
Contemporary art features large along the Loire’s long estuary and this stage shared by the Loire à Vélo and Velodyssey cyles routes. The installations are startling, set in unusual locations. They offer joyous surprises close to the city of Nantes.
36 Le Pellerin / Paimboeuf
The calm Canal de la Martinière acts as your guide on this stage shared by EuroVelo 6 and the Loire à Vélo cycle routes. You cycle along quiet little roads, in the midst of landscapes typical of the Loire estuary, with broad marshes and meadows spreading out from the great river.
37 Paimboeuf / St-Brevin-les-Pins
This is the last stage on the Loire à Vélo cycle route, but it also offers you the opportunity of joining the Velodyssey cycle route as it runs alongside the Atlantic. The Loire is strongly affected by the tides here and arriving at the end of the stage, you end up in a typical seaside resort!
14 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 into the countryside of the Pays de Retz towards St-Michel-Chef-Chef and the charming tourist seaside resort of Pornic.
15 Pornic / Bouin
La Vélodyssée route continues its tour of the Bay of Bourgneuf, brushing past the Breton Marshes in the search for out-of-the-ordinary landscapes in an area rich in birds local to the region. Human activity makes itself felt in the form of the fisheries and the small working ports which dot the coastline. One last gourmet stage on the Loire-Atlantique, La Vélodyssée route continues its tour of the Bay of Bourgneuf. We find ourselves in oyster country, encountering numerous little oyster ports and pits used to cultivate the oysters.
16 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 of its wind turbines!) before arriving at the very lively Port-du-Bec in Epoids. The highlight of the day will be crossing the famous Gois causeway to the Island of Noirmoutier, tides permitting!
17 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 cycle paths winding through the national forest of Pays de Monts, after which you come to the very lively seaside resort of St-Jean-de-Monts. Before reaching the Vendéenne Cove and its famous boulders at Sion-sur-l’Océan, La Vélodyssée heads towards an old fishing village in the commune of St-Hilaire-de-Riez, adjoining St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. A superb stage.
18 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 ‘life’… all this and the Grande Plage… altogether an unmissable location on La Vélodyssée! Take time to stroll around before continuing on the route which gets closer to the coast towards Brétignolles-sur-Mer and Brem-sur-Mer.The route stretches along the coast and snakes through the Avocettes road between the Olonne forest and the ancient salt marshes which extend between Brem, the Isle of Olonne, Olonne-sur-Mer and Les Sables-d’Olonne.
19 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’ capital of Aunis) centre stage. The Vendéenne coast brings the cycle routes back to the Poitevin Marshes. Once past the Sèvre Niortaise River, we find ourselves at Charente-Maritime and the Marans canal which leads straight to the Old Port. After St-Vincent, La Vélodyssée winds its way into the large national forest of Longeville, drawing close to the sea on two occasions from where beautiful beaches can easily be accessed, such as Les Conches. A quick dip is a must on this stage!
20 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 which stretches endlessly towards the point of Arçay, mark this stage of La Vélodyssée. The route then heads into St-Michel-en-l’Herm through the dried marshes of Marais Poitevin a great expanse of marshes and cultivated land dotted with farms and sheds. The crossing of the Pont du Brault takes us into Charente-Maritime in the ancient district of Aunis. Marans, the capital of the dried Marais marshes, was once a very important look-out point.
21 Marans / La Rochelle
Nature takes centre stage during this leg of the journey, as you cycle past the water that flows through the charming canals which join the Poitevin marshes. We pass Marans, the ancient watchtower on the estuary of the Niort Sèvre which looks out over the marshes, and follow the canal that leads us to La Rochelle and onto the ocean.
24 Marans / La Rochelle
This final stage of La Vélo Francette shares the way with the longer La Vélodyssée cycle route. You follow the Canal de Marans towards the sea before branching off for the great city of La Rochelle via the Canal de Rompsay. Although this stage is easy, it allows you to end La Vélo Francette with a flourish – plus there’s the possibility of a dip in the Atlantic! Islands beckon just off the coast, if you wish to prolong your experience of douce France!
23 Damvix / Bazoin / Marans
The Sèvre Niortaise remains your guide on this stage, except on two stretches, one where you follow the Canal du Nouveau Béjou, the other the Canal du Pomère. Enjoy the ballet of little boats exploring the wetlands around these parts. You arrive at Marans via its quaysides, allowing you to appreciate how this little town lives via its waterways. Marans traditionally stood guard over the canal, marshes and river estuary; today it stands out because of its futuristic bell tower.
22 Coulon / Damvix / Bazoin
Coulon, located at the heart of the wet marshes of the Marais Poitevin and set so prettily beside the Sèvre Niortaise River, can offer cyclists on La Vélo Francette all the amenities they need. After crossing through the marshes, you rejoin the Sèvre Niortaise after Irleau. Approaching Damvix, the canalised river takes a straighter line, as though in a rush to join the ocean.
21 Niort / Coulon
You stick close to the water’s edge, following the meanders of the Sèvre Niortaise River, alternating between the towpath and quiet riverside roads. The sites of Roussille or La Garette offer ideal spots for a pause in these winding parts. Or consider a longer halt at the little capital of the Marais Poitevin, the gorgeous, watery village of Coulon.
20 Champdeniers-St-Denis / Niort
Champdeniers-St-Denis makes for a surprising stop, with its amenities and its remarkably rich local heritage. The route then alternates between quiet roads and farm tracks as it heads on to join the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise River at the level of Ternanteuil. After a big meander, the route arrives in the city of Niort, taking you to the base of its towering twin keeps.
19 Parthenay / Champdeniers-St-Denis
From Parthenay, the Thouet à Vélo cycle route branches west via Secondigny towards the Thouet’s source, heading into the county of Vendée. La Vélo Francette continues southwestwards towards the town of Niort. You cross the Pays de Gâtine, a hillier area; turning many a corner, magnificent views open up of the unspoilt countryside and hedgerows. Savour this stage along quiet country roads.
18 La Vélo Francette from Airvault to Parthenay
An unforgettable stage, along quiet roads. The village of Airvault, with its abbey church, covered market and underground fountain, sets the tone. Next, the moated château and village of St-Loup-sur-Thouet will surprise you. Then the Lac du Cébron provides room to relax before continuing along the Thouet, crossing via a railway viaduct to reach the haughty medieval fortified town of Parthenay.
17 Thouars / Airvault
After visiting the historic heart of Thouars, take in the Imbert Floral Park, with its lovely terraces above the River Thouet. Leaving this Ville d’Art & d’Histoire, you can continue to appreciate to the full the charms of the Thouet’s riverbanks. As you cycle along, enjoy glimpses of waterfalls, wooded slopes and lovely historic buildings.
16 Montreuil-Bellay / Thouars
From Montreuil-Bellay, you descend back down to the Thouet River, heading for Thouars. The véloroute runs peacefully beside the river. La Ballastière Lake makes for a pleasant stop before you continue towards Taizon. Here, in centuries past, travellers had to pay a toll to cross the bridge. You can make out the town of Thouars on the horizon…
15 Saumur / Montreuil-Bellay
La Vélo Francette leaves Saumur via a pretty greenway beside the Thouet River. Then the route adopts farm tracks and quiet country roads. Crossing villages, fields and the sloping vineyards of the Saumurois area, this stage finishes at the foot of Montreuil-Bellay, an historic fortified town on Anjou’s southern border and listed as a member of Les Plus Beaux Détours de France and a Petite Cité de caractère, given its many charms.
25 Saumur / St-Rémy-la-Varenne
On this Loire à Vélo stage, enjoy some of the most spectacular, luminous stretches along the Loire. The route hugs the south bank of the river, allowing you to appreciate close-up remarkable buildings made in the gorgeous local tufa limestone, including the major church at Cunault and St-Maur Abbey. All told, a magical but easy stage.
26 St-Rémy-la-Varenne / la Daguenière
For this Loire à Vélo stage, cross to the Loire’s north bank through Anjou, cycling through former marshes turned into rich agricultural lands in medieval times, when the raised levées were built. Pick up local produce on the way! At La Daguenière, either head for Anjou’s capital city, Angers, via Trélazé’s former open slate mines, or follow the Loire to the dramatic confluence with the Maine River at Bouchemaine.
27 La Daguenière / Angers
This Loire à Vélo stage to Anjou’s capital takes you through the startling landscapes of the former slate mines of Trélazé. Then enjoy crossing the Authion River via a little cable ferry. This makes for a fun way to reach the enticing city of Angers, spread across both banks of the Maine River. An equally enjoyable alternative route takes you to Bouchemaine via the Loire-side town of Les Ponts-de-Cé (see stage La Daguenière >Bouchemaine).
29 Angers / Bouchemaine
In the heart of Anjou, this Loire à Vélo stage goes from opposite Angers’s central castle out via the green setting of the Lac de Maine. This urban stage is startling, avoiding motorized traffic, taking you through parkland and alongside the Maine River. Bouchemaine is great for a stop, for its typical quayside restaurants or a picnic beside the Loire.
30 Bouchemaine / Chalonnes-sur-Loire
Start at La Pointe, in a tremendous setting in the heart of Anjou, where the Maine River joins the Loire. A bit west, this magical Loire à Vélo stage allows you glimpses of the prestigious vine-covered slopes of Savennières. You follow the wild Loire closely here. Don’t miss Béhuard Island before going on to cross Chalonnes’s island.
31 Chalonnes-sur-Loire / St-Florent-le-Vieil
This Loire à Vélo stage in Anjou crosses the startling island of Chalonnes, one of the largest on the Loire. Nearby, along the south bank, are the celebrated Coteaux du Layon vineyards, then the pretty perched villages of Montjean-sur-Loire and St-Florent-le-Vieil. The route is along quiet roads, cyclists able to make the most of the raised Loire-side levées and views across the islands.
32 St-Florent-le-Vieil / Champtoceaux
From Mont Glonne, at the top of St-Florent-le-Vieil, with its great views of the Loire Valley, this Loire à Vélo stage goes on to Champtoceaux, an historic fortified site with further tremendous river views, standing on Anjou’s frontier with the Pays d’Ancenis on the north bank. It’s worth conquering the heights of St-Florent and Champtoceaux for the panoramas! The route is along quiet roads and greenways.
33 Champtoceaux / Mauves-sur-Loire
Welcome to the Basse-Loire, or Lower Loire and the county of Loire Atlantique. The importance of the Atlantic begins to be felt on this Loire à Vélo stage, as the ocean starts to exert more of an influence. The Loire islands, vine-covered slopes producing Muscadet wine and flat, very fertile market-gardening fields on the way to Nantes provide pleasingly varied landscapes. This Loire à Vélo stage proves interesting as well as easy.
34 Mauves-sur-Loire / Nantes
Designated European Green Capital in 2013, the city of Nantes comes into view, a shaded towpath offering a gentle way into town. The new Tabarly Bridge leads over to L’île de Nantes, home to extraordinary outsized machines you can ride on, and to the Malakoff Quarter, being completely renovated. This island makes for a great introduction to the joyous tumult of the largest city along the Loire à Vélo cycle route.
Côté pratique :
- Accès en train :
- TER Pays de la Loire : consulter les horaires
- Pays de la Loire : voyager avec son vélo dans le TER
- CAR + VELO entre Le Mans et Saumur :
- Autocar régional - Ligne 26 (horaires) entre Le Mans, La Flèche, Baugé et Saumur avec emport des vélos
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