This page was last updated Mo 24 April 2023.

Contents: Tours (150)    Trails (4)    Sites (5)    Cycling info pages (16)    Organizations and clubs (4)   

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France (local)

This page lists all reports that for France only that do not involve other countries.
Click here for a list of all reports involving France.
All descriptions are in English, unless otherwise noted.

Tours

2019 Credit Card Tour of the Alps
by Nige White, tour started July 2019, submitted 20 August 2019
Europe: France

My first bike tour. I chose to do it in lightweight, credit card touring mode. I think this is the way I will holiday in future. No equipment needed.

View of Bourg d'Oisans from the road to Villard Reculas
Short tour of the Alps - Geneva to Grenoble
by Richard Evans, tour started July 2018, submitted 8 September 2018
Europe: France

A classic tour in five riding days from Geneva to Grenoble. The ride took in the Col De Aravis, Cormet de Roselend, Col d'Iseran, Col de Galibier, Col de Sarenne and Col d'Ornan. The page gives the route, the places I stayed in and place I ate at.

See all 12 reports by Richard Evans

Various cycling routes from a base in central brittany - France
by Geoff Husband, tour started 2017, submitted 11 December 2017
Europe: France

Gouarec is unique as not only is it on the Nantes-Brest canal, but it is also where the V1 cycleroute crosses the canal. This gives lots of very easy and varied cycing both on and off road. The village has all you need and the whole place is very cycling orientated. The routes on this page cover very easy wobbles to some more serious rides, but all have a restaurant/bar at their turning point! Please use and share freely.

See all 10 reports by Geoff Husband

This is the campsite at Gouarec that makes a lovely base for these tours
Cap Corse by e-bike
by Iris Mueck, tour started October 2014, submitted 28 October 2016
Europe: France

Our sail trip started at San Vincente (Italy) and we headed to Elba. A run into thunderstorm on the way to Bastia (Corse) and, believe it or not, we have been facing winds with 8 Beaufort. Complete wet and out of any power, we reached the Island. The weather forecast for the Island has been absolutely a disaster, what makes us change our tour.

We decided to sail North the next days in order to reach the Italian coast - Cinque Terre and Bocca di Magra. On the way North, the next city has been Macenaggio. To our surprise right at the harbor, there was a tourist information with charged e-bikes, waiting for us. Heide and me, we have taken the chance to ride Cap Corse. The rent was only EURO 10,- per 4 hours. Easy to ride over the mountain and look down to Cap Corse, whilst Ralph took care on our boat. The distance one-way is round 15 kilometers... Enjoy the report and pictures Good luck to our followers. Here is my picture report:

See all 118 reports by Iris Mueck

e-bikes waiting for us
Tour of Northern Corsica
by Richard Evans, tour started July 2015, submitted 19 July 2015
Europe: France

A great trip around northern Corsica. I started with a round trip of Cap Corse from Bastia, then crossed the island, staying in the hills close to Calvi. The tour continued down the coast to Porto, with a round trip based there. The most spectacular day was the ride from Porto to Corte in the middle of the island. The last ride was back to Bastia through a remote area. Great scenery every day, with quiet coastal and mountain roads. Thoroughly recommended. www.corsicacyclist.com is a very helpful site for anyone planning a trip

See all 12 reports by Richard Evans

The road from Evisa to Porto
Kate and Greg bike from Lyon to Nice over the Cime de la Bonnette
by Greg Shannan, tour started September 2013, submitted 18 February 2015
Europe: France

This is a bike tour from Lyon to Nice through the Alps. The biggest col was the Cime de la Bonnette; but we also went up the Alpe d'Huez for fun.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

Solo cycling: Paris to Nice
by Suze, tour started September 2014, submitted 10 February 2015
Europe: France

Paris to Nice: my longest, and in many ways most challenging, solo tour ever. I planned my route inspired by the famous Race to the Sun, and followed various segments of that parcours. But I added detours, making my ride longer and more beautiful, higher and challenging. Detours to climb Mont Ventoux from the west in Malaucene, then turn back to the northeast into the Alps to Barcelonnette, to climb Cime de la Bonette, the highest paved road in the French Alps. The route over Col de la Cayolle, one of the most beautiful climbs I have ever ridden, led me to Nice. Of course, I planned for time to visit museums, Roman ruins, medieval churches and vineyards along the way. It is, after all, France where I was touring.

See all 6 reports by Suze

Cime de la Bonette, the highest paved road in France
Short Tour of the Alps
by Richard Evans, tour started August 2014, submitted 8 August 2014
Europe: France

A fantastic tour, starting in Annecy, taking in the Col de Roselend, Col d'Iseran, Croix de Fer and Col Madeleine, then back to Geneva. The page gives details of the route, hotels and restaurants. I was pretty unfortunate with the weather in July 2014, even encountering snow on the Col d'Iseran. I will return, hoping for better luck next time.

See all 12 reports by Richard Evans

A simple 60 km loop based in Gouarec in central Brittany.
by Geoff Husband, tour started March 2014, submitted 28 March 2014
Europe: France

This is the first of a series of free-to-all day-ride routes I have produced for people visiting central Brittany. 60km long and of moderate difficulty it makes a lovely day out.

See all 10 reports by Geoff Husband

The market at Rostrenen
A cycling holiday in france using a Phone app!
by Steve Rock, tour started 2014, submitted 13 February 2014
Europe: France

This is a description of a cycling holiday in France following one of the Coast to Coast routes (C2C) and which was undertaken using an android app called memory-map and viewranger. As much of a review of the equipment and software as the ride itself.

The cyclepath along the Loire
Climbing the Ventoux on a Cyclecamping trip
by Geoff Husband, tour started 2014, submitted 19 January 2014
Europe: France

In September 2013 I led a group of cyclists on a camping tour form Tours to Mont Ventoux. We were carrying full camping gear, and what follows is a description of the day we climbed the Ventoux and how we all managed to cheat by camping half way up. I'd like to encourage any touring cyclist to give it a go;-)

See all 10 reports by Geoff Husband

The whole gang and the top of the Ventoux
Riding Through History: Atlantic to Mediterranean
by Suze, tour started September 2013
Europe: France

The report of my solo 3-week journey starting in Bordeaux, near the Atlantic and finishing in Montpellier near the Mediterranean. In between were visits to prehistoric caves, churches and castles; Roman ruins, museums and artist studios; markets and (of course, it is France) plenty of restaurants. No camping, this trip I stayed as much as possible in bed and breakfasts. The riding was mostly through rolling countryside, though the Cevennes provided some real climbing. Fabulous cycling on those beautiful little roads of rural southern France.

See all 6 reports by Suze

From the Aveyron River, looking up towards the castle at Belcastel
Short tour of the Pyrenees
by Richard Evans, tour started June 2013, submitted 5 August 2013
Europe: France

A five day tour of the Pyrenees, beginning in Foix and crossing westward to the Col d'Aubisque. The mountains lived up to expectation, with great climbs and descents. Following a week of heavy rain, I had to make a couple of diversions to deal with flood affected areas. Unfortunately that meant missing a couple of the highlights I went to do; the Tourmalet and Aubisque. The upsides, including dry weather, however, outweighed the problems. Here you will find a description of the route I took, the one I had intended to, as well as tips on hotels and restaurants along the way.

See all 12 reports by Richard Evans

deescending from the Col du Soulor
Greg and Kate bike from Toulouse to Nîmes
by Greg Shannan, tour started September 2001, submitted 14 July 2013
Europe: France

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

This trip took place just after the September 11th tragedy, just after an emergency landing of the Air Transat flight in the Azores (Air Transat is our carrier), and during a period when we were told that flights over the pole would have to take a more southerly route because the Russians were testing missiles there. It wasn't until after we got back that the Ukrainians managed to shoot down an Israeli airliner with missiles over the Black Sea.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

Cycling Provence: Kate and Greg Cycle Western Provence
by Greg Shannan, tour started 2002, submitted 14 July 2013
Europe: France

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Last year we biked from Toulouse to Nîs. We thought we would have liked to go further, but ran out of time. So this year we decided to "finish" the bottom of France and check out Provence. Here is a map.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

Cycling the Auvergne, Dordogne and Lot
by Greg Shannan, tour started 2003, submitted 14 July 2013
Europe: France

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Clermont-Ferrand is considered to be the capital of the Massif Central area. It is a city with a population of 150,000, its main industry seems to be Michelin tires, and its main historical claims to fame are that it is near Vercingetorix's capital (he's the Gaulish chieftain who was beaten by Julius Ceasar -- and they are still sore about it around here), and the crusades were started here.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

Kate and Greg bike the high cols of the French Alps
by Greg Shannan, tour started 2010, submitted 14 July 2013
Europe: France

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

In 2007 Kate and I biked from Venice to Milan over the Stelvio Pass. When we got to the top of the Stelvio we found that this was the second highest pass in Europe. So this year we decided that we really needed to bike over the highest pass in Europe. This is the Col de l'Iseran, which, at 2770m, towers over the Stelvio by a full 13m.

To do this we decided to start from Marseille, and bike up to Bourg Saint Maurice, where we ended a previous trip over the Grand and Petite Saint Bernard Passes, and knew a friendly hotel. On the way we would see the Gorges du Verdon, the biggest canyon in Europe, and climb the Col d'Allos, the Col de Var, the Col de l'Izoard, the Col de Lauteret and the Galibier, and finally the Col de l'Iseran.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

French Pyrenees: Pays Basque and Bearn
by Suze, tour started September 2012, submitted 15 April 2013
Europe: France

September 2012 and I was back, solo in the French Pyrenees, staying high and near the Spanish border,specifically in the Pyrenees Atlantique and Haute Pyrenees. My goal was to ride many of the famous cols and to explore the Pays Basque and Bearn. I planned to spend several days in different locations, riding unloaded on the oh-so-beautiful little roads of France before moving on. The ride began with a beautiful, all-too-short ride along the coast south from St. Jean de Luz, then turned inland to St. Jean Pied de Port, Larrau, Arette, Arrens-Marsous, Luz St. Sauveur. Cols climbed included Arnostéguy, Orgambide, Burdincurutcheta, Bagargui, Marie Blanque, Aubisque, finishing with the very famous Col de Tourmalet.

See all 6 reports by Suze

The famous giant bike sculptures, Col d'Aubisque
A relatively easy tour From Roscoff Ferryport in Brittany, France complete with hotel details
by Geoff Husband, submitted 20 February 2013
Europe: France

This is a great introduction to cycling holidays in Brittany France. The hotels are typical country hotels, not expensive tourist traps,but all offer clean simple rooms with en-suit facilities etc.

See all 10 reports by Geoff Husband

Dall' Atlantico al Mediterraneo
by Leo & Kekko, tour started June 2009, submitted 26 December 2012
Europe: France
language: it, fr, en

[DOC] La buona riuscita del viaggio dello scorso anno ci ha spinti anche quest'anno a pedalare per un po' di giorni in un paese sempre ospitale e ricco di storia, cultura e gastronomia come la Francia.

La Francia dunque : liberté, égalité e vin rosé

L'idea che ha dato vita al viaggio è stata quella di bagnare le ruote delle bici nell'Oceano Atlantico e di bagnarle a fine percorso nell'acqua del Mediterraneo.

See all 4 reports by Leo & Kekko

Mediterraneo !!
Provenza, Camargue, Luberon. 500 km. in bicicletta tra castelli, cavalli, fenicotteri e il vento per "amico"
by Beatrice Virga, tour started May 2012, submitted 2 November 2012
Europe: France
language: it

Miraggio tra le gocce: un bel casolare in pietra con persiane azzurre tipiche della provenza. E' l' hotel Carina, provo a fermarmi immaginando la scena dell'albergatore snob che non mi fa nemmeno entrare perché sporco il pavimento (ero da strizzare) invece mi accoglie una ragazza dai modi gentili che mi tratta da regina, mi fa accomodare la bici in un ripostiglio.

See all 8 reports by Beatrice Virga

TOUR GORGES ARDECHE 100 km in 2 Stages
by Vicens Borrell, tour started April 2004, submitted 17 October 2012
Europe: France

This is a round trip through the Ardeche canyon, which is very impressive. It starts in Pont Saint Spirit, next to the Ardeche river, and goes to Vallon Pont d'Arc, in the first stage of 50 km. This is the most beautiful part of the trip, passing next to the canyon, with impressive views. The second stages, returns through the other side of the river, more pacefully and visiting the Ognac groutes, very interesting.

See all 8 reports by Vicens Borrell

Ardeche
From Atlantic to Mediterranean Sea (Canal Midi and Lateral Garone)
by Vicens Borrell, tour started June 2009, submitted 16 October 2012
Europe: France

Cycling near the Garonne and the Midi Canal. The first part of the trip is through the hilly vineyard of Bordeaux, till reaching the Canal Lateral of Garonne to Toulouse and then the Midi Canal and finally reach the Mediterranean Sea at Marsellain Plage. The route changes from Atlantic weather to mediterranean weather so the vegetation changes every stage.

See all 8 reports by Vicens Borrell

Canal du Midi
A turn-b-turn cycle camping route in Brittany starting at Roscoff
by Breton Bikes, tour started 2012, submitted 14 October 2012
Europe: France

This is a lovely first tour for beginners or the more adventurous, looking to discover Brittany. It starts and finishes at the ferryport at Roscoff (Brittany Ferries) and is a week long, though obviously this can be modified. Detailed turn-by-turn instructions are given along with recommended camspites with contact details. Have fun:-)

200 cols tour
by Igor Kovse, tour started August 2012, submitted 7 September 2012
Europe: France

What was this day like? Considering that I climbed Mont Ventoux, it couldn't have been bad. It's really a fantastic climb! The legend, the magic, the must! It's the Lourdes for the cyclists of any religion. And what a descent! 21 km of mind-blowing pleasure. Enough to get me through few more cols.

See all 18 reports by Igor Kovse

Looking from Col du Tourmalet westward
Aquitania e Perigord tra corsi d'acqua e borghi medioevali.
by Stefano Cieno, tour started August 2011, submitted 7 March 2012
Europe: France
language: it

Due settimane in bicicletta lungo le vie percorse dagli antichi pellegrini. Pedalare in agosto nelle regioni francesi di Aquitania e Perigord significa immergersi in un paesaggio verdissimo e poco trafficato, con abbazie arroccate e villaggi medievali, ma vuol dire anche salire, salire e ridiscendere continuamente, sotto un caldo torrido al fianco di fiumi sinuosi ed affollatissimi. tappe del percorso:

  • Bordeaux - Arcachon km. 79
  • Moissac - Cahors km. 67
  • Cahors - Saint Sulpice km. 61
  • Saint Sulpice - Souillac km. 70
  • Souillac - Saint Ciprien km. 75
  • Saint Ciprien - Bergerac km. 58
  • Bergerac - Libourne km. 79
  • Libourne - Bordeaux km. 71

See all 4 reports by Stefano Cieno

A circular cyclecamping tour from Roscoff ferryport in Brittany - France
by Geoff Husband, tour started 2012, submitted 3 March 2012
Europe: France

This is a loop from Roscoff Ferryport to take you both along the coast and into the interior of Brittany. It averages around 30 miles a day and is ideal as a first tour - all campsite stops are marked and a google map included.

Have fun:-)

See all 10 reports by Geoff Husband

Short tour of the Alpes Maritimes
by Richard Evans, tour started September 2008, submitted 11 February 2012
Europe: France

My tour of the Alpes Maritimes was the most spectacular of all ones I've undertaken to date. Travelling in the first week of September, the weather was good and the roads empty. As expected, the food was great. Some of the overnight stays, however, could have been better. If I had it to do again, I think it could be the perfect trip. Here you will find details of the trip, maps and recommendations on where and where not to stay.

See all 12 reports by Richard Evans

Lungo la Loira: un fiume e cento castelli
by Luciano Zamperini, tour started May 2009, submitted 31 October 2011
Europe: France
language: it

Lungo la strada non mi resta che lasciarmi andare seguendo il corso della Loira, qui ampio ed accogliente, per farmi portare verso gli affascinanti castelli di Blois ed Amboise. Più discosto nella campagna (e purtroppo nei pressi di una centrale nucleare) è, invece, quello maestoso di Chambord.....

See all 3 reports by Luciano Zamperini

En Provence, in Provenza
by Luciano Zamperini, tour started July 2009, submitted 31 October 2011
Europe: France
language: it

L'incanto dei borghi arroccati su dirupi vertiginosi, il fascino ed il misticismo delle abazie benedettine rendono la Provenza una méta sempre desiderata. Un viaggio che, per quanto lo si ripeta, non delude mai.

Fa un caldo torrido in questo mese di luglio, in Provenza....

See all 3 reports by Luciano Zamperini

Solo, Atlantic to Mediterranean: Pyrenees & Corbieres Tour
by Suze, tour started September 2011, submitted 3 October 2011
Europe: France

In September 2011, I spent a leisurely, though sometimes challenging, three weeks riding solo across France, from Bayonne/Biarritz, on the Atlantic, to Narbonne/Gruissan-Plage, on the Mediterranean.

In between, there were three fabulous Tour de France climbs in the high Pyrenees; gorgeous valleys in their foothills; prehistoric and Roman ruins; medieval walled cities; romanesque cathedrals and abbeys.

I certainly won't forget the many wonderful, friendly, helpful, delightful people I met ... and the superb food I enjoyed along the way. The Pyrenees are for me a cycling paradise.

See all 6 reports by Suze

Vallee d'Ossau
Over Hondered Cols to PBP
by Igor Kovse, tour started July 2011, submitted 6 September 2011
Europe: France

Climbing is essential to the good cycling tours. You've got the motivation to climb the pass, you celebrate the victory at the top, you have the sense of achievement and you are rewarded with the thrill of descent. All of this while riding through beautiful and diverse scenery. In this tour I was reviving these feelings tens of times per day. Frequently I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, a kind of hyper-consciousness, as if I was on adrenalin drug. This was not an isolated event, an exceptionally good moment when you say ''Wow, that WAS the day!'' - on this tour all of the days were like that. I never enjoyed cycling so much for so long.

See all 18 reports by Igor Kovse

Cycling down the Pas de Peyrol (Massif Central, France)
Route des Grandes Alpes & Verdon
by Giovanni Pirotta, tour started August 2011, submitted 5 September 2011
Europe: France
language: it

An incredible journey, from Aosta in Italy we climb: Petit Saint Bernard, Iseran, Telegraphe and Galibier, Izoard, Col de Vars, Col de la Bonette, Couillole and Valberg, Toutes Aures and then into the Gorges du Verdon to reach the Mediterranean Sea in the last stage!!!

10 stages, 716 km, 16200 meter of elevation, the amazing landscapes of the Alps, a perfect wheater all the days and great fellow travelers are the ingredients for an unbelievable bike trip!!!

See all 3 reports by Giovanni Pirotta

Col de la Bonette - 2802 m
Cicloturismo Corsica
by cicloturismo - alessandro, tour started April 2009, submitted 22 July 2011
Europe: France
language: it

Corsica bike tour. 300 km 4 days

See all 16 reports by cicloturismo - alessandro

France Sea to Sea ('Manche to Med')
by Andrew Cornwell, tour started May 2008, submitted 18 January 2011
Europe: France

A superb eleven day, 1040 km route from the Channel port of Caen in Normandy to the Mediterranean near Montpellier - passing through many of the classic landscapes of France including the Loire Valley; Dordogne, Lot and Tarn gorges; and the Cervennes.

Summary route details and distances, hotel addresses, equipment list and photos all included in the report.

See all 4 reports by Andrew Cornwell

Reaching the Mediterranean at Maguelone
Provence and Languedoc Tour, 2009
by Suze, tour started May 2009, submitted 2 January 2011
Europe: France

I had long dreamed of visiting France, of seeing the southern countryside, eating what I imagined to be totally delicious food, and experiencing ancient and medieval art and architecture. I had longed to know something of an older culture than ours in Massachusetts. New England is old in the United States, but very young in the world. When I turned 60 I decided to do it, to finally visit France, and when there to travel on a cycle. I had ridden in the 1970s, but gave my Fuji ten-speed away long ago. I hadn't been on a bike since about 1980, but in August 2007, on a whim, bought a new bike and a year later rode it solo around Lake Champlain in Vermont. My husband wanted to go with me to France, so in May 2009 we rode from Avignon, France, in a looping tour of about 500 miles, mostly very flat, visiting Roman ruins and ancient cities. It was his first cycle tour ever, and so I planned an easy trip, staying in bed and breakfasts or hotels, saving time for visiting museums and historic sites. This trip went from major city to major city, with some very beautiful riding in between. It included a ride the length of the famous Canal du Midi, running from Agde to Toulouse. We traveled from Avignon to Orange, then into the Luberon, west to Arles, south to the Camargue, west again along the Mediterranean to Sète and back inland toToulouse. The journal was written after my 2010 visit to the Cévennes in France.

See all 6 reports by Suze

Landscape near Fort Buoux, Luberon
Cycling Corsica
by JW & Gu, tour started May 2010, submitted 7 November 2010
Europe: France
language: en;, nl

Impressions from our cycling trip on the beautiful isle of Corsica in May/June 2010. We cycled around 800 kilometers from Bastia along the coast to Calvi and Porto and then through the inner highlands to Corte and back to Bastia. You can watch our video-report!

For more information you can visit our website: fietsenineuropa.nl.

See all 6 reports by JW & Gu

Cycling in Corsica
Starting at the End of the World
by Suzanne Gibson, tour started 2010, submitted 4 November 2010
Europe: France

An all-day train ride takes us from Munich to Morlaix in Brittany via Paris. The train from Paris to Morlaix doesn't take bicycles and we are again happy to have folders. Our tour starts with an abundance of rain and hills as we follow Brittany's spectacular southern coast to the Loire. From here we cycle the popular - and flat - Loire Valley Bike Path into Burgundy where the scenery gets more interesting as we ride along the Canal du Centre and Saone River. After having covered approximately 1,500 km we take the train from Dijon back to Munich.

See all 25 reports by Suzanne Gibson

Brittany
CORSE TOUR ----> Cycling hanged over the sea
by Maurizio Billo, tour started September 2010, submitted 24 October 2010
Europe: France

We are Anna & Maurizio and We cycled Corse above the sea following some narrow road carved on the rock as ''Route Departementale'' 81, 81a, 80 that represent some of the most scenic paths a cyclist may hope to find.

Spectacular views of the West Coast and Cape Corse.

And at the end of the holiday We went in Provence and We summited Mont Ventoux.

See all 5 reports by Maurizio Billo

Cycling hanged over the sea
Cévennes: Solo Cycling
by Suze, tour started May 2010, submitted 22 October 2010
Europe: France

This is a description of my nine-day solo trip, in May 2010, in the Cévennes mountains of France. The trip was mostly camping, but no cooking. My goal was to see the Cévennes, mountains full of history and culture, their geography older than the Alps or Pyrenees. There was a good mix of climbing, mountains, medieval towns, villages, rivers ... always gorgeous and fun riding, but not a very high mileage. I wanted to learn something of the area, its culture and history, without being totally exhausted. In all it was about 300 miles, about 14,000 feet of climbing. I rode from Montpellier to Albi, with a loop up the Gorge du Tarn and down the Gorge du Jonte.

See all 6 reports by Suze

Taken during descent of Gorge du Jontes

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