La Loireà Vélo800 kilometres
of discovery
www.loire-a-velo.fr
2009
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Pays de la Loire and Loire Valley
The "Loire à Vélo" trail forms part
of the EuroVelo 6 route, which enable
cyclists to travel from the Atlantic seaboard
to the Black Sea, following the courses
of rivers (Loire, Rhine, Danube)
across 10 countries over 3,650 kilometres.
www.eurovelo6.org
The "Loire à Vélo" offers:
800
14150
The Loire as a constant companionThe "Loire à Vélo" trail passes through the Pays de la Loire and Loire Valley regions
as well as the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park. Take the time to discover
a rich and diverse heritage by bike alongside the majestic river and recharge your
batteries in the heart of an exceptional thriving cultural landscape!
Designed for effortless cycling with your family, the route helps you discover the Loire and its
surroundings, the river’s natural banks with gardens to gaze at, characterful towns, the Loire
châteaux and other remarkable sites, as well as
vineyards set in unspoilt natural surroundings.
kilometres of signposted secureroutes (currently 600 km)
accredited bike hire andrepair outlets along the route
accommodation establishmentscarrying the "Accueil Vélo" label
St-Benoît-sur-Loire
Nantes
Fontevraud
Coteaux du Giennois
From Cuffy in Cher to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins
in Loire-Atlantique, the "Loire à Vélo" route
is laid out section by section.
The "Loire à Vélo" trail currently offers 600 of the
800 kilometres of routes soon to be available.
The "Loire à Vélo" routeis a unique experience
offering discovery and emotion!
2 regions (Loire Valley and Pays de la Loire),
6 départements (Cher, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher,Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Loire-Atlantique),
1 Regional Nature Park ("Loire-Anjou-Touraine")
The opportunity to travel through:
280 kilometres of land listedas UNESCO world heritage
Montsoreau
Since November 2000, from Sully-sur-Loire(Loiret) to Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Maine-et-Loire), the Loire Valley has been listed asa world heritage site by UNESCO for itscultural landscapes, and is the largest areain France to be listed as such, stretchingout over a length of 280 kilometres andrepresenting a surface area of 800 km2.In addition to the Loire and its banks and hillsides, the defined area incorporatesthe historical heart of major towns andincludes key areas which form an integralpart of the Loire landscape.
St-Brevin-les-PinsVillandry
Saumur Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chambord
Troglodytes
Paimbœuf
Chenonceau
Candes-St-Martin
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How do I getto the route?
Bike hire and repair
for travelling in total freedomalong the banks of the Loire
An "Accueil Vélo" accommodation network
Packages
Plan youradventures withtopo-guidesand mapsAccommodation establishments open their doors to touring cyclists and set aside a personal
welcome: a specially adapted breakfast for cyclists, an enclosed area for storing bicycles,
repair equipment and many other services.
These hotels, campsites, guest houses and gîtes
are located close to the "Loire à Vélo" trail and
are recommended for overnight stays.
If you want to pedal light and have everything organised for you, why not be tempted by
one of our package deals: accommodation, luggage transfer, bike hire, maps and routes in
addition to assistance from cycling tourism professionals available 7 days a week.
Discover a range of holiday ideas at www.loire-a-velo.fr
Professional bike hire and repair outlets based along the route are committed
to offering equipment and services adapted to cycling tourists.
TGV RAILWAY STATIONS
Tours, Saumur, Angers, Nantes, St-Nazaire
INTERLOIRE AND TER TRAIN SERVICESTER trains are accessible to bikes (subject toavailability), connecting Orléans to Nantes severaltimes a day and serving numerous train stationsalong the way.
All timetables and information available atwww.voyages-sncf.com
AIRPORTS
Tours, Angers, Nantes
> high-quality bicycles> professional advice> breakdown and repair service> bike transport> additional cycling equipment available> useful documentation for touring cyclists> weather information> adapted opening times…
Find these professionals online atwww.loire-a-velo.fr
Travel light! Many establishmentsalso offer a luggage transfer serviceto the following establishment whereyou will stay.
The "Loire à Vélo" is more
than just a cycle route,
offering a whole host
of services adapted
for cycling tourists:
Amboise
Nantes
Savigny-en-Véron
“La Loire à Vélo d’Orléans à la mer”
published by Éditions Ouest France
“EuroVelo 6 de l’Atlantique au Rhin à Vélo”
published byKartographie Huber
Two “topo-guides” in French devoted to the "Loire
à Vélo" trail present the route in detail from Orléans
to the Atlantic ocean, and also offer variants.
The guidebooks contain information about services
and facilities adapted for cyclists in addition
to practical and tourist information for effectively
planning your bike ride or cycling holiday.
Six maps of the French
part of EuroVelo 6
are available, including
4 of the "Loire à Vélo"
route, which are easy-to-
use and are offered
individually or as a set.
“La Loire à Vélo d’Orléans à Nantes”
published byÉditions Chamina
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Loiret
Cosson
Beuvron
Le Bec d'Allier
Alli
er
Cana
l de
Bria
re
Canal latéral à la Loire
Canal d'Orlé
ans
0 km 20 km
Nantes
La Baule
Le Croisic
Guérande
St-Brevin-le
s-Pins
Île de Noirm
outier
ATLANT
IC
OCEA
N
Île d'Yeu
Pornic Frossay
Le Pellerin
Mauves-sur-Loire
Oudon
Erdre
La Loire
Sèvre Nantaise
Loir
Sarthe
May
enne
Canal deNantes à Brest
St-Nazaire
Couëron
Ancenis
St-Florent-le
-Vieil
Champtoceaux Liré
La Possonnière
Savennières
Béhuard
Brissac
Ste-Gemmes-sur-Loire
Bouchemaine
Ingrandes
St-Georges-sur-L
oire
Chalonnes-sur-Loire
Montjean-sur-L
oire
Gennes
Le Thoureil
Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault
Saumur
MontsoreauTurquant
Allonnes
Langeais
Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
Chinon
Azay-le-Rideau
Amboise
Chaumont-sur-L
oire
Chambord
St-Dyé-sur-L
oire
Cléry-St-André Mareau-aux-Prés
Forêt d'Orléans
Châteauneuf-sur-L
oire
Mer
Tavers
Cheverny
Beaugency
Chenonceaux
Sully-sur-Loire
Germiny-des-Prés
St-Benoît-s
ur-Loire
Gien
Apremont-sur-A
llier
La Guerche-sur-l'
Aubois
Cuffy
Villandry
Paimbœuf
Angers
Tours
Blois
Orléans
Brézé
Châtillon-sur-L
oireSt-B
risson-sur-L
oire
Briare
St-Satur
Marseilles-le
s-Aubigny
Sancerre
Nevers
St-Mathurin
-sur-Loire
St-Rémy-la
-Varenne Les Rosiers-sur-Loire
Cher
Vienne
Indre
Itinerary
Eurovelo and Velocean itinerary
Continued bike route
Château
Parks and Gardens
Vineyard
Area on the UNESCO WorldHeritage list
Great Loire Valley Sites
Regional Nature Park
Airport
TGV railway station
Cathedrals and notablereligious buildings
Temporary itinerary
Planned route
La Loire
La Loire
ROSCOFF
1
HENDAYE
1
6VIENNE
CONSTANTABUDAPEST
Savonnières
Vouvray
Montlouis-sur-L
oire
Savigny-en-Véron
Candes-St-Martin
Rigny-Ussé
Bréhémont
Meung-sur-Loire
u
auu
Pays de la Loire
Centre
Paris
Nantes
Orléans
La Loire à Vélo
Contacts Main Tourist OfficesTours00 33 (0) 2 47 70 37 37www.ligeris.com
Guérande
St-Florent le Vieil
Angers
Le Thoureil
Blois
Briare
Chambord
Sancerre
Tours
Chaumont-sur-Loire
Candes-St-Martin
Azay-le-Rideau
Orléans
Gien
St-Benoit-sur-Loire
Nantes
Fontevraud
Ancenis
Champtoceaux
Le Croisic
THE VINEYARDSOF TOURS
THE “PAYS DESCHÂTEAUX À VÉLO”
CAVE DWELLERS
THE ATLANTICOCEAN
AOC GOAT’SCHEESES
Cheverny
All practical information at
www.loire-a-velo.fr
Along the entire length of the "Loire à Vélo" trail, the Loire landscape
invites you to indulge in escapism and discovery. Set out on a bike ride
and the Loire will offer you the keys to 2,000 years of History.
The route alternates between cycle paths and small roads with little
traffic. The route is signposted in both directions for your convenience
and safety. Follow the signs!
Discover the Loire ferry boats,an original way of crossingthe Loire downriver fromNantes and connectingLe Pellerin to Coueron andBasse-Indre to Indret. Lasting 5 minutes, the "mini-cruise" service is free and open to all.
This is the point where the Loire joinsthe Atlantic Ocean; the opportunityto follow the route Southwards orNorthwards along the specially createdtracks and to discover coves, long sandybeaches and famous coastal resorts. In the Saumur region, the extraction
of “tuffeau” freestone led to theemergence of dwelling places hollowed outof this same stone, leaving undergroundareas which man’s imagination hassucceeded in exploiting: wine cellars, mushroom cellars, restaurants,accommodation… The cave dwellerscreated a secret and fascinating world.
The Loire Valley displays all aspects of thegood life. Its internationally renownedvineyards offer high-quality vintage winesand a wide range of AOC (protected designation of origin) wines. Learn how toenjoy them, in moderation of course!
Travel through ChâteauxCountry by bike!
300 kilometres of possiblebike rides and 11 themed
circuits between the Loire andSologne areas, surrounded by
forests and vineyards, to bediscovered around Chambord,
Blois and Cheverny and onlineat www.chateauxavelo.com
Specialities and flavoursare waiting to be
discovered along the entirelength of the route.Try some Crottin de
Chavignol goat’s cheese in the hilltop town
of Sancerre.
THE LOIRE FERRY BOATS
Ancenis00 33 (0) 2 40 83 07 44www.ancenis.fr
Angers00 33 (0) 2 41 23 50 00www.angersloiretourisme.com
Amboise00 33 (0) 2 47 57 09 28www.amboise-valdeloire.com
Blois – Pays de Chambord00 33 (0) 2 54 90 41 41www.bloispaysdechambord.com
Chinon00 33 (0) 2 47 93 17 85www.chinon.com
Langeais Castelvalerie00 33 (0) 2 47 96 58 22www.tourisme-langeais.com
Nantes00 33 (0) 8 92 46 40 44www.nantes-tourisme.com
Orléans00 33 (0) 2 38 24 05 05www.tourisme-orleans.com
Saint-Brevin-les-Pins00 33 (0) 2 40 27 24 32www.mairie-saint-brevin.fr
Saint-Nazaire00 33 (0) 2 40 22 40 65www.saint-nazaire-tourisme.com
Sancerre00 33 (0) 2 48 54 08 21www.ville-sancerre.fr
Saumur00 33 (0) 2 41 40 20 60www.saumur-tourisme.com
CDT Loir-et-Cher 00 33 (0) 2 54 57 00 41www.coeur-val-de-loire.com
CDT Loire-Atlantique00 33 (0) 2 51 72 95 40www.ohlaloireatlantique.com
CDT Touraine00 33 (0) 2 47 31 47 48www.tourism-touraine.com
CDT Anjou00 33 (0) 2 41 23 51 51 www.anjou-tourisme.com
CDT Cher00 33 (0) 2 48 48 00 10 www.berrylecher.com
CDT Loiret00 33 (0) 2 38 78 04 04www.tourismeloiret.com
Comité Régional du Tourisme du Centre37 avenue de Paris – F - 45000 Orléans00 33 (0) 2 38 79 95 28 - www.visaloire.com
SEM Régionale des Pays de la LoireTourisme en Pays de la Loire1 place de la Galarne – BP 80221 - F - 44202 Nantes cedex 200 33 (0) 2 40 48 24 20 - www.enpaysdelaloire.com
Mission Val de Loire 00 33 (0) 2 47 66 94 49 - www.valdeloire.org
St-Nazaire
Departmental Tourist Boards
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www.loire-a-velo.fr
everything for planning your holidays
All practical information can be viewed
and downloaded at www.loire-a-velo.fr
> contact details for accommodation and bike hire and repair outlets
> packages
> news and not-to-be-missed events
> downloadable routes for planningyour overnight stays
> ideas for visits and exploring the area
… and much more!
Document published in March 2009 by the CRT Centre and the SEM Régionale des Pays de la Loire on behalf of the Centre and Pays de la Loire Regional Councils.
All rights to maps, texts and photos reserved. The information contained in this brochure may not engage the responsability of the CRT Centre and the SEMRégionale des Pays de la Loire or the organisations that disseminate it.
PhotosCentre: M. Jauneaud / Château de Villandry ; P. Berthé / CMN ; Stéphanie Le Donne ; A. Brüggemann ; P. Aucante, Henneghien, C.M. Bray, Y. Wemaëre, E. Mangeat, X. Renauld, J. Puyo, A. Clarysse, C. Mouton / CRT Centre.Pays de la Loire: D.Macel / Ville de St-Nazaire ; J.M Mouchet ; Nautilus ; Nautilus-Nantes ; OTNM/G.Arnaud ; Louresse-Rochemenier /VillageTroglodytique ;A.Cantreau, P.Kyriasis, S.Laval, Ouest Médias, B.Warion / Région des Pays de la Loire ; G.Arnaud, Ph.Caharel, M.Chauvin, P.A.Coumes, D.Drouet, A.S.Flament,J.P.Klein, M.Thiery / SEM Régionale des Pays de la Loire.Cover: Saumur, Angers, Chaumont-sur-Loire, St-Florent-le-Vieil and Chambord.
Graphic design: Féminin - Print: LNG - Translation: Hancock Hutton Langues ServicesPrinted with plant-based ink on paper from sustainably managed forests.
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