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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