Cycling holidays in Loire-Atlantique

Découvrir la Loire-Atlantique à vélo

For a relaxing holiday, Nantes and the Loire-Atlantique are ideal destinations:courses around Nantes and along the Atlantic coast:those that have forged the department's reputation for cycle tourism and will take you to the most beautiful tourist spots in the Loire-Atlantique.

For your cycling holiday, stay in a Gîte de France® à proximité des pistes et itinéraires cyclables en Loire-Atlantique. Our accommodation for cycle tourists welcomes you with: 

• Alocal à vélo sécurisé
• A water point to clean the vélos
• A repair kit : punctures, scrapes...
• Les coordonnées d&’un réparateur de cycles à proximité

Longer Atlantic Océan à vélo

La Vélocéan : Piriac-sur-Mer, la presqu'île de Guérande, La Baule

The first cycle route in this article, the Vélocéan traverses the Loire-Atlantique to link the Vilaine estuary in Brittany and the Côte d’Amour. Over more than 140 km of track, this scenic hike takes in the incredible landscape of northern Loire-Atlantique, the Petites Cités de Caractères® that dot the coast as well as breathtaking natural panoramas.

At one of the ends of the Vélocéan route, follow the cycle paths to the village of Piriac-sur-mer: a picturesque village with typical Breton architecture and listed as a Petites Cités de Caractères®.

Further on, you'll pass through the célèbres marais salants de Guérande, an incredible natural landscape. Take the time to stop and explore this colourful site, which has been awarded the "Site remarquable du Goût" label. If you feel like it, you can also visit the medieval city of Guérande, surrounded by 1,300 metres of ramparts: one of the department's most important historic sites. A must-see, La Baie de La Baule is also on your route. Repeatedly cited as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, admire its immense sandy beach, its elegant villas with their typical architecture and its pine forest. The resort is ideal for cyclists, with the Tourist Office offering a number of greenways and trails for exploring the surrounding area on foot. You'll also find it easy to hire a bike on site for a day or half-day.

You'll love it here!

Fancy leaving your car behind for a few hours to relax on the beach? Check out our article on the most beautiful beaches in Loire-Atlantique and choose your swimming atmosphere!

In March 2021, we had the pleasure of welcoming Mila, from the blog Un Monde à Vélo, to our gîtes around the Vélocéan: she introduces you to the route and her périple in an article we strongly recommend you read!

Cover our accommodation along the Vélocéan. For a specific request, contact our reservations department on 02 51 72 95 65 or by email info@gites-de-france-44.fr

La Vélodyssée® : de Mesquer au nord à Bourgneuf-en-Retz au sud

The Vélodyssée® is the largest cycle route in France: this véloroute starts in the north of Brittany, à Roscoff, and then descends to the Basque country. In Loire-Atlantique, the vélo route is split into three parts: the north of the department with the Nantes-Brest canal and its cluses, along the Loire from Nantes to l'Océan (a route shared with La Loire à Brest & its cluses, along the Loire from Nantes to l'Océan (a route shared with La Loire à Brest & its cluses, along the Loire from Nantes to l'Océan (a route shared with La Loire à Brest & its cluses);e with La Loire à Vélo®), and finally the stretch along the edge of the océan, starting at Saint-Brévin-les-Pins and running all the way to the Baie de Bourgneuf. This 40km ride will take you through the charm of the Atlantic coastline by bike:at the start of the ride, make sure you first admire the immense sandy beaches and pine forest of Saint-Brévin, as well as the typical fishermen's houses that line the coast.

A few kilometres further on, à Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, follow the sweet scent of butter and biscuits… It will take you straight to the shops of the célèbres Galettes Saint-Michel ! To savour this Proust's madeleine and indulge yourself during your meal, visit the St Michel Café. Discover the history of these galettes while enjoying a well-mixed hot drink. Before setting off again direction Pornic, stop off in one of the village's charming coves : the scenery is well worth the trip !

The last, but by no means least, seaside stopover in the department is the small fishing port of Pornic. The old town is perfect for strolling and wandering, with its narrow streets, 14th-century castle and gourmet artisans such as La Fraiseraie. The customs officers' trail offers a splendid view of the bay, and to get some height, discover the secrets of a traditional wooden pêcherie along the Atlantic Ocean.

Où sleeping on the Vélodyssée ? 

All along this cycle route, you'll find plenty of gites and bed and breakfasts welcoming cycle tourists with pleasure: découvrez all our accommodation Gîtes de France® situés à proximité de la Vélodyssée.

Discover more seaside destinations in the department or check out our holiday cottages around Pornic.

Wander the vineyards of the Pays nantais à vélo

With 100km of signposted vélo circuits and cycle routes,le Vignoble à Vélo© is an ideal network for those wishing to make daily loops and décover the Nantes vineyards at their own pace. These itineraries to the south of Nantes are an excellent way to discover the famous vineyards of the Nantes vineyard region and its varied landscapes.

A découvrir le long de vos balades dans le vignoble:

• The Nantes vineyard museum
• The picturesque winegrowers' villages, such as Pré de Sèvre
• The Sèvre and its confidential banks
• The wine estates of Muscadet, the local cru
• Historic sites and medieval ruins
• The protected marshes around La Chapelle-Heulin to discover the local flora and fauna

The rarest vineyard loops in Nantes:

• Entre vignes et bocages - 18km from La Regrippière (loop) - more info
• Entre Logne et Sanguèze - 23km from Vallet (loop) - more info
• Entre villes et terroirs - 21km from Mouzillon (loop) - more info
• Entre Sèvre et marais - 32km from Le Pallet (loop) - more info
• Entre Bretagne et Anjou - 9km from La Boissière-du-Doré (loop) - more info

Discover our vineyard accommodation in the heart of the Nantes vineyards.

Découvrir la ville de Nantes à vélo

Nantes is definitely a city that welcomes à arms open to vélo fans ; the city is rankedée 5ème in the palmarès of the world's most vélo-friendly cities » and it was also named capital of vélo in 2015 (Vélo-city 2015). Throughout the Nantes metropolitan area, you'll find up to 586km of cycle lanes and paths, making cycling the ideal way to get around and discover the city.

Longez les bords de Loire, traverser l’Île de Nantes ou découvrir le miroir d’eau, tout sur votre vélo. Don't forget to stop off at the Château des Ducs de Bretagne on your way.Le Voyage à Nantes, a route of artistic works through the city, has m&eecirc;me asked artists to decorate some of the city's cycle paths to make them more attractive.La Loire à Vélo®, one of the most beautiful véloroutes in France, part of the’European itinerary, EuroVélo 6, a route stretching from the Atlantic to the Black Sea over some 3,600 km.