The Vélodyssée is a cycle route of over 1200km that crosses Brittany and skirts the Atlantic coast to reach the Basque country. It's a great route for cycle tourists, as it runs along the coast and offers magnificent panoramic views for cyclists; it's also a motorway that includes long stretches closed to cars, promising quiet bike rides, with the sound of the waves in the background.
L'itinéraire de la Vélodyssée crosses the Loire-Atlantique: without leaving your bike, you can explore the main tourist sitess of the département from the Vélodyssée. It starts after Redon, on a section accessible to cyclists that runs alongside the Brière. Between marshes and rivers, you will have the opportunity to observe numerous animal species in these lands sheltered from human activity. The next two stages will take you directly to Nantes and take you through the city.
Nantes.
From Nantes à Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, you'll skirt the Loire estuary before arriving à Saint-Nazaire and returning to the Atlantic ocean. You'll share part of the route with cyclists from the Loire à Vélo, as the two cycle routes are shared. Enjoy the bucolic atmosphere of the estuary, before setting off on a balneac adventure after Saint-Brévins-les-Pins. At Saint-Brévins, you'll learn about the peace and quiet of this small seaside resort and its pine groves. As you stroll along, discover the typical local cottages.
The next stage will take you as far as Pornic and its fishing port : take time to stroll through the narrow streets of the village, but beware of the roads shared with cars, which are very busy, particularly on the east side. Finally, the last stretch of the Vélodyssée in Loire-Atlantique takes you through the family atmosphere of the Baie de Bourgneuf and Moutiers-en-Retz: if you have time, stop off for an introduction to pêche à on foot!
The Vélodyssée route is dotted with numerous gites and bed and breakfasts; below is a selection of our Gîtes de France-labelled accommodation. Most of them offer a place to hang up your bike and will be delighted to advise you on the best walks and shops along the Vélodyssée. Whether you're staying one or more nights, these accommodations will allow you to rest before setting off again on the Vélodyssée.