This page was last updated Mo 24 April 2023.

Contents: Tours (407)    Trails (13)    Sites (12)    Cycling info pages (18)    Organizations and clubs (5)   

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France (all)

This page lists all reports that for France including those that involve other countries too.
Click here for a list of reports that involve only 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 the Alps 2016
by Piaw Na, tour started July 2016, submitted 12 October 2016

From July 5th to July 26th, along with Arturo Crespo and Pengtoh Sim, I covered 1988km of riding with 35310m of climbing in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, and France. We had 2 flat tires, 1 minor mechanical on Arturo Crespo's bike, one major upgrade on Peng-Toh Sim's bike. We rode every day, with one rest day in Baden-Baden with relatively minor riding.

See all 16 reports by Piaw Na

Passo Gavia
Genève - Calatayud - Hendaye
by Raphaël Clerici, tour started July 2012, submitted 24 February 2016
language: fr

Voyage de 25 jours de Genève à Calatayud en Aragón (Espagne) par le Massif Central, la vallée du Lot et les Pyrénées françaises et espagnoles. Retour jusqu'à Hendaye par la Province de Soria, la Rioja, la Navarre et le Pays Basque. Routes secondaires désertes à travers un environnement magnifique et préservé la plupart du temps, quelques sections sur le Chemin de Compostelle ou sur voie verte.

A 25-day journey through France and Northern Spain, starting in Geneva (CH) and ending in Hendaye (F). Quiet secondary roads most of the time, plus some sections along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and local cycle paths. In French.

See all 3 reports by Raphaël Clerici

Along the Rhine from Switzerland to the North Sea
by José Rössner, tour started September 2015, submitted 28 October 2015
language: en, de, nl

Cycling along the Rhine. September 2015. From Bremgarten CH. to the North Sea in Katwijk aan Zee, Holland.

See all 29 reports by José Rössner

Here, in Katwijk aan zee, flows the Oude Rijn into the North Sea.
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
A Tour of the Swiss and French Jura
by by Michel Laliberté, tour started September 2013, submitted 25 June 2015
language: en, fr

Two short three-day trips in Swiss and French Jura between Basel and Geneva, featuring beautiful Lac de Joux (total : 430 km).

Ruins of a gothic monastery in L'Abbaye, Lac de Joux
Pyrenees - Toulouse to Barcelona - June/July 2013
by Nick Taylor, tour started July 2013, submitted 29 April 2015
Europe: France, Spain

A 7-day tour from Toulouse to Barcelona. 620km cycled, stopping at Saint-Blancard, Lourdes, Sainte Marie de Campan, Vielha, Montferrer, Manresa and Barcelona.

A stunning dream trip through the Pyrenees. A nicely-balanced route, taking in Lourdes for a blessing of the legs, three consecutive big mountain days and Tour/Giro highlights of Col du Tourmalet, Col de l'Aspin, Col de Peyresourde, Col du Portillon, Puerto de la Bonaigua, and Port del Canto, then a nice couple of days home run to Barcelona.

See all 7 reports by Nick Taylor

Kate and Greg bike along the Pyrenees, from Bilbao to Perpignan
by Greg Shannan, tour started September 2014, submitted 18 February 2015
Europe: Spain, France

This was a trip from Bilbao in Spain to Perpignan in France over the Pyrenees. We went over the Pass of Roncesvalles and the Aubisque. We also saw a couple of caves.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

The Pic de Ger from the top of the Col d'Aubisque
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
Elsass-Schwarzwald
by José Rössner, tour started September 2014, submitted 3 October 2014
language: de, en, nl

A beautiful autumn bike ride through the Alsace and the Black Forest. In Alsace, I cycled on the Route des Crétes and back via the Black Forest High Street. The weather was fine and I had only a few hours of rain.

See all 29 reports by José Rössner

Schwarzwaldhochstrasse
Car supported Tour of the Alps 2011
by Piaw Na, tour started June 2011, submitted 19 August 2014

A supported tour of the alps through France, then a self-supported ride through Italy and Austria with a run into Germany to avoid rain.

See all 16 reports by Piaw Na

Col de la Lombarde
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

Spain Japan Spain by bicycle.
by Jesus San Agustin., tour started April 2005, submitted 10 May 2014

This is a page about the solo trip began april 22th,2005 from Spain to Japan crossing Russia. Life is an experience that everyone filled with a content , " rempli d'un contenu " says in France. It was hard and authentic.The two words summarizing the trip. Feel free to ask any questions.Thanks Jesus. @jsanag

Spain Japan Spain by bicycle crossing Russia.
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
Basile - Bruxelles
by Paola Angelucci, tour started August 2013, submitted 6 January 2014
language: it

Da Basilea a Bruxelles in bicicletta

diario di una ciclista selvatica.

Un racconto vivace che mette a dura prova sia le doti documentaristiche sia quelle tecniche della protagonista ospite di un sito di grande qualità.

Tour of ENG-FR-SP-IT-SLO-CRO-AUS-SUI-GDR-NETH
by Michael Simmons, tour started June 2008, submitted 13 December 2013

I always dreamed of bicycling through Europe and climbing as many of the famous climbs of the Tour de France and Giro Italia as possible. My tour ended up being for almost 10 weeks, 3020 miles/4860 kilometers, and I pedaled through 10 countries. I loved the entire tour but 2 aspects stand out: 1)France stands out for my favorite cycling, for the amazing secondary road system and because I got to climb, the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Peyresourde, Aspin, Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Lauteret; and 2) I visited the home villages of three of my grandparents in Slovenia and Croatia. Crossing Italy I opted for the Italian Riviera and Tuscany, but later wished I had pedaled across the Lakes Region and the Dolomites. And because of factors out of my control I had to cut my trip short so I skipped my plans of zig zagging across Switzerland. Enjoy my journal and the pictures.

Celebrating Arrival To Slovenia
Cycle touring around the world
by Sam Thomson, tour started February 2013, submitted 24 November 2013

In January 2013 I set on to see the world by bike.

Me in Sudan crossing the sahara and a little dirty.
TransAlp Trip:Canadian Style
by Dave Pearce, tour started July 2013, submitted 20 November 2013

This trans alp cycling trip is our 5th in Europe and it is not too much different from the others except being twice as long.We are an older couple who doesn't mind a little bit of hard mountain touring with all of our gear and being sort of self sufficient as this is what we do when on long trips in Canada, canoeing, backpacking, cycle touring, when there are few facilities. All of our stays were in campsites except at the end and 98% of our meals were prepared or cooked. We usually do not rely on buses or trains and except for 150km, we carried all our gear.This was a 3800KM, 36,000m, 60 day trip that was even more spectacular than our other journeys.

The Alps are so grand and the infrastructure so good that cycle touring around and over the mountains is a lot of fun. Hope that readers can get a lot of good information from this trip report as we have received so much advice from the Trento Bike Pages in the past.

Dave and Pat Pearce

Pat looking over at the Grimselpass from the Furka
Da Londra a Verona III^ parte
by Beatrice Virga, tour started July 2013, submitted 14 November 2013
language: it

Sorvolo Verona ma che bella città! Il castello, l'Arena, la piazza con il mercato. Però non capisco, le strade sono strette, più di quelle delle colline e dei monti, ma circolano tanti SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). La maggior parte dei guidatori non ha proprio nulla di sportivo, non ha rispetto per ciclisti né per pedoni, pretende sempre di sorpassare, strombazza e s'impazientisce. Ed io ero convinto che a Verona usassero soltanto le Giuliette dell'Alfa Romeo con i cuoricini attaccati al parafango posteriore!

Overflight Verona ... but what a beautiful city! The castle, the Arena, the square with the market. But I do not understand, the roads are narrow, more than those of the hills and mountains, but many circulating SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). Most of the drivers has nothing of sports, has no respect for cyclists nor pedestrians, always wants to overtake, trumpets and s'impazientisce. And I was convinced that they used only in Verona Juliets Alfa Romeo with hearts attached to the rear fender!

See all 8 reports by Beatrice Virga

Da Londra a Verona - seconda parte
by Beatrice Virga, tour started August 2013, submitted 2 November 2013
language: it

Continua il viaggio di Bea accompagnata dal gabbiano Aaron.

Bea, testa dura, insiste a cercare le rarissime fontane in ferro per dissetarsi. La loro apertura a becco rispondono con un triste "sdeng" o molto spesso hanno acqua non potabile.

Leggi tutto...

See all 8 reports by Beatrice Virga

Da Londra a Verona, con un gabbiano per amico
by Beatrice Virga, tour started August 2013, submitted 15 October 2013
language: it

Aaron, il gabbiano di Folkestone, è un viaggiatore molto curioso. Passa il tempo, appollaiato su un palo o in volo, ad osservare gli esseri umani al punto di riuscire a leggerne i pensieri. "Una donna italiana con la nostra chiave inglese in mano" si chiese, "che cerca di assemblare una bicicletta bianca, rossa e blu, qui all'aeroporto, voglio proprio vedere cosa combina". Segue....

See all 8 reports by Beatrice Virga

Jeffs Bike Tour: Mediterranean Zig Zag
by Jeffrey Bernards, tour started April 2013, submitted 14 October 2013

I´m biking all the Mediterranean countries over a period of nine months. I spend about one month in each country. I have used the train or bus to help move the show down the road. I´m currently in Albania. I´m mostly camping, though hostels and hotels are always great too.

Croatia
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

Greg and Kate Bike the Alps: Lyons, Chamonix and the St. Bernard Pass
by Greg Shannan, tour started September 2005, submitted 14 July 2013

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 year we biked from Lyon in West central France through some of the passes in the Alps.

See all 12 reports by Greg Shannan

Kate and Greg cycle from Toulouse to Barcelona, over the Pyrenees
by Greg Shannan, tour started 2008, submitted 14 July 2013
Europe: France, Spain

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.

We had already biked through some of France and Italy, so we decided that we should try to see some of Spain. Plus, after biking a bit through the Alps, we wanted to check out the Pyrenees; and since I'm pushing 63 and only have one good leg, I felt I'd better do this soon.

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

Cyberconte
by Camille Szklorz, tour started 2012, submitted 11 July 2013
language: fr

A solo trip which started from Paris to West Africa in October 2012. And also an audiovisual project on new technologies and DIY in Africa, focusing on how creativity can emerge from a lack of material. A roadtrip project through several countries - from geographical deserts to digital deserts, from high tech to DIY technology, from cities to remote areas. An immersion of several months into the daily life of locals where unexpected resourcefulness lies alongside high technology.

Now in Guinea for the rainy saison and heading towards Ivory Cost.

- CYBERCONTE est un voyage à vélo - de la ville à la brousse, des déserts géographiques aux déserts numériques, du high tech au systhème D. C'est un projet consacré à une culture numérique émergente au Maghreb et en Afrique de l'ouest.

À travers ce projet, il s'agit de donner à voir une certaine créativité numérique et technologique.

Homemade print
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

A mountain pass safari in the western alps
by Michael Fiebach, tour started May 2012, submitted 30 December 2012
Europe: France, Italy, Germany
language: en, de

This last spring and summer I was lucky enough to explore one of the world's most popular bicycle climbing areas in the world: the western alps. So I took lots of notes,and many pictures of my bike rides over more than 50 passes and summits.

Some of my favorite memories are these crossings: Col et Tunnel de Parpaillon , Col de la Croix de Fere , Col de la Cayolle

But summits do not have to be that high to impress with their beauty: For example the D32 summit in Utelle, or a ride over Col d'Eze or Colle Langan on the glitzy Cote d'Azure.

See all 8 reports by Michael Fiebach

southern approach to Col du Glandon and Col de la Croix de Fere from summit of Glandon

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