EuroVelo 6, from Saint-Brevin-les-Pins to Mulhouse, following the Loire, the Saône and the Doubs, is the most famous and prestigious cycle route in France. It is divided into two sections : La Loire à Vélo and the EuroVelo 6 from Nevers to Basel. The route goes through numerous cities and villages full of a rich historical heritage, some listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
With almost 1.300 km of completely developed roads, EuroVelo 6 is one of the easiest and most pleasant in France. It connects the Atlantic to the Alsace, follows the Loire ‘à Vélo’ from the river mouth in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins passing by canals in Burgundy, the Saône and Doubs valleys, to the Rhône-Rhine Canal.
Download the full GPS tracks of EuroVelo 6 - Atlantic-Black Sea in France here for the Loire à Vélo part and here for the Nevers-Basel section, and start planning your next cycling holidays!
The Train Loire à Vélo offers cyclists free bike transportation between Orléans, Tours, Nantes and Le Croisic. Train to get to the Cycle Route - Loire by Bike.
Natural Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Cultural Heritage
Culinary Delights
Maritime Heritage / The Rhine / The Meuse
Other Point of Interest
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Mobility info center
Réseau vélo et marche is a network of local authorities committed to the development of active mobility in France. Since 2011, it has operated as national coordination centre for EuroVelo in France, monitoring the development of the European cycle route network at the national level.
France Vélo Tourisme platform offers many major cycling routes and destinations in France, including mountain bike routes, practical advices for traveling by bike, a route calculator with a map, as well as contact details for Accueil Vélo service providers throughout the country.
"Accueil Velo" is a national accreditation scheme guaranteeing a high quality of services for cyclists using French cycle routes. You will find accommodations, bike rental and repair companies, restaurants, tourist offices and places to visit.
From Nevers to Basel, EuroVelo 6 follows the wildest part of the Loire valley, which has been listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the canals of Burgundy, the Saône Valley, and the Canal from the Rhine to the Rhône. As the route follows the course of rivers, it is generally quite flat making it ideal cycling territory for those with children.
The Loire by Bike, from Saint-Brevin-les-Pins to Nevers, along the Loire valley, is the most famous and prestigious cycle route in France with 280 km listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed as an easy, family-friendly ride, the cycle route takes you through the Loire landscapes, passing through the river’s natural banks, vineyards, Loire castles, troglodyte sites, via the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park.
Alsace has a 1550-mile network of cycle paths. Its scale makes Alsace one of the top cycling regions in France. Three EuroVelo routes pass through the region, including EuroVelo 5, 6 and 15. All the necessary information about the major international route and the regional and local paths branching off from it, can be found on the Alsace à Vélo website.
Trace the path of Wouter and Adina on their epic European adventure to raise awareness for the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals. From the Romanian countryside they cycle along the continent’s two most important rivers, before finally reaching the Netherlands. On their way they meet l…
Silvia J. Gonzales is a 52-year-old from Alicante, Spain, who embarked on a 90-day journey across Europe on EuroVelo routes. Silvia decided to tick off a few European cities from her ‘Want to go’ list biking there over the summer. She tells us more about her trip below.
600 km from the Rhine to the Loire, through Haute-Alsace, Franche-Comté, Burgundy... The guide : - Pages with spiral binding, easy to handle on a bicycle - Format 11.5 x 21 cm, suitable for a handlebar map holder - Clear and precise maps - Descriptions of the routes covered by the guidebook, entirely undertaken by bicycle - Maps of the main towns crossed - Good addresses for accommodation, rental companies and services - Train + bike information 2019 Edition (in French)
The Loire Valley has inspired writers with its natural beauty, and has attracted sovereigns who have endowed it with a remarkable architectural heritage. Its mild climate and soil have produced the famous Loire wines. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 840 km of easy cycling from Nevers to Saint-Brévin-les-Pins (on the Atlantic coast). 39 fully signposted cycling stages. Good addresses, accommodation, services, "train + bike" information. (in French)
Nearly 450 km of cycle routes (greenways and cycle paths) to discover the best of Alsace by bike: canals and vineyards, charming villages, towns with character. The guide presents a complete tour in 19 stages and 3 variants between Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. The most beautiful tourist sites are visited. The guide contains all the practical information you need to prepare and carry out your trip. Language: French
Starting from the source (Mont Gerbier des Joncs) to the Atlantic Ocean (Saint-Brevin-les-Pins) 654 mile, discover this guidebook along the longest river in France. 26 stages to discover, the book includes detailed route descriptions, informative mapping, details of facilities and also a French glossary.
German-language cycling guide. Boundless cycling experience between the Palatinate Forest and the Jura, the Rhine and Lorraine. Maps on a scale of 1:75,000, altitude profiles, local maps, GPS tracks, weatherproof & tearproof, spiral binding. Language: German
This cycling guide describes the sections of EuroVelo 6 in France and Switzerland from Orléans to Basel (796 km). The perfect tool before and during your journey: precise and informative maps, 1:75,000 scale, elevation and distance profiles, GPS tracks, accommodation and service directory. Can be used even without any knowledge of German. English translation of the map legend and the user manual of the guide available at esterbauer.com/international.
This cycling guide describes the French section of EuroVelo 6 from the Atlantic to Nevers (645 km). The perfect tool before and during your journey: precise and informative maps, 1:75,000 scale, elevation and distance profiles, GPS tracks, accommodation and service directory. Can be used even without any knowledge of German. English translation of the map legend and the user manual of the guide available at esterbauer.com/international.
The guide presents the Loire by Bike, from Cuffy to the Atlantic, in 8 main sections and 47 stages, each illustrated by a 1:100,000 map specially adapted for cyclists. 190 pages to make sure you don't miss anything: itinerary, good addresses...
The Valley of the Kings by the queen of cycle routes in 18 stages! All the maps, all the addresses! - More than 600 km of secure itinerary through the Centre and Pays de la Loire regions, 45 detailed itinerary maps, 18 stages, effortlessly and for all ages.
Map of all cycle routes in Alsace, downloadable in electronic form. It includes EuroVelo 5, 6 and 15 as well as other thematic cycle routes and regional and local loops awaiting to be discovered by bike.
A map of the French cycle routes (Scale 1:1,000,000 – 1 cm = 10 km) to inspire you to create beautiful routes along the cycle routes and greenways in France. Discover 62 itineraries suitable for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and experienced cyclists!
The region Franche-Comté in the eastern part of France is rich of cultural and natural heritage. Besançon with its famous bastille, is even on the World Heritage Site of UNESCO. Many small towns in the Comté region have a very rich heritage of historic treasures. But the actual reason to go on this trip is definitely the beautiful nature and the marvellous river landscapes. The peaceful cycle path EuroVelo 6 is part of this cycling trip. This holiday is also a highlight for every foodie.
The castles of the Loire valley like Blois, Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceau, are the monuments that will define your way by the Loire, majestic and filled with history. Accessible in 2h from Paris, visit the heart of the Val de Loire, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The banks of the Loire and Cher will reveal along the way unsuspected and beautiful landscapes.
