Holidays in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: why not go by bike?

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which aims to create 7,005 km of cycle routes by 2030 in its regional plan, has become the leading region in France targeted for cycle tourism. This brings economic benefits. Some departments are also working to develop their own cycle tourism. In Gironde, for example, the "Tour de Gironde à Vélo" (Cycle Tour of Gironde) complements the cycle tourism offering with a 480 km route, which includes 700 km of dedicated cycle paths and cycle routes.

Among the most beautiful routes in France, six cross Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The Vélodyssée , with its 1,300 km (including 565 in the region) of coastline and ports between Roscoff and Hendaye, has become a benchmark. It is also the number 1 Eurovélo route . The historic Canal des Deux-Mers cycle path starts from Royan to reach Sète, passing through Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne. The Scandibérique (Eurovélo number 3) connects Trondheim, Norway, to Santiago de Compostela and covers 790 km in the region. The Flow Vélo is 100% Nouvelle-Aquitaine and goes from Sarlat-la-Canéda, in Dordogne, to Île-d'Aix, in Charente-Maritime. Finally, the Vélo Francette runs from Ouistreham, in Normandy, to La Rochelle, and the Vélidéale covers 665 kilometers, from Lake Vassivière to the Saint-Nazaire estuary, notably passing through the Charente.

To attract cyclists, you certainly need developed routes, but also the services that go with them. It's not necessarily worse elsewhere, but accommodation providers, rental companies, repairers, restaurants, tourist offices, and visitor sites located along cycle routes have chosen to welcome bicycle tourists and work together under the same "Accueil Vélo" label. Developed by the France Vélo Tourisme association, this white logo on a forest green background attests to the quality of the welcome that will be reserved for cycle tourists.

There's always a first time. How, in these conditions, can you properly prepare for your cycling trip? Which bike to choose, which route to choose, how many kilometers to cover per day, what to put in your panniers, what clothes to bring, how to reach the starting point, where to sleep, etc. From a turnkey stay for the first time to a personalized itinerary for the adventurer, the France Vélo association distributes advice and route ideas on its website. The little beginner's guide to the Vélodyssée will also be very useful. But it's always those who have done it who talk about it best. Blogs and various sites abound with testimonies and stories. Among them, Empreinte baroudeuse or Un monde à vélo .