Cycling Holidays in France
A cycling holiday in France is a fantastic way to see the wide variety of beautiful landscapes and experience local culture first hand and without spending a great deal of money.
Not only has France long been a country very enthusiastic about cycling (think about Le Tour de France for example), the French have made their country very compatible for seeing on two wheels. There are dedicated cycle paths all over the country providing you with an optimal place to go on your cycling holiday.
Cycling around France will give you the opportunity to have a peaceful and cheap holiday while seeing all the beauties that France has to offer such as its amazing countryside, ancient medieval towns and chateau, not to mention the abundance of fine food and wine.
Various dedicated cycling routes (called veloroutes) will take you all over the country lanes, converted railway lines and help you better navigate more urban areas. Some of such routes are completely closed off to motorized traffic which will help add to your experience of cycling in France.
You will likely meet other cyclists too and be able to stop for lunch at local bars and restaurants and experience the local cuisine and wine at its best.
You may prefer to have a more organized trip with a set itinerary in which case hotels can help you to transfer your luggage and cater especially for cyclists.
The French Alps offer some of the most spectacular routes for cyclists anywhere in the world and you will be able to see some of Europe’s most beautiful locations first hand. These more trying trips, however, are certainly not for the inexperienced with mountainous roads and long routes.
The Pyrenees are another good option, offering an abundance of history and are from grand Renaissance chateaux to ancient cave paintings. To get the best out of this region, however, it is strongly advisable that you plan your cycling holiday with a great deal of care so that you can get the maximum enjoyment out of it.
Other great areas for a French cycling holiday are the Dordogne and the Poitou-Charentes regions. Burgundy is another great place to cycle the many canal paths.
