Discover France's hidden gems by bike
At FRENCH CYCLING ADVENTURES, we believe the best way to explore the heart of France is on two wheels. Uncover charming towns, majestic chateau, and picturesque villages, all easily accessible from our fantastic cycling routes. Let us inspire your next pedal-powered journey.
Charming towns and tranquil villages
Cycling through cobblestone streets, stopping for a coffee in a bustling market square, or discovering a quiet boulangerie in a sleepy village. France is dotted with countless towns and villages, each with its unique character, just waiting to be explored by bike. The beauty lies in the short, enjoyable distances between them, making multi-stop adventures a breeze for cyclists of all levels.
Brehemont
Quiet small village on the banks of the river. Situated on the Loire velo route it is a popular stop for cyclists with a cafe serving food and drinks and a friendly small bike shop if you need any help. Ideal for a stop on a hot day. A perfect place to stay for a cycling holiday as you will be close to all you need. Good roads for cycling. Flat and fast and all you share the roads with are other cyclists and the odd tractor.
7/10
Chinon
This became a favourite place to visit for us. Cross the bridge in the centre of town and on the right hand side you will see a bar on the riverside for obtain food and drinks with a fantastic view across the river of the town and castle. A good cycle path is available here on a disused rail line going to the town of Richelieu. Quite busy traffic on the main routes but once you pick the quiet lanes around you are basically on your own again.
8/10
Rigny Usse
Certainly worth a visit with its fairy tale chateau at the centre. A good café and snack bar is opposite the main gates offering cycle racks to leave your bikes. There are many varied cycle routes around the village offering gravel rides along the Indre river running parallel to the Loire. The roads for cycling are smooth and fast and pretty much car free. Great cycling lanes. The velo route from here goes into a wooded cycle path offering shade from the sun.
7/10
Amboise
We cycled here as people had said it is a must see. A large busting town full of history dominated by the huge castle overlooking the whole town. Lots of places to eat and drink or to just sit and relax watching the world pass by. It is very busy at weekends so if we go again we will visit on a week day. Cycle routes to here are quite hilly and not many places available for refreshments. So fill your bottles for your ride.
8/10
Azay le Rideau
A lovely village we visit many times when in the area. its perfect for a café stop with many places to eat and drink. Small shops all around the centre to look in. Great rolling roads all around with small villages to pass through make going here a nice ride. The chateau and riverside are lovely places to just sit and collect your thoughts. We keep coming back here as we enjoy visiting so much.
10/10
Villandry
With its massive chateau this can get very busy in the summer months with coaches of tourists visiting. A good selection of places to eat and drink with the Pizzas on offer at Lova Roma our favourite. its a place just off the quiet Loire velo route and worth a visit en route but apart from the castle there is not much to see and do.
7/10
Savonnieres
One of our top destinations. We stayed here in 2025 and will be doing so again in 2026. Small riverside village with stunning views of the Loire offering small shops and our favourite stop, Café des Sports. From here you can follow the Loire on a paved cycle path all the way to Tours in one direction or turn the other way and head to Brehemont and Rigny Usse. Just lovely riding routes.
10/10
Langeais
This is the only place we visit by bike that crosses the river. Over the impressive bridge and a short ride you are in the centre of town. Good for refreshments and to relax we pop over to here often when in the area. From here you can also head north to Bourgueil where you can cross back over the Loire. This is our route for the both sides of the Loire ride. Flat and fast cycling.
8/10
And so many others...........
Richelieu
A town we have only visited once but worth a trip to if you are in the area. All centred around a large town square with shops, café and restaurants. We rode here via the greenway from Chinon. A 20 km ride on a paved disused railway line. All the old stations along the route are now picnic areas with DIY basic cycle repair facilities. 7/10
Avoine / Beaumont en Viron
We stayed here on our third holiday on France. A perfect place for a stay with local shops nearby to keep you stocked up. Cycling either way you can head towards the Loire or ride down the hill towards Chinon. This opens up an opportunity to explore new areas as we did. 8/10
Tours
We have spent time in Tours by car and also cycled through during rides out. ITS BUSY, very busy. Not much fun on the bike as signage is not helpful and people everywhere. I would visit again to explore some more as there are certainly interesting things to do and enjoy. But for me, I prefer the peace of the countryside. 6/10
Majestic chateaus within reach
Step back in time as you pedal towards France's iconic chateau. From the fairy tale castles of the Loire Valley to historic strongholds in Provence, many of these architectural masterpieces are perfectly situated for a cycling visit. Enjoy picturesque rides through vineyards and countryside, arriving at these magnificent landmarks feeling accomplished and immersed in history. These destinations are often interconnected by quiet, bike-friendly roads.
Chateau de Langeais
Chateau d'Usse
Chateau de Villandry
Chateau d'Azay le Rideau
Chateau Royal d'Amboise
