Cycling

Whether inland or on the shore, dear cyclists,
do savor the beauty of our landscapes!

Whether you are with friends of family, whether you are relaxing, exploring or working out, in Poitou-Charentes the bicycle is king of its realm. 

The formula is easy as pie: The slopes are hardly steep, there is a wide variety of landscapes; go on to add over 1000 kilometers of bike paths, hundreds of signposted mountain bike circuits, as well as innumerable small shaded roads. In Poitou-Charentes there is something befitting each and every style!  

Ride your bike on a family discovery tour around the isle of Aix —the isle where cars are prohibited— , or else acquaint yourself with the white pathways of the Poitou marshlands. On the shore, on the islands, or along the rivers, there are bike path networks on pristine sites and safe itineraries just waiting to be explored. 

Or would you prefer a long ride in the company of friends? Bicycle tourists will be thrilled to take advantage of the itineraries crisscrossing the towns and villages of Poitou-Charentes like Angles-sur-l'Anglin.  Then again, you may use a mountain bike and hurtle down the slopes of the bucolic dales of Charente Limousine or explore the maritime pine forests just off the Atlantic coast. You can get equipped at the eight certified mountain bike (VTT) centers, where your favorite sport is privileged, whatever be your level. 

Welcome to Poitou-Charentes, the region with a smile for lovers of nature, heritage, the art of living and the two-wheeler!

Poitou marshlands: The 800 kms of fully safe and signposted paths have rendered the Poitou marshlands a bike rider's paradise! 

The Poitou marshland is also nicknamed «the flatlands». Safe signposted paths enable the whole family to take a tour. Organization of these cycling itineraries goes hand in hand with a permanent quest for quality. Within the network, fifty establishments are ready to welcome you under optimal conditions, with tourist information, advice on cycling in the marshlands, lists and locations of member professionals and a repair kit.  

Thouet valley: a future link of Loire to Atlantic.

Nature, the Roman heritage and the flow of the Thouet are part and parcel of this cycling itinerary.   

Work on the bike paths is now complete, with your safety fully ensured; the many signposts will also render your itinerary easy and enjoyable. On the drawing board: finishing up the few kilometers left in the north, and thereby operating a junction with the Loire valley! 

www.valleeduthouet.fr

La Charente by bicycle along its 467 km of bike roads («véloroutes»). 

In the European network project, bike roads are small secondary roads with little circulation. With their signposts, they are maintained and adapted to all types of bikes, and correspondingly adapted to all types of rides! 

The paths are classified in terms of relative difficulty for a family group: green, blue, red or black.