The "Vélodyssée", the "Vélo Francette", the "Scandibérique" ... These names of great bike tours make you dream? Then the Charente Maritime is made for you ... All these mythical routes crisscross it and allow you to discover its territories.

Photo opening of the article: Adobe Stock / arcachonphoto.com

The Francette bike

Linking Ouistreham to La Rochelle, the Vélo Francette is a 600 km route between La Manche and the Atlantic , just that ... We suggest you join it in Marans , for its last stage , and go to on the coast .

We enter the Pays d'Aulnis , north of the department. You will follow for 26 km and about 2 hours, the Canal de Marans and that of Rompsay , by the Green Way, a bucolic path along the water. On arrival, La Rochelle and its Old Port welcome you.

• All practical information: Marans-La Rochelle .

For more information, see our report on the Sèvre niortaise and Marans over the water and on our bucolic trip on the Rompsay canal .

Marans on the water, photo Lesley Williamson

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The Velodyssey

Even more impressive, why not follow a portion of the Vélodyssée ... This fabulous 1200 km journey along the Atlantic from Roscoff to Hendaye, for its French part. Are you tempted? So we continue the journey from La Rochelle to Royan !

Starting from the La Rochelle tours, the sporting hike is divided into three stages. 50 km and 3 hours 20 minutes of pedaling along the ocean await you for the first part to Rochefort . Then it left for 38 km and 2h30, between marshes and canals , to arrive in Marennes . Finally, during the last 45 km and 3 hour journey, you will gently cross the Arvert peninsula through the Coubre forest . It is also the opportunity to stop at Mathes de la Palmyre . And we end up at the beaches of Royan for a well-deserved rest.

The three routes are described on the site: La Vélodyssée .

Bike Channels, @Lesley Williamson

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The Two Seas Canal

Do you want to go even further? Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea , we continue the adventure on the great Véloroutes by the famous Canal des 2 mers . The start in Royan gives you the opportunity to gain height on the impressive cliffs of the Gironde . Then you enter the heart of Europe's largest estuary , up to Vitrezay, in Haute Saintonge . This site, labeled “ Échappées Nature ”, offers many activities to do with the family .

You can do the trip in one go or in two. In this case, the first section, from Royan to Mortagne-sur-Gironde, over 39 km, lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Then you can extend it for 25 km to Vitrezay, for 1h40. Between greenway and paths, the level is easy .

• Practical information is available HERE .

Grande Côte Beach

Scandibérique

Let's go down to the hinterland , on the Scandibérique road. The part between Chevanceaux and Clérac takes you a little deeper into the land , in the footsteps of the pilgrims of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle . it is a family walk of 14 km, between woods, meadows and vineyards in the territory of Haute-Saintonge .

Vines of La Haute-Saintonge

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The Flow bike

Back to the sea by joining the Flow Vélo , this new road which leaves in Dordogne, towards the ocean. To stay in Charente Maritime, we catch up with it in Saintes in the Val de Saintonge . Several stages between 20 and 40 km, take you quietly to the island of Aix , its beaches and its lighthouse . By the way, you can take a break to follow the Demoiselles to Rochefort to discover its many sites and activities . Here is our full article .

And finally, take advantage of this last stop to go from island to island .

Our bike tour of Charente Maritime ends. We hope that this loop circuit made you want to discover these extraordinary cycle routes and to explore the great outdoors of Charente Maritime .

If you want to know more, don't hesitate to consult the tourist office website on this theme: Infiniment Charente .

Out of bike, go to a rental agency .

One last tip for the road: To never get lost again, download the Loopi Vélo application, also created by the tourist office.

Did you like our article? Find more on our Blog . Follow us on the Charente Maritime Guide Facebook page and on Instagram @guidecharentemaritime.

Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Guide de la Charente Maritime.

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