La Vélo Francette, From Caen To Angers

8 days to discover the landscapes of Normandy to the Loire

Awarded the best cycling route in 2018, the Vélo Francette is an adventure off the beaten path to discover unknown, wild and bucolic lands far from the major urban areas, with an exceptionally dense network of greenways, this stretch of the Vélo Francette allows you to discover Normandy and the Loire Valley.

In six stages, you link Caen, in Normandy, to Angers, a town at the junction of the Loire and Maine. Caen and Angers, cities with a rowdy history, have a lot to offer on from a historical point of view and make you travel in time: from the Middle Ages to the World War 2 landing. During your wandering on the Vélo Francette, you discover other historical curiosities like the village of Domfront, famous for its medieval fortress and the charming cities of Mayenne, Laval and Chateau-Gontier.

During your escape on the Vélo Francette, you cross natural and varied landscapes that make up the charm of this route. The rugged landscapes of the Norman Switzerland are certainly the most impressive of the trip. From the top of the belvedere of Roche d’Oëtre you overlook a grandiose panorama. Peaceful and relaxing, the journey is also closely linked to the water. On the banks of the Orne and Mayenne, you cross picturesque villages that deserve a stop. In Angers, the completion of your epic journey, you join Maine and of course the Loire, the royal river flowing just south of the city.

Away from the tourist motorways, on the tracks and the cross roads, you find another France of unsuspected charm. From one village to another, along the rivers or through the meadows, the Vélo Francette allows you to discover it.