Description
Book SynopsisCycle Touring in France concentrates on eight selected one- or two-week bicycle tours which endeavour to offer cyclists of all levels a taste of France's diverse landscapes and superb scenery. From rugged mountain ranges to vast, variegated patchworks of farmland, from beautiful, tranquil forests full of wildlife to high, remote, sweeping plains, from deep, snaking gorges to gentle valley slopes covered with vineyards, France is undoubtedly one of the most inviting countries in the world for cycle touring, a country understandably proud of hosting the greatest cycle race on Earth, the Tour de France. Peppered with hundreds of charming villages that time seems to have forgotten, here you will encounter friendly people, sample fine wines and enjoy exquisite, regional cuisines. Covering some of the most picturesque parts of Brittany, Picardy, Alsace, Auvergne/Languedoc, Provence, Dordogne/Lot, the Alps and Pyrenees, the tours in this guide are accompanied by detailed route descriptions and maps, lists of campsites, bed and breakfasts and hotels, airport and rail connections, and practical information including tips on when to go and what to take, transporting your bicycle and being prepared for carrying out bicycle repairs on the road.
Trade Review'Written by a cyclist, for cyclists. Each tour has a detailed route description plus maps, lists of campsites and tips on what to take and how to deal with roadside repairs.' (France Magazine / September 2006) 'Having toured extensively through France, it came as a surprise to find how much superb information is contained within this handily-sized guide. There is an excellent set of 8 routes in different areas of France, each well set out in stages easy enough for most cyclists to follow, complete with an altitude graph when there is a climb of some difficulty. This book is not just ideal for planning a first visit, but also to inspire those who wish to explore further afield within the country.' (Cycling World / November 2006)
Table of ContentsCycle Tours Route 1 Finistère, 'the End of the World': Brittany Stage 1 Morlaix to Le Folgoët/Lesneven Stage 2 Le Folgoët/Lesneven to Lanildut Stage 3 Lanildut to Brest Stage 4 Brest to Le Faou Stage 5 Le Faou to Huelgoat Stage 6 Huelgoat to Morlaix Route 2 Champagne and The Kings' Forest: The Marne Valley and Picardy Stage 1 Aeroport Paris CDG to Charly-sur-Marne Stage 2 Charly-sur-Marne to Dormans Stage 3 Dormans to Villers-Cotterêts Stage 4 Villers-Cotterêts to Pierrefonds Stage 5 Pierrefonds to Compiegne and back Route 3 The Wine Road and Bas-Rhin: Alsace Stage 1 Colmar to Barr Stage 2 Barr to Saverne Stage 3 Saverne to Niederbronn-les-Bains Stage 4 Niederbronn-les-Bains to Haguenau Route 4 An Alpine Experience: Geneva to Grenoble Stage 1 Geneva to St Jean-de-Sixt Stage 2 St Jean-de-Sixt to Albertville Stage 3 Albertville to St Jean-de-Maurienne Stage 4 St Jean-de-Maurienne to Le Bourg d'Oisans Stage 5 Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez and back Stage 6 Le Bourg d'Oisans to Grenoble Route 5 The Land of Lavender: Provence Stage 1 Arles to Cavaillon Stage 2 Cavaillon to Caromb Stage 3 Caromb to Buis-les-Baronnies Stage 4 Buis-les-Baronnies to Sault Stage 5 Sault to Mont Ventoux and back Stage 6 Sault to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Route 6 Meadows and Mountains: Pyrénées Stage 1 Foix to St Girons Stage 2 St Girons to St Bertrand-de-Comminges Stage 3 St Bertrand-de-Comminges to Arreau Stage 4 Arreau to Bagnères-de-Bigorre Stage 5 Bagnères-de-Bigorre to Argelès-Gazost Stage 6 Argelès-Gazost to the Col d'Aubisque and back, then Lourdes Route 7 Rivers and Castles: Dordogne and Lot Stage 1 Brive-la-Gaillarde to St Céré Stage 2 St Céré to Figeac Stage 3 Figeac to Cahors Stage 4 Carhors to Monpazier Stage 5 Monpazier to La Roque-Gageac Stage 6 La Roque-Gageac to Souillac Route 8 Rugged and Remote: Auvergne and Languedoc Stage 1 Meymac to Riom-ès-Montagnes Stage 2 Riom-ès-Montagnes to St Flour Stage 3 St Flour to Marvejols Stage 4 Marvejols to Florac Stage 5 Florac to Alès
