Description
Book SynopsisThe 1061km Loire Cycle Route starts at the source of the River Loire in the Massif Central mountains of central France and finishes at the Atlantic opposite St Nazaire. It descends past extinct volcanoes, crater lakes and deep gorges before joining EuroVelo route 6, followed by the fully waymarked Loire à Vélo, France's most popular cycle trail. Following the river downstream in 26 stages, the route is generally downhill or level, often on dedicated traffic-free cycle tracks. Packed with a wealth of useful information - from practical planning advice to fascinating insights about the river and its surroundings - the guidebook features detailed route descriptions and informative mapping. Details of facilities and places to stay, and a French glossary, are also included. The route goes through the heart of France as the Loire becomes the royal river, bounded by extravagant châteaux, fields of Charolais cattle and vineyards. It passes through historic cities like Orléans and Tours, continuing past Angers and France's fourth largest city Nantes to finish on the Atlantic coast.
Table of ContentsMap key Overview map Preface Route summary table Introduction Background The route Natural environment Preparation Getting there and back Navigation Accommodation Food and drink Amenities and services What to take Safety and emergencies About this guide The Loire Cycle Route Prologue Getting to the start Upper Loire Stage 1 Gerbier de Jonc to Goudet Stage 2 Goudet to Le Puy-en-Velay Stage 3 Le Puy-en-Velay to Retournac Stage 4 Retournac to Aurec-sur-Loire Stage 5 Aurec-sur-Loire to Feurs Stage 6 Feurs to Roanne Stage 7 Roanne to Digoin Middle Loire Stage 8 Digoin to Bourbon-Lancy Stage 9 Bourbon-Lancy to Decize Stage 10 Decize to Nevers Stage 11 Nevers to La Charit#xe9;-sur-Loire Stage 12 La Charit#xe9;-sur-Loire to Sancerre Stage 13 Sancerre to Briare Stage 14 Briare to Sully-sur-Loire Stage 15 Sully-sur-Loire to Orl#xe9;ans Lower Loire Stage 16 Orl#xe9;ans to Beaugency Stage 17 Beaugency to Blois Stage 18 Blois to Amboise Stage 19 Amboise to Tours Stage 20 Tours to Br#xe9;h#xe9;mont Stage 21 Br#xe9;h#xe9;mont to Saumur Stage 22 Saumur to Angers Stage 23 Angers to Montjean-sur-Loire Stage 24 Montjean-sur-Loire to Ancenis Stage 25 Ancenis to Nantes Stage 26 Nantes to St Brevin-les-Pins (St Nazaire) Appendix A Facilities summary Appendix B Tourist information offices Appendix C Youth hostels and gîtes d'#xe9;tape Appendix D Useful contacts Appendix E Language glossary
