Cycling In The Charente-Maritime
The Charente Maritime is one of Frances hidden gems… so popular with French people it is known as the real French Riviera.
The region is great for cyclists of all ages and abilities and with over 2500 km of mostly flat cycle paths there is something for everyone.
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Cyclists in the Charente Maritime can enjoy bike rides along miles and miles of golden white beaches, across vibrant marshlands, through traditional French villages or beautiful countryside scattered with vineyards.
As the Charente Maritime is in the second ‘sunniest’ region in France with very low rainfall you can enjoy cycling without having to worry about bad weather!
How To Use This Guide
We aim to provide a guide to each of the routes described below, however, as there are so many great routes this may take some time.
You can check out the routes close to where you are holidaying on the map to the right of the page. By clicking on the location you are interested in you can see more information about difficulty levels, route length and areas passed through.
For detailed information on each route please click on the route name in the list below. The link will either take you to our English language guide and detailed map or, if we haven’t created a guide yet, to information in French. Please keep checking back as we aim to cover all routes as soon as possible!
EuroVelo Route - Charente
The EuroVelo network consists of 14 cycling routes stretching 70,000 km across Europe. EuroVelo 1, or the Atlantic Coast Route, passes down through the Charente Maritime. The entire route is just over 8186 km long and connects northern Scandinavia to Sagres in the Algarve, Portugal.
The Pilgrims Route passes roughly south along the coast of the Charente Maritime from La Rochelle towards Bordeaux.
For further information visit the European Cyclist Federation.
Voie Verte – The ‘Green Routes’
Voie Vertes are a network of ‘green routes’ crisscrossing across the Charente. The routes can only be used by pedestrians, cyclists horse riders and all motorised vehicles are not allowed. The routes are therefore safe and ideal for use by families and those with young children.
- Bank of the Charente – 5 km
Pont Transbordeur (Echillais), Soubise
- Cabariot to Brouage – 16 km
Cabariot, La Vallée, Saint-Hippolyte, Montherault, Montierneuf (Saint-Agnant), Saint-Agnant, Bellevue (Hiers-Brouage)
- Gironde Estuary – 16 km
Port de Vitrezay (Saint-Sorlin-de-Conac), Port-Conac (Saint-Sorlin-de-Conac), Charron (Saint-Sorlin-de-Conac), Saint-Thomas-de-Conac, Port-Maubert (Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde)
- Haute-Saintonge – 15 km
Chevanceaux, Saint-Palais-de-Négrignac, Montlieu-la-Garde, Saint-Martin-d'Ary, Orignolles, Montguyon, Gadebourg (Clérac), Clérac
- Path of the Charente – 12 km
Vieille Forme (Rochefort), Quai Bellot (Rochefort), Corderie Royale (Rochefort), Pont Transbordeur (Rochefort), Station de Lagunage (Rochefort), Embarcadère de Soubise (Rochefort), Club Nautique de Port Neuf (Rochefort)
- Ronce Les Bains to Saint Palais dur Mer – 29 km
Ronce-les-Bains, Maison forestière de la Bouverie (La Tremblade), Phare de la Coubre (La Tremblade), Plage de Bonne Anse (Les Mathes), La Palmyre (Les Mathes), La Grande-Côte (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer)
Local Charente Maritime Loops
Throughout the Charente Maritime there are safe, interesting cycle routes in a loop format. Currently many of these routes do not exist on the internet, however, we aim to provide our own reports on such routes so check back on this page often!
These loops are clearly marked and are classified;
- Tres facile: very easy
- Facile: easy
- Difficile: difficult
- Tres difficile: very difficult
View Charente Maritime - Cycling Routes in a larger map
Arces sur Gironde