The most beautiful cycling routes in France

Traveling by bike in France often means following gentle lines: a canal, a valley, a former railway track. Greenways allow you to set off without stress, far from traffic, on continuous and gradual routes that are ideal for a first bikepacking experience as well as for a more ambitious journey.

Here is a selection of greenways and major cycle routes to explore over a weekend or several days, all across France.

Greenways to ride over a weekend

La Dolce Via – Ardèche

La Voulte-sur-Rhône → Saint-Agrève – ≈ 90 km

Built on a former railway line, La Dolce Via follows the Eyrieux Valley up to the Ardèche plateaus. Tunnels, viaducts, villages, and ever-present nature: everything comes together for a successful first cycling experience.

Why it’s ideal for a weekend:

• Around 90 km, perfect over 2 days

• Gentle, steady gradients

• Continuous and safe greenway

• Easy to find accommodation

👉 An absolute reference for starting a bike trip on a greenway.

The Nivernais Canal by bike

Auxerre → Decize – ≈ 174 km

Less well known than its Burgundian neighbor, The canal du Nivernais offers a very peaceful and scenic greenway. You ride along the water between limestone cliffs, forests, and small villages.

Why it’s an excellent weekend route:

• 174 km continuous, easy to divide into sections

• Mostly along towpaths

• Very little traffic

• A distinctly slow, relaxing atmosphere

👉 An ideal alternative for a nature-focused cycling weekend.

The Burgundy Canal by bike

Migennes → Dijon – ≈ 215 km

The canal de Bourgogne crosses the heart of the region, linking the Yonne to the Saône. The route follows a succession of locks and villages along a calm and easy-to-follow path.

Why it works well over 3 to 4 days:

• 215 km continuous

• Easy to split into 50–60 km stages

• Many sections on greenways

• Simple logistics

👉 Several major sites of French historical and cultural heritage will punctuate your journey!

Greenways to ride by bike over 4 days or more

La Belle Via

Valence → Annecy – ≈ 280 km

La Belle Via connects the Rhône Valley to the Alps, passing by Lake Bourget and then Lake Annecy. It’s a very gradual, accessible, and spectacular route.

Why it works perfectly over 4 to 5 days:

• Linear, well-signposted route

• A mix of greenways, cycle paths, and quiet roads

• Varied landscapes: river, lakes, and Alpine scenery

👉 A cycling route that lets you discover a wide variety of landscapes and atmospheres!

La Véloscénie

Paris → Mont-Saint-Michel – ≈ 450 km

La Véloscénie is one of the major routes in northwestern France. It connects Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel, crossing the Perche region, Normandy, and many rural greenways.

Why it’s a classic bikepacking route:

• Ideal progression despite the distance

• Many safe, traffic-free sections

• Perfect for a first week-long cycling trip

• Strong symbolic appeal

👉 Set off to discover the history of France, illustrated by its most beautiful landmarks, including five UNESCO World Heritage sites!

La ViaRhôna

Lake Geneva → Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône – ≈ 815 km

La ViaRhôna is one of France’s major long-distance cycle routes, following the Rhône River from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean. The landscapes are incredibly diverse, from the Alps to vineyards and the plains of Provence.

• Flexible route that can be divided into stages of 60–100 km per day

• Majority of sections on greenways or dedicated cycle paths

• Plenty of accommodation and services along the way

👉 You can ride it in sections, with many train stations accessible along the route.

Set off with GravelUp: your first organized and guided cycling weekends!

At GravelUp, we take a unique approach: helping you discover France by bike without stress, even for your very first weekend of bike touring.We carefully select lesser-known routes, away from the classic tourist paths, so that every pedal stroke becomes an authentic discovery of the region. With a passionate local guide, you’ll explore villages, landscapes, and the hidden secrets of each area in depth.

With GravelUp:

• You don’t have to prepare anything: route planning, guide, bike rental, meals, accommodation, and refreshment stops are all taken care of.

• You enjoy a fully immersive experience thanks to a guide who shares stories, anecdotes, and local know-how.

• You benefit from a smooth and enjoyable cycling trip, suitable for beginners as well as regular riders.

To find out more about any of our destinations, download our Trip Directory here or head to our Trip Calendar page to see all our upcoming departures.