Burgundy by Bike - welcome to the Morvan!
Just a few hours from Lyon and Paris, the Natural Regional Park of the Morvan in Burgundy is an unknown gem that’s not to be missed! With easy access, but far enough away for it to be a total change of scene, it’s an authentic and calm escape from the hubbub of the city.
Why is the Morvan so good for gravel riding?
With plenty of routes and trails for all levels, the Morvan is a perfect playground to explore, and is best seen by gravel bike.
A multitude of tracks and trails
The Park is full of earthen paths, forest tracks and quiet country roads, all ideal for a gravel bike. There’s almost infinite options for gravel routes to ride with something for everyone. And if green isn’t your favourite colour now, it will be once you’ve spent some time in the Morvan!
Manageable climbs
Unlike the Alps and the Pyrenees the mountains in the Morvan are more rolling, making the climbs much less demanding than in the high mountains. That said you can always find a climb to challenge yourself on, don’t worry!
Beautiful landscapes
Lakes, rivers, forests, plains, and little villages, you’ll find everything here in this little Eden. Every gravel ride becomes another adventure with plenty to explore and a unique local culture too.
Blissful tranquility
Unlike more touristy destinations, the Morgan has remained relatively undiscovered - people often pass it by for bigger name destinations. More the luck for us, as we can enjoy the calm and quiet of the forests and scenery here, and make the most of the beautifully raw nature.
Top activities to enjoy in the Morvan
Once you’ve ridden your fill of gravel (of course!) you’ll find plenty of other activities to enjoy in the Morvan Natural Park:
The Morvan Lakes
The Morvan is well known for its many lakes which make a perfect post-ride pitstop, or are a great way to spend a day or two relaxing. The Setton, Saint-Agnan and Pannecière lakes are the best known, and offer swimming and kayaking as well as picnic-ing and relaxing of course.
Hiking
If you want to mix up your riding, then hiking is a great way to explore some more corners of the Morvan. There’s a couple official long distance hikes that you can follow all or part of, taking you to some of the best panoramic spots via a rich local flora and fauna. The Tour du Morvan is one - you can check out the route and download the gpx file on the French only website here. Another is theGR13 which traverses the Morvan north to south - a GR is a Grand Randonnée in French which are the national network of well marked long distance hiking trails.
Cultural sights
The Morvan also has a rich heritage and culture, visible in some of the beautiful villages you’ll find dotted around.Vézelay has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the “Most beautiful Villages of France” scheme, and Château-Chinon is charming and the home of French President François Mitterand.
Enjoy water and outdoor sports
Aside from cycling, theres plenty of other activities to keep you busy on a day off riding for some R&R… you’ll find paddle-boarding, canoeing, fishing and of course swimming in the many lakes dotted through the region. The Morvan is also well known for great climbing areas and high ropes courses for you to enjoy some airtime!
Book your gravel getaway to the Morvan with GravelUp
Being ideally located between Lyon and Paris, with under 3hrs drive from both cities, the Morvan is a slice of nature and paradise just waiting for you to visit. Perfect for a weekend getaway far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you’re looking for a fun filled weekend (or longer!) of sport and enjoying the outdoors, the Morvan is for you.
Bike filled weekends with everything included.
All year round here at GravelUp we have gravel weekend getaways available for you, with comfy accommodation, delicious meals, extra activities like yoga, and even transport for you and your bike from Paris all included! We have bikes (traditional and electric) available to rent for the weekend too so you can really make the most of your time away.
So don’t wait any longer to get exploring the Morvan. Book your next bike trip with us now!
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