I’m currently planning a bike trip for this summer. I have a definite starting point and destination — Dieppe to Tours — but I’m flexible with the route. I’ve mapped out two potential routes and would love to hear any advice on which might be better in terms of things to do and see along the way, or if anyone has suggestions for alterations or completely different routes.
Route 1:
-La Vélomaritime / EuroVelo 4 from Dieppe to Mont-Saint-Michel
-La Régalaante from Mont-Saint-Michel to Nantes
-La Loire à Vélo from Nantes to Tours
Route 2:
-Avenue Verte from Dieppe to Paris
-EuroVelo 3 & La Loire à Vélo to Nevers
-La Loire à Vélo from Nevers to Tours
by OffMyBoXxX
1 Comment
First, you say the last leg of B is the Loire à Vélo from Nevers to Tours, but the shown route doesn’t do that? Instead it shows a route by Bourges and then following the river Cher?
Second thing that jumps out at me is the large difference in effort for both routes, with A being 40% longer and with over twice the elevation. So you could probably add in a few more things to see to route B to get a fair comparison time wise. I’d especially consider going from Tours to Nantes or even all the way to the coast and then back up to Tours. Because there are some great sights on either side of Tours. Upstream I can highly recommend Chaumont, Blois and Chambord, downstream Villandry, Chinon and Nantes are also great visits.
If you are interested in old cities and castles, nothing really beats the Loire valley, hence route B getting you there faster would be better. Route A will have more varied landscapes and offer more of a physical challenge and with the Normandy beaches you get more modern history and ofc Mont Saint-Michel. Though for military history the “les invalides” in Paris is certainly also well worth a visit, if you have never been before.