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The Normandy cycle route

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L’Aigle

Mont Saint Michel / Pontorson

7 days / 6 nights

Moderate

d’avril à novembre

The beauty of the landscapes and gentle charm of Normandy

Starting in L’Aigle, located 1.5 hours from Paris by train, the Véloscénie cycle route crosses the rolling, unspoilt landscapes of the Perche region, taking in deep forests, green hills and quiet country roads. Around Mortagne au Perche and then Alençon, the route reveals wide panoramas, carefully maintained hedgerows and numerous natural areas where calm and authenticity reign. Further on, the majestic forests surrounding Bagnoles de l’Orne and the country lanes leading to Saint-Hilaire du Harcouët offer an ideal nature break for a cycling getaway.

Heritage, charming towns and the Norman way of life

Each stage of this cycle tour is an opportunity to discover typical Norman heritage: half-timbered houses, manor houses, picturesque villages and remarkably well-preserved historic centres.
Mortagne-au-Perche, an elegant ducal town, charms visitors with its architecture and hilltop village atmosphere.
Alençon, the birthplace of Saint Thérèse and the cradle of Alençon lace, combines culture and a gentle way of life.
Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, the only spa resort in western France, charms visitors with its lake, Belle Époque villas and manicured gardens.
Everywhere you go, markets, cafés and local produce punctuate the route and allow you to sample the Norman way of life.

An accessible and varied route, designed for cycling

The Véloscénie is naturally suited to travellers: rolling greenways, quiet country roads, forest and bocage passages… The route alternates between gentle sections and more challenging stretches, without ever being technical. The signs are clear, the villages follow one another at a good pace and there are numerous cycling services, allowing for a pleasant and safe journey to the finish.

The spectacular arrival at Mont-Saint-Michel: an unforgettable experience

The approach to Mont-Saint-Michel is the highlight of the trip. After crossing the plains of the bay, the silhouette of the “Merveille” gradually rises above the salt meadows. By bike, the arrival is spectacular: the abbey, the ramparts and the rock gradually appear, offering a panorama that is unique in France. This finale facing the Mont, between the sea, the changing light and the vast horizon, marks the culmination of a journey rich in discoveries, emotions and landscapes.

Images de quatres cyclistes sur la Véloscénie aux Bagnoles de l'Orne

boucles-veloscenie-damase-mav- Normandie Rando

image du Mont-Saint-Michel avec un beau ciel bleu

deux cycistes qui pédalent dans mortagne au Perche Perche

Itinerary

JOUR 1 : Arrival to l'Aigle

Located in the heart of the Pays d’Ouche, in the Orne department, L’Aigle is your starting point for this cycling trip.
From Paris, this village is only 1.5 hours away by train. Your hotel is located in the town centre, close to several restaurants.

Night in L'Aigle

DAY 2 : From L'Aigle to Mortagne au Perche

Distance à parcourir : 45 km (28 miles)

On this first day of cycling, you won’t be following the Véloscénie route, but navigation is easy. You’ll ride along rolling, wooded country roads, admiring magnificent manor houses and farm buildings in the Perche Ornais Regional Nature Park, a typical rural area in southern Normandy. The village of Mortagne au Perche and its medieval heritage are easy to explore by bike or on foot. Don’t miss its cobbled streets, the cloister and Saint François chapel, and its historic residences.

Night in Mortagne au Perche.

DAY 3 : From Mortagne au Perche to Alençon

Distance à parcourir : 41 km (25 miles)

Today, you join the Véloscénie cycle route shortly after leaving Mortagne and leave the Perche Regional Nature Park behind to discover the Normandy Maine Regional Nature Park. The village of Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe and its lake offer a refreshing stopover before crossing the Bourse forest and catching sight of the town of Alençon from the edge of a field. Take the time to explore the town, its lace-making expertise and its rich architectural heritage.

Night in Alençon

DAY 4 : From Alençon to Bagnoles de l'Orne

Distance to cover : 54km (34 miles)

Between Alençon and Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, the Véloscénie route splits into two variants. This one is the most family-friendly. From Damigny to Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson, the route takes you through large unspoilt areas such as the Sarthon valley and the Mont des Avaloirs regional nature reserve. At 416 metres, this peak is the highest point in the Armorican massif and the Greater West region. It is accessible by bike via a rather challenging detour, but you will be richly rewarded by the superb view of the bocage from the belvedere.
Small country roads then take you to Bagnoles de l’Orne. Nestled in a green setting, this spa resort, the largest in western France, welcomes weary cyclists. They will leave feeling refreshed and ready to continue on the Véloscénie route.

Night in Bagnoles de l'Orne.

DAY 5 : From Bagnoles de l'Orne to Saint Hiaire du Harcouët

Distance to cover : 64 km (40 miles)

The exit from Bagnoles de l’Orne is via shared roads. Then, a forest road takes you to Perrou, followed by small roads with a few hills that will take you to Domfront. The entrance and exit of the medieval town of Domfront are well worth the effort, but you will need to pedal hard! But once you’re on the greenway (junction with the Vélo Francette), this stage offers beautiful views of the Normandy countryside, especially along the banks of the Sélune.
On the hillsides, Mortain finally appears, the green heart of the Normandy countryside and the crossroads of the Tour de Manche and the Véloscénie. You will discover the typical landscapes of the Mortainais region: countryside, forests, rocks and cliffs. Don’t miss the walk near the large and small waterfalls of Mortain!
You then continue to your destination for the day: Saint Hilaire du Harcouët.

Night in Saint Hilaire du Harcouët

DAY 6 : From Saint Hilaire du Harcouët to Mont-Saint-Michel / Pontorson

Distance to cover : 53 km (33 miles)

Today, you will enter the bay of Mont Saint Michel. The road out of Ducey takes you to the mouth of the Sélune River and offers spectacular views of the bay and the Mont. It takes about three hours to visit this island town and its abbey on foot.
At the end of the day, follow the peaceful Couesnon Canal to reach the small town of Pontorson.

Night in Pontorson.

DAY 7 : Pontorson

End of stay in Pontorson after breakfast

Accommodation

COMFORT

FROM 1,060 € SINGLE SUP 320 €

Comfort Accommodation

You will stay in 3-star hotels.
The rooms are spacious and the hotel offers a wide range of services.
The bedding is of very good quality and the decor is tasteful.
Breakfast is varied, generous and consists of fresh, local products, both sweet and savory.

PARTNER HOTELS

L'aigle: Hôtel du dauphin ***
Mortagne au Perche: Hôtel du Tribunal ***
Alençon: hôtel des ducs ***
Bagnoles de l'Orne: Villa Bois Joli ***
Saint Hilaire du Harcouët: Le Lion d'Or***
Pontorson: hôtel Montgomery***

Practical Information

Price Includes

6 nights with breakfast in standard, comfort or superior accommodation
5 days of cycling
Luggage transfer between each stage
Detailed explanations of your route, advice, etc
GPX tracks and free access to our mobile phone navigation App

Not included in the price of the tour:

Meals and drinks
Bike hire
Tourist taxes to be paid on site
Entrance fees and site visits
Return transfer to the starting point at the end of the tour
Travel insurance
Single room supplement
High season supplement

Options, Supplements and Discounts

Departures on Sundays only
If departing on another day, there is a €50 surcharge.

Don’t want to use our luggage transport service?
€200 discount (offer cannot be combined with the ‘Group traveller’ discount)

5-day bike hire: (discounted rate for groups of 4 or more participants)
(Delivery to L’Aigle and collection in Pontorson included)

Hybrid bike: €190
Electric bike: €270

Solo traveller : €280 supplement

Group travellers (4 or more people): €85 discount

All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.

How to Get There

Coming by train from Paris:

The connection runs from Paris Montparnasse to Gare de L’Aigle.
There are direct trains, with no changes.
The journey generally takes around 1h30. There are several departures every day.

Coming by car:

It is easy to leave your car at L’Aigle (free parking).

How to Leave

Returning to Paris by train:

Several trains run daily between Pontorson and Paris. The journey is not direct.
The journey generally takes between 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours, depending on the timetable and connections.
The fastest route is via Rennes, then taking the TGV to Paris Montparnasse station.

Picking up your car at the end of the tour:

There is a direct train (or a train with a connection, depending on the timetable) between Pontorson and L’Aigle.
The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes when the train is direct.
There are a few departures throughout the day, but the service is quite limited, so it is best to check the timetable in advance.

from

€1060

per person

Bike rental

On this tour, Normandie Rando offers a range of bike models for hire.
Our bikes are sturdy and lightweight to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.
Depending on your experience and fitness level, you can choose from several types of bikes. All are available in different sizes, with men’s, women’s and children’s frames.

Trek Hybrid Bike

Perfectly suited to our itineraries, it is high-performing, reliable, and very easy to handle. It’s the ideal bike for a successful cycling holiday!

E-Bike – Electric Assisted Bicycle

Tempted by a cycling adventure but worried about the climbs? The electric bike is made for you.
With excellent battery range, it will carry you effortlessly along all roads!

Gravel

The performance, features and handling of a road bike combined with the comfort of an hybrid. Our gravel bikes are made from aluminium with a carbon fork and 35mm tyres; ideal for our most challenging routes.

Children’s Bike – On Request

Our cycling holidays are also designed for families! We of course offer “Kids” bikes—sturdy and easy to handle—so the whole family can enjoy the ride!

All bikes are delivered with a full set of equipment:

Helmet
Repair kit including a puncture repair spray, a spare inner tube, tire levers, and patches
Front and rear lights
A lock
A front pannier with map holder
A rear rack

Additional equipment available on request:

Tag-along bike / child seat / trailer…

Feel free to contact us for more information.

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