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Véloscénie: The great adventure

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Versailles

Mont Saint Michel / Pontorson

10 days / 9 nights

Moderate

From april to october

450 km of cycle routes, from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Discover the history of France, illustrated by its most beautiful monuments, five of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Between specially designed tracks, greenways, small marked roads and forest paths, this route takes you to the heart of the Chevreuse Valley, the Perche region and the Normandy bocage, ending at Mont-Saint-Michel. An unforgettable experience to enjoy with family or friends!

Begin your cycling adventure in the Île-de-France countryside

The departure from Versailles, a royal city with an exceptional heritage, offers a majestic introduction to the Véloscénie. The first stages pass through parks, woods, valleys and villages in the west of Paris, alternating between forests, rivers and peaceful little roads. This gentle and elegant start allows you to gradually leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and enter peaceful rural landscapes, ideal for a serene discovery by bike.

Crossing the Perche by bike: hills, forests and charming villages

The route then takes you through the authentic landscapes of the Perche, a region of hedgerows and wooded hills. From Nogent-le-Rotrou to Mortagne-au-Perche, majestic forests, manor houses and ancient stone villages create a unique setting, marked by elegant and unspoilt rurality. Local markets, lively little squares and rolling panoramas make this section one of the most charming and balanced of the entire Véloscénie.

Normandy by bike: heritage, nature and cities of art

On reaching Normandy, the route passes through Alençon, a city of art and history, then the green landscapes of the Normandy countryside. The route alternates between greenways, forest paths and quiet country roads, until it reaches Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, a spa town with Belle Époque charm. Further north-west, the lines become gentler and the route gradually approaches the bay, passing through meadows, valleys and typical villages.

The magical approach to the bay and arrival at Mont-Saint-Michel by bike

Entering the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the highlights of the trip: the horizon opens up, the colours change, and the silhouette of the Merveille appears in the distance, dominating the salt meadows. Arriving by bike at the foot of the Mont offers a unique spectacle, enhanced by the light and magic of the site. This grandiose finale, between land, sky and sea, is the culmination of a journey rich in discoveries, landscapes and emotions.
Tranquil rural landscapes, ideal for a peaceful exploration by bicycle.

boucles-veloscenie-damase-mav- Normandie Rando

deux cycistes qui pédalent dans mortagne au Perche Perche

Chateau-de-versailles@pixabay- Gauthierpous

Itinerary

DAY 1 : Arrival in Versailles

Versailles captivates visitors with the splendour of its famous palace, a masterpiece by Louis XIV, and the harmony of its gardens designed by Le Nôtre. Beyond the royal estate, the city offers beautiful historic streets, lively squares and a rich cultural heritage. It is a place where French history can be experienced around every corner and where it is pleasant to stroll.

Night in Versailles

DAY 2 : From Versailles to Rambouillet

Distance to cover : 52 km (32.3 miles)

You leave Versailles and head for the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park with its rich natural, cultural and architectural heritage. You pass through small villages and discover the heart of this valley with all its treasures: castles, museums, wash houses… It’s a slightly hilly stage, but you’ll be rewarded by the beauty of the landscapes.

Night in Rambouillet.

DAY 3 : From Rambouillet to Chartres

Distance to cover : 53 km (32.9 miles)

After exploring the English garden at the Domaine de Rambouillet, you follow the Guéville valley, lined with pretty little roads, to arrive at the charming town of Épernon, a small town of character.
From Épernon, you cycle through the heart of the royal Eure valley. This rural stage will take you along the route of the secret love affair between the Sun King (Louis XIV) and Madame de Maintenon at her château in Maintenon.
You then enter the Eure valley, which offers magnificent scenery and a view of Chartres Cathedral, the highlight of this stage.

Night in Chartres.

DAY 4 : From Chartres to Nogent le Rotrou

Distance to cover: 75 km (46.6 miles)

Leaving Notre Dame de Chartres, you arrive in Illiers-Combray and follow in the footsteps of Marcel Proust, ‘In Search of Lost Time’. The sites mentioned in Marcel Proust’s work, such as the Pré Catelan or Aunt Léonie’s house (now a museum), welcome you and immerse you in the setting of the work.
The landscape then becomes more hilly: you enter the Perche region and the first hills appear, as does the Domaine de l’Abbaye de Thiron-Gardais and its beautiful gardens. The Perche requires some initial effort, but you will soon be rewarded with rolling green hills stretching as far as the eye can see.
The arrival in Nogent-le-Rotrou, capital of the Counts of Perche, will require a final effort to reach the castle overlooking the entire Huisne valley.

Night in Nogent le Rotrou

DAY 5 : From Nogent le Rotrou to Mortagne au Perche

Distance to cover : 41 km (25.4 miles)

You then leave Nogent-le-Rotrou to join one of the longest sections of greenway on La Véloscénie, which begins in Condé-sur-Huisne. Built on former railway tracks, this stage will take you through the Perche region with hardly any hills to climb!

Night in Mortagne-au-Perche.

DAY 6 : From Mortagne au Perche to Alençon

Distance to cover : 40 km (24.8 miles)

Shortly after leaving Mortagne, you leave the Perche Regional Nature Park behind and enter 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.

Nuit à Alençon

DAY 7 : From Alençon to Bagnoles de l'Orne

Distance to cover : 54km (33.5 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 8 : From Bagnoles de l'Orne to Saint Hiaire du Harcouët

Distance to cover : 64 km (39.7 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 9 : 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 10 : Pontorson

End of stay in Pontorson after breakfast

Accommodation

Confort

À partir de 1,765 € Suppl. indiv. 510 €

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.

Où vous dormez

Versailles: Hôtel des roys***
Rambouillet: Hôtel Mercure Relais du Château
Chartres: Le Boeuf Couronné***
Nogent Le Rotrou: Chambre d'hôtes
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

9 nights with breakfast in standard, comfort or superior accommodation
8 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
Solo traveller supplement
High season supplement

Options, Supplements and Discounts

Departures on Saturdays only
If departing on another day, there is a supplement of €80

Don’t want to use our luggage transport service?
€350 discount (offer cannot be combined with the ‘Group traveller’ discount)

9-day bike hire: (discounted rate for groups of 4 or more participants)
(Delivery to Versailles and collection in Pontorson included)

Hybrid bike: €340
Electric bike: €440

Solo traveller : Please, contact us

Group travellers (4 or more people): €150 discount

All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.

How to Get There

Coming by train from Paris:

Most economical option: the RER C

Take the RER C towards Versailles Château – Rive Gauche.
The ‘Versailles Château – Rive Gauche’ station is about a 5–10 minute walk from the hotel.
From Paris, the journey usually takes between ≈ 40 minutes and 1 hour, depending on your departure point.

Easiest option: Taxi

Coming by car:

Most car parks in the city are pay-and-display.
For a 10-day stay, a secure covered car park (such as EFFIA or a ‘resident/long-stay’ car park) is often safer than street parking or ‘random’ 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 20 minutes and ~ 4 hours, depending on the timetable and connections.
The fastest route is via Rennes, then taking the TGV to Paris Montparnasse station.

Collecting your car at the end of the tour:

Travel to Paris and take the RER C or a taxi to Versailles.

from

€1765

per person

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