“ the newly-lauched Avenue Verte cycle route runs all the way between London and Paris ’
France
France has witnessed a spectacular growth of traffic-free and ‘ traffic-lite ’ cycle routes under the banner of an organization called AF3V . The ‘ 3V ’ stands for voies vertes andvéloroutes – that ’ s greenways and bike routes to you and me ( the ‘ bike routes ’ being a mixture of traffic-free routes and lightly trafficked minor roads ).
As a cycle guide author I couldn ’ t believe my luck on discovering these – combined with French cuisine , their gorgeous countryside this traffic-free route network meant France was the perfect cycling destination for all levels of cyclist , from gnarled touring veterans to family potterers and everyone in between . Here ’ s my pick of the best routes drawn from my several years of French pedaling .
Through the Vosges Foothills The Vosges mountains of north-east France are the equally sumptuous equivalent of Germany ’ s nearby Black Forest . There are certainly steep hills here but this route links together traffic-free paths and tiny roads along the Vosges foothills taking in great mountain views but avoiding the steepest gradients .
The route actually starts in Switzerland at Basel ; the heart of this very cosmopolitan and attractive city is Swiss but there are also large areas of it in France and Germany . Although pancake flat at the start , after the medieval splendours of Colmar the verdant , volcanic slopes of the Vosges accompany you through flowered-bedecked historic towns
“ the newly-lauched Avenue Verte cycle route runs all the way between London and Paris ’
Normandy Landing Beaches and Railpaths Normandy ’ s Cotentin peninsula packs a lot of scenery into a small area ; expansive beaches , towering dunes , fertile rolling countryside with barely a soul to be seen and beautiful river valleys . From Cherbourg follow the bucolic Val de Saire to the lovely ports of Barfleur and Le Vast before continuing via the D-Day beaches to Carentan .
Traffic-free railpaths take you across the peninsula to the wilder west coast at Carteret , with massive expanses of beach accompanying your ride north back to Cherbourg and its UK ferry links . and villages such as Ribeauville and Andlau . Along the Canal de la Bruche the towering spire of Strasbourg cathedral awaits you at journey ’ s end .
The Forgotten Oise and the Impressionists ’ Seine Part of the newly-lauched Avenue Verte cycle route that runs all the way between London and Paris , this section starts in the cluster of ancient buildings that is the heart of the town of Senlis . The lovely river Nonette heralds the royal splendours of the chateau and racecourse , complete with
10 | EuroTravel