On Your Bike: France Touring

Cycling has always been popular in France but now the UK seems to be catching up fast after Wiggos success in the 2012 Tour and the UK's Olympic dominance in the Velodrome. So here is an interesting article from familyonbikes.org

1. Cycle Champagne country

France is famous for many things but its vineyards are one of its most notable features, from the Champagne region in the north to the Languedoc in the sunnier south. Situated in the north east of the country, Champagne region is near the country’s borders with Belgium and Luxembourg. Famous for producing around 250 million bottles of sparkling wine every year, the region also offers excellent cycling. Head towards Reims or Epernay to visit some of the finest vineyards, cellars and Champagne houses to learn more about the history and processes – indeed, Epernay boasts the wonderful Avenue de Champagne, a street lined by several of the biggest names in Champagne.

Situated where it is, Champagne is also handily positioned for the capital Paris so you could always start or finish your trip there. The excellent French railway system can have you from Paris to Champagne in around 45 minutes, with a direct train to Reims. If you’d rather not have the hassle of taking bikes on the train, it’s easy to hire them near the station in Reims.

2. Cycle Brittany

For a more family-friendly cycling break through beautiful rolling countryside or along stunning coast, the north-western region of France is perfect. Most of Brittany of very rural and this offers a network of quieter roads to cycle, with numerous small villages, hotels and restaurants to stop at along the way. Here you can find Parisien-quality food at a fraction of the price.

Brittany, as with most of France, is also blessed with numerous campsites so there’s always somewhere to pitch for the night, ideal if you’re traveling with children. The region also offers 840km of green routes, along old railway lines, through forests and such, which is again a great, safe way to cycle as a family. It’s also worth noting that there are companies that can plan child-friendly bike routes and accommodation for you if you’d rather let someone else do the organizing.

Read more and discover how to cycle a stage of Le Tour: Enjoy France By Bike: from Champagne to Le Tour

Video: Cycling around France

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