Brittany: A Region to Discover by Bike?
Brittany is often known for its customs officers' trail, the GR34 hiking path. However, it will soon have 9 circuits of cycle routes and greenways, allowing you to traverse this region from north to south and east to west. This amounts to a total of 2000km to cycle along canals, towpaths, old railway lines, or even along the coast.
Not to mention the legendary Paris-Brest-Paris race, the Tro Bro Leon, and many more.
So, while Brittany often rhymes with wild coastlines, mysterious moors, picturesque ports, and rolling countryside, it is well known to cyclists, particularly for some of its climbs like the formidable Mûr-de-Bretagne with an elevation gain of 6.5%.
1 - Discover the Nantes-Brest Canal
This cycling route corresponds to the French section of EuroVelo 1, a cycle path connecting Roscoff to Hendaye. This 400km Breton section partly follows the canal and will allow you to enjoy Brittany's greenways, flowery locks, and towpaths, from the Léonard country towards the city of the Dukes.
2 – Travel in Ille-et-Vilaine
This time, it's about connecting Saint Malo to Redon for 200km of cycling along the Ille-et-Rance canal. This will allow you to visit the 4 essential cities of art and history:
- Saint Malo
- Dinan
- Rennes
- Redon
3 – A GR34 for bikes??
If you're a fan of the Customs Officers' Trail, you can take its cycling equivalent! This route, currently under development, connects Roscoff to Nantes, allowing you to enjoy a 400km cycle route along the coast. You'll want to make a few stops in the Abers region, Audierne Bay, the Quiberon peninsula, or the Gulf of Morbihan.
For example, you can start from the Pointe du Raz, which represents the end of the world (Penn ar Bed in Breton), then go to Audierne where you can enjoy the fishing and yachting port as well as the beaches that line the coast. Along this wild landscape, you can discover many sheltered ports like Bestrée, which in the past allowed fishermen to protect themselves from the assaults of the sea
.
4 – A Visit to Central Brittany
Central Brittany is a bit like France's diagonal void. However, this sparsely populated and deserted territory is home to the Armorican Regional Park, which is well worth a visit. And you're in luck because a cycling route along an old railway line connects Carhaix to Saint-Méen-Le-Grand for 128km by bike. You can then discover the Argoat, the Monts d'Arrée, many forest mountains, Lake Guerlédan, and numerous villages.
Beware, this circuit passes through the formidable Mûr-de-Bretagne; enthusiasts, you might have to dismount!
5 – Along the North Coast
For those who wish to immerse themselves in the Breton coastline, this itinerary is for you! Indeed, a 1500 km cycle path exists to offer you a maritime experience from the English Channel to the North Sea, starting from Roscoff to Dunkerque. You can thus cross mythical sites such as Morlaix Bay, Saint Brieuc Bay, Cap Fréhel, Dinard, and Saint Malo.
0 comments