Paris – Tours by Bike: the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo

🌟 Start your Paris - Tours adventure with a 68 km stage connecting Notre-Dame to Melun, following the Scandibérique and the Loire à vélo routes. A smooth exit from the capital to organize with DolceVia, your cycle travel agency.

🏰 Leave the square in front of Notre-Dame and cycle along the Seine. You'll come across the modern architecture of the National Library and the unusual Chinagora. The urban landscape gradually gives way to nature, between reclaimed wastelands and peaceful lakes on the Scandibérique and Loire à vélo routes.

🌳 After Corbeil-Essonnes, enjoy the absolute calm of the wooded banks. This shaded section, lined with historic villas, evokes the charm of old-time resorts, offering a real breath of fresh air.

🚴‍♀️ You'll reach Melun for a well-deserved stop. For optimal comfort, discover our bike rental service in Paris, reliable rides for every kilometer.

🏨 Spend the night in friendly accommodation in Melun, ideally located to recharge your batteries by the water.

© Istock

🌟 Continue your journey with this beautiful 50 km stage connecting Melun to Nemours. A route that perfectly blends royal heritage and unspoiled nature, guided by the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo.

🌳 Leaving Melun, you plunge into a lush green haven. Between the Seine and the forest, enjoy a refreshing stop at the Bois-le-Roi leisure center or stroll through the charming village of Samois-sur-Seine, before reaching imperial Fontainebleau.

🏰 The scenery changes at Saint-Mammès, where the Loing Canal takes over. A more intimate section awaits you here, punctuated by the magnificent medieval town of Moret-sur-Loing—a picture-perfect highlight of the Scandibérique and Loire à Vélo—before you head towards Nemours.

🚴‍♀️ You have arrived in Nemours, a historic town renowned for its fortified castle and Museum of Prehistory. It is a finish line rich in cultural discoveries, ideal for bringing the day to a close.

🏨 Settle into welcoming accommodation in Nemours or the surrounding area. There is nothing like a quiet evening to recharge before hitting the road again tomorrow.

© Tourisme-Seine-et-Marne

🌟 Set sail for the Gâtinais region with this approximately 45 km stage connecting Nemours to Montcresson. A 100% nature-filled route guided by the canals along the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo.

🌿 The Loing Canal leads the way through a rustic, wooded, and soothing landscape. Treat yourself to a swimming break at the Souppes-sur-Loing leisure center or take a historical detour to the medieval town of Château-Landon, perched on its rocky outcrop.

💧 As you approach Montargis, don’t miss the Buges site, the spectacular meeting point of the Briare, Orléans, and Loing canals. You will then cross the famous "Venice of the Gâtinais" with its countless bridges—a true highlight of the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo.

🚴‍♀️ Continue your journey along the Briare Canal to reach Montcresson. It is here, in this peaceful haven just past the urban bustle, that your day comes to an end.

🏨 Settle comfortably into your accommodation in Montcresson or the surrounding area. The quiet of the Loiret countryside guarantees a restorative night's sleep.

© Office de Tourisme Pays de Nemours

🌟 Back in the saddle for this 4th stage of approximately 40 km connecting Montcresson to Briare. A day dedicated to river engineering and nature along the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo.

🌿 Leaving Montcresson, you glide peacefully along the Briare Canal. The route is a lush green haven where you’ll pass boaters and lock-keepers. The highlight awaits at Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses: take the time to admire the impressive flight of seven locks, a monumental historic structure perfect for a memorable picnic break.

💧 The rest of the route winds between woods and ponds, offering total immersion in nature. Engineering marvels follow one after another until the spectacular arrival in Briare. This is where you join the "Royal River," crossed by the famous Briare Aqueduct—a picture-perfect landmark to conclude this stage of the Scandibérique and the Loire à Vélo.

🏨 Park your bikes in Briare for the night. This historic canal town offers charming accommodations to rest after a day spent following the water's edge.

© France Vélo Tourisme

🌟 Heading west for this 5th stage of approximately 50 km, linking Briare to Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. Today, you enter the prestigious Loire Valley UNESCO World Heritage site, still guided by the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo cycle routes.

🏰 The departure is truly majestic as you cross the Briare Aqueduct. Following the flow of the river, take a break in Gien to admire its famous stone bridge and renowned pottery works. Further along, the majestic Château de Sully-sur-Loire—a true fortress surrounded by moats—marks your entry into royal history on the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo.

🌿 Continue your journey along the winding riverbanks for about ten kilometers to reach Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. Known for its superb botanical park and river navigation heritage, it offers a peaceful and flowery stopover to end the day.

🏨 Spend the night in charming accommodation in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, the perfect place to savor the gentle pace of life along the Loire (la douceur de vivre ligérienne).

© Destination Saumur Val de Loire

🌟 This 6th stage of 54 km takes you from Châteauneuf-sur-Loire to Meung-sur-Loire, passing through the regional capital.

🌳 After enjoying the botanical park in Châteauneuf, ride along the Loire levees (levées) until you reach Jargeau. The skyline of Orléans soon appears on the horizon. Your arrival is a smooth one via the Île Charlemagne leisure park—a green sanctuary before reaching the urban bustle.

🏰 Orléans, a City of Art and History, deserves a real break. Take the time to admire the majestic Sainte-Croix Cathedral and stroll through the historic old town. Back in the saddle on the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo, you will discover the charming confluence of the Loiret and Loire rivers before crossing the market gardening plains.

🚴‍♀️ The stage ends in Meung-sur-Loire. Don't miss its "two-faced" château and its famous dungeons (oubliettes), which once held the poet François Villon.

🏨 Settle in for the night in Meung-sur-Loire, a historic and peaceful stopover to recharge your batteries.

© Val de Loire 41

🌟 This 7th stage of approximately 43 km leads you from Meung-sur-Loire to the royal city of Blois. A route defined by history and sweeping river panoramas on the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo.

🏰 Your first essential stop is Beaugency. Admire its impressive medieval bridge with 23 arches and, in summer, enjoy the riverside beach atmosphere of the quays. The landscape then offers a striking contrast between picturesque villages and the silhouette of the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux power station—a witness to the river's industrial history.

🌿 At Muides-sur-Loire, the choice is yours: take a detour toward the "Land of Châteaux" or continue directly along the river. By staying true to the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo, you will enjoy a royal arrival in Blois, dominated by its castle of many facades.

🚴‍♀️ You have arrived in Blois, a major landmark of the Loire Valley.

🏨 Spend the night in Blois, in a hotel in the heart of the city, to enjoy the evening atmosphere at the foot of the château.

© Office de Tourisme Blois Chambord

🌟 Bring your journey to a stunning close with this 70 km flagship stage from Blois to Tours. A royal crossing through the heart of vineyards and history on the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo, experienced with DolceVia, your cycling travel agency.

🏰 Leave Blois via the hillsides to reach Chaumont-sur-Loire and its extraordinary gardens. The route then leads you to Amboise, where the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci lingers over the Royal Château and the Clos-Lucé. A cultural stopover not to be missed before continuing your journey.

🍷 Between troglodyte caves and exceptional estates, the gentle Touraine region reveals itself to you. After a possible detour to the Pagoda of Chanteloup, head toward Tours. The triumphant arrival via the Avenue de Grammont recalls the glory days of the Paris-Tours cycling race.

🚴‍♀️ You have arrived in Tours, the capital of gastronomy and the end of your adventure on the Scandibérique and La Loire à Vélo. For your next adventures, remember our bike rental service in Paris, a guarantee of quality and comfort.

🏨 Celebrate the end of this trip in Old Tours, a vibrant district perfect for a memorable final evening.

© Touraine Val de Loire

Did you enjoy this royal escape? Let DolceVia inspire your next cycling holiday:

The legendary route: La Véloscénie: From Paris to Mont Saint-Michel – A magnificent journey connecting two iconic monuments through the gentle Norman countryside and its natural parks.

Along the water: La Seine à Vélo: From Paris to Rouen – An immersion into the heart of Impressionism, following the meanders of the river to the historic capital of Normandy.

Heading North: From Paris to Brussels by bike – Extend the adventure on the Scandibérique in the other direction for a friendly European epic toward the Belgian capital.