Cycling in Vendée: cycle paths, greenways and walks

Looking to go cycling in Vendée? This department offers relatively flat terrain that's ideal for cycling. There are nearly 1,800 km of cycle paths!

The famous " Vélodyssée " runs along its Atlantic coast. Numerous cycle paths allow you to tour the Île d'Yeu, follow the Vendée coastal paths, or cross the hedged farmland from east to west. Not to mention the paths that crisscross the marshes: the Marais Breton Vendéen or the Marais Poitevin. Whether you're a road biker or mountain biker, a sports enthusiast, or a touring cyclist, whatever your desires, we'll guide you along the greenways, cycle paths, and nature trails of the Vendée.

Photos of the article © Vendée Guide, unless otherwise stated

The Vélodyssée in Vendée

The " Vélodyssée " is aptly named. It is a true European cycling epic that crosses Europe from Norway to Portugal. In France, it runs along the Atlantic from Roscoff to Hendaye, covering 1,200 km. And in Vendée, it represents 150 km of cycle routes, from Bouin to La-Tranche-sur-Mer. It is ideal for road cycling enthusiasts.

The stage between Bouin and Barre-de-Monts, passing through Noirmoutier and Fromentine, is considered the most beautiful. It crosses the salt marshes and the landscapes are magnificent. The Passage du Gouin, which leads to Noirmoutier, is only accessible at low tide. You should therefore be well informed and calculate the time of your arrival nearby. It is a place of strong tide and the spectacle of the arrival of the water or its withdrawal is breathtaking.

The cycle paths of the coast

On the Vendée Vélo website, you will find 18 routes along the Vendée coastline. You will follow the beautiful beaches as far as the eye can see from Bouin to Notre-Dame-du-Mont. You will skirt the Marais Breton Vendéen. You will admire the Remarkable Natural Site of the Grande Corniche. You will follow the quays of the port of La Vie in Saint-Gilles-de-Croix and the banks of the Jaunay River. Or you will enjoy the coolness in the Olonne national forest...

The Vendée island trails

The Isle of Yeu favors soft mobility and therefore, of course, cycling. The GR80 loops the Isle of Yeu, in 30 km on the old customs path. From Port-Joinville, you alternate between small fishing ports, pine forests and fine sandy beaches. The coastal cliffs give it a very wild side. You will appreciate the panoramas on the points, the islets and the coves. The Gouffre de l'Enfer is a remarkable point of view. The route is punctuated by typical maritime heritage: the Vieux-Château, the port of La Meule, the Corbeaux lighthouse…

Once you've walked around it, there are "paths" that allow you to discover the island. The marsh path runs through the salt marsh, the Croix marsh, the Gorelle marsh, etc. The Noiroit path takes you to the heart of the island's woods. The Kreuzland path takes you to the wild coast and its steep cliffs. The Oyes path tells you the island's history: castle, lighthouse, soda kiln, etc. The Meule path is more authentic with its villages, traditional houses, and port.

In Noirmoutier-en-l'île, the tourist office has developed 83 km of cycle paths and offers you 3 cycle routes : take a tour of the island between beaches and ports, the salt marshes and mills, between Gois and forests.

Cycling in the Vendée marshes

The Saint-Jean-de-Monts Tourist Office offers cycle routes around Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Saint-Jean-de-Monts and La-Barre-de-Monts, in the Pays de Monts national forest and the Marais Breton Vendéen. This immense network of canals that stretches along the coastline, from Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez to Moutier-en-Rets, in Loire-Atlantique, and which goes inland as far as Challans offers a multitude of small paths. It is a very special ecosystem, with original flora and fauna.

The Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park covers a vast territory spanning several departments bordering Vendée: Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime. In Vendée, nearly 50 municipalities are part of it. This "Green Venice" consists of a so-called "wet" marsh and a "dried" marsh. On the wet marsh, you can enjoy bucolic boat trips aboard traditional rowboats. While the dried marsh is crisscrossed by small paths and offers a more rural landscape of meadows and groves.

The groves of Vendée

The Vendée inland reveals its groves. The Vendée Vélo website lists the trails by sector:

• From the coast to the countryside : if you're hesitating between the view of the ocean and that of the lakes and rivers, these are the paths you'll enjoy.
  
• From marshland to grove : you'll cross wetlands that change with the seasons. You can do these walks several times without getting bored.
  
• The lower bocage is a very natural destination. It is an agricultural area of the Vendée where you will ride from meadow to meadow and where you will see a small, more discreet heritage. It is a more intimate and quieter part of the Vendée, far from its beaches popular with tourists.
  
• The high bocage is more hilly, with beautiful slopes. It is a good workout for a more athletic audience. Some climbs are steep, with more difficult routes.

Our Vendée bike tour has come to an end. We hope these loops and routes along the Vendée cycle paths have inspired you to explore this beautiful region.

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