Cycling Tour in Normandy

You will see as soon as you arrive in Versailles: The palace is unmissable! You will get a valuable impression of the city on your day of arrival. Take a stroll through the pretty old town and enjoy the evening in one of the many restaurants with French and international dishes.

Today you can visit the majestically magnificent palace at your leisure. Take your time to explore the huge and meticulously laid out gardens of the Sun King. Or would you prefer to spend the day in Paris? In the artists' quarter of Montmartre, for example, you will quickly be infected by the French savoir-vivre. From the Sacré-Cœur Basilica on the Montmartre hill, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole of Paris.

Today you say goodbye to Versailles. You start your cycle tour towards Normandy and cycle through the hilly Vallée de Chevreuse in Île-de-France. You will get to know the first characteristic villages. After a ride through the forest of Rambouillet, the spacious park of the castle of the same name is perfect for a break. You will spend the night in the pretty village of Épernon on the Drouette river.

The valley of the Eure-et-Loir is royal! After a few kilometers of cycling you will know why. The charming moated castle and the well-tended garden of Madame Maintenon, Louis XIV's secret mistress, lie magnificently before you. You cycle on to the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Chartres with its beautiful stained glass windows. Open, wide fields accompany you on the bike to Illiers-Combray.

You cycle past the abbey church of Thiron-Gardais and its charming monastery garden. This is where the Perche region begins. Shorter climbs are followed by longer descents. You cycle through pleasant forest sections to Saint-Jean Castle in Nogent-le-Rotrou with its medieval fortifications. On your cycle tour to Condeau, you will see grazing cows to your right and left. Numerous hay bales adorn the green meadows of the vast Normandy landscape.

The Voie Verte cycle path takes you through the Normandie-Maine Regional Park to Alençon. Thanks to the numerous protective trees, many native animal species can be found here. Be sure to keep your eyes open! In Alençon, the city of the dukes, discover the castle, the Notre-Dame basilica and the picturesque old town.

Today's highlight of your cycle tour is the 17th century moated castle of Carrouges. It is one of the largest in Normandy. You will recognize it by its reddish brick. You cycle uphill and downhill in a variety of ways. After a pleasant forest section, you reach Bagnoles-de-l'Orne. The thermal town is characterized by numerous Belle Époque villas from the 19th century.

You cycle along good forest paths to Domfront, a small town with a beautiful old town center and a castle ruin worth seeing. Here you need to stock up on provisions before setting off for Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët. You cycle through a seemingly endless hilly pasture landscape! Along the way, you will come across numerous signs confirming that you have soon reached your destination of Mont-Saint-Michel.

You cycle through the Norman countryside for the last time on asphalt cycle paths. Enjoy it while you always have the impressive Mont-Saint-Michel on the horizon in view! Then you have reached it: Mont-Saint-Michel, a total work of art! Its architecture and the Wadden Sea are breathtaking. You will spend the night in Pontorson, around 10 kilometers away.

A transfer will take you to Saint-Malo train station. From there, you will start your journey home. If your schedule allows, it is worth visiting the old seafaring town at the end of your cycle tour in Normandy. The historic city center lies in the sea like a peninsula. If you like, we will be happy to extend your stay with an extra night.