Ride on, ride on…
the Veloscenic cycle route
You are travelling As a couple, With friends
Budget €
Season Fall, Spring, Summer
Localisation Perche
Considering cycling holidays in Eure et Loir and looking for inspiration on the best routes to ride? With its green landscapes strewn with numerous villages, the Perche is the ideal setting for an easy ride along the Veloscenic cycle route. You don’t have to ride the full 90 km itinerary connecting Chartres to Nogent-le-Rotrou but at least you can hit part of the trail for a day ride or make it a long weekend in the saddle.
A cycle path that tells tales
Travelling by bike means independence. A piece of freedom awaits you on the long-distance cycle path la Veloscenic: 433km itinerary from Versailles in Paris to the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, which included a 90km section across Eure et Loir via the city of Chartres. This is a truly great ride, especially if you are looking to get off the beaten track away from the main tourist trail. Using mostly flat and quiet roads, it’s a great choice for someone tackling their first multi-day cycle route!
Chartres is an ideal departure point of this Eure et Loir section, especially if you are taking up this challenge with a few friends! On arrival in Chartres, head to la guinguette de la Petite Venise, a popular open-air cafe with concerts, dancing, plancha and aperitif served by the river. A magical start to a cycling journey through Eure et Loir! A few drinks and off to bed for an early departure in the morning.
Time to saddle up!
Fueling properly before exercise is vital to get the most from your cycling adventure on the Veloscenic. Start your day with a delicious French breakfast and its elegant pastries from buttery croissants to rich pain au chocolat. Don’t leave Chartres before taking a peek at the iconic cathedral or you’d literally be missing out on an architectural masterpiece! For the next 30 km leading to the village of Illiers-Combray, you’ll get to ride through a wide variety of landscapes and villages never short of a welcome place to stop, either to recharge or to explore the region’s rich cultural heritage. Once you’ve arrived in the village of Marcel Proust’s childhood, enjoy a well-deserved tea or coffee break at the terrace of a café, relax and watch the world go by. If you wish to find out more about Marcel Proust’s life, the former residence of his aunt and uncle is now home to the Marcel Proust Museum.
An epic 50 km ride!
Let’s get back on the bikes for the last kilometers though the breathtaking landscapes of the Perche, its idyllic streams and woodlands home to a diverse wildlife. You may spot a doe and its fawns foraging for food. Several hours of simply riding your bike, where all your worries seem to slip away with each pedal stroke. After cruising all the way to the charming small village of Frazé, it’s finally time to relax at the guesthouse l'Étape des saveurs and claim a lovely relaxing hot shower, or perhaps an energizing cold one before one of the most sacred moments of the French day. Time for l’apéro, or aperitif. Craft beers from the Perche and scrumptious home-made burgers, the perfect combo!
Waking Up To Sunlight
Open your eyes to a burst of bright sunlight after a good night sleep, it's time to start your day and fulfill your two-wheeled wanderlust. From leg-numbing hills to whirlwind descents, le Perche offers jaw-dropping backdrops and views that take your breath away. On the way, an original escape-game on the estate of the abbey of Thiron-gardais is a tempting option for a little entertaining game, a picnic in the beautiful gardens of the monastery or a little power nap on the deckchairs! Off you go again. Only a few kilometers left to complete this cycling adventure and the scenery is reason enough to push on to the final village of Nogent-le-Rotrou.
Along the way
Cycling the Veloscenic route
Eure ValleyIf you're looking to explore France’s most picturesque areas by bike, then leisure cycling holidays are the ones for you! Long distance routes like the Veloscenic - an itinerary from Paris to the Mont St-Michel via Chartres, Eure et Loir and Normandy - offer a whole lot more than just a bike ride.
Read moreCycling
Historical sites and monuments
Cathédrale de Chartres
CHARTRESA prestigious heritage site, listed at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the gems of 12th and 13th century art, the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Chartres has always been testimony to the enthusiasm of pilgrims and visitors. Open, guided or ...
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Graded campsite
Camping de Chartres
CHARTRESBetween the town and the countryside, on the banks of the Eure, Chartres campsite is a peaceful place 3 km from the cathedral and historic sites. Camping car area. Leafy trail following the river as far as the centre of Chartres.
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Leisure equipment
La Petite Venise, la Guinguette de Chartres
CHARTRESLa Petite Venise, La Guinguette de Chartres with its waterside terrace will be a true haven of peace and quiet for children and adults. Enjoy walks along the Eure throughout the season, as well as entertainment and events. Booking not required; ...
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Hotels - restaurant
Auberge de l’Abbaye
THIRON-GARDAISA charming hotel-restaurant in the countryside, the Auberge de l'Abbaye is an adventure between two brothers, the sharing of two universes which come together for the greatest pleasure of the guests.
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Park and garden, Historical sites and monuments
Domaine de l’Abbaye
THIRON-GARDAISIn the historic surroundings of the Abbaye de la Sainte Trinité, these themed gardens invite you on a reflective, sensory voyage through nature. Bursting with exuberant colours, scents and flavours, notes in Nature's timeless symphony.
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Museum - Interpreting centre, Historical sites and monuments
Musée de l’histoire du Perche
NOGENT-LE-ROTROUIn le Perche, a medieval fortress watches over the town. Around the rectangular 11th century dungeon, there is a Renaissance dwelling which houses an ethnographic and local history museum, as well as temporary exhibitions, slide shows, guided visits ...
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Graded campsite
Camping Le Bois Jahan
ARCISSESLocated on the hillside, this campsite has one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Perche and is close to numerous pedestrian and cycle paths. On site: heated swimming pool, mini-golf, and 6km away, you can go fishing.
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Chartres Tourisme – Office de Tourisme de Chartres Métropole
CHARTRESDominated by the graceful silhouette of its Gothic cathedral, a jewel of the 12th and 13th centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major international centre for stained glass, Chartres conceals treasures that take the visitor beyond time: ...
Read moreEssentials before you get rolling on this bike tour
