Véloscénie, between Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel

Fancy a cycling adventure starting from Paris? A route in France, linking Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel, called the Véloscénie, between cycle paths, greenways, and small roads, this cycle route is a spectacle of French history, through its most beautiful monuments and varied landscapes.

450 km of cycling adventure with Véloscénie

The Véloscénie route is an unmissable cycling route connecting Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel. This 450-km-long, signposted route takes you through iconic and varied regions: the Chevreuse Valley, the Perche region, the Normandy countryside… all rich in nature, history, and culture.

From Paris, the cycle route begins in the heart of the capital, near Notre-Dame. Cyclists quickly reach the green spaces of the Chevreuse Valley and its charming villages. After passing the châteaux of Versailles, Maintenon, and Rambouillet, the route continues to Chartres and its famous cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Further west, the Perche Natural Park welcomes you, with its hedged farmland and rolling hills. Then come the Normandy forests, the thermal baths of Bagnoles de l’Orne, and the medieval towns of Alençon and Domfront. Finally, after a bucolic crossing of the Channel, the journey ends in apotheosis facing the Mont Saint Michel cycle route, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The essentials of the Véloscénie by bike

During the scenic bike tour, you will discover the history of France, illustrated by its most beautiful monuments, including 5 listed as UNESCO heritage sites, and 3 regional parks. Here are some of the most famous and impressive sites that are all reasons to go on a bike trip, a getaway or a day trip…

The 5 UNESCO sites:

• Notre Dame de Paris : the iconic starting point of the tour.
• The Palace of Versailles : the famous royal palace with its gardens.
• Chartres Cathedral : a masterpiece of Gothic art.
• Alençon and lace : a craft to discover.
• Mont Saint-Michel : a spectacular arrival facing one of the most visited sites in France.

The 3 natural parks:

• The Upper Chevreuse Valley : a green haven on the outskirts of Paris, this valley is full of forests, ponds, castles, and picturesque villages such as Chevreuse and Dampierre-en-Yvelines.
• Perche : a hilly, wooded area located between Chartres and Alençon, Perche is famous for its manors, Percheron horses, deep forests, and peaceful landscapes ideal for cycling.
• Normandie-Maine : a vast natural area straddling the Orne, Mayenne, and Sarthe rivers, this park is renowned for its majestic forests, gentle hills, rivers, and built heritage typical of rural Normandy.

During this bike tour you can also discover castles such as:

• Saint-Jean de Beauregard Castle
• Rambouillet Castle
• Maintenon Castle
• Castle of the Counts of Perche
• Carrouges Castle

And of course, throughout your journey you will discover other heritage treasures and natural landscapes, each pedal stroke holds its share of beautiful surprises!

Bicycle routes connected to the Véloscénie

Throughout its route, the Véloscénie crosses paths with other major cycling routes in France. A great opportunity to extend your adventure over several days… or even weeks!

• The Vélomaritime: this is a superb cycling route along the northern coast of France, between Brittany by bike and Flanders.
• The Vélo Francette: a bucolic route from Normandy to the Atlantic, via the Marais Poitevin.
• The Loir Valley by bike : a secret, rural route, ideal for a peaceful getaway.
• The Scandibérique (EuroVelo 3): The great pilgrim’s route, connecting Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
• The Vélobuissonnière: a nature route between Alençon and the Loire Valley, through hills and forests.

Feel free to explore our selection of cycling tours on our cycling maps and guides in France. All your cycling tours can be organized with La Bicyclette Verte and BicyBags.