Île de Ré is a treat for cyclists with 110 kilometres of easy cycling bike paths to enjoy.
See also cycling on Île d'Oléron
Cycling on Île de Ré is one of the quintessential French cycling holidays. The island is a cycling hotspot, an idyllic wonderland of beaches and marches, fishing ports and seafood delights.
Located just off the west coast in the Charente-Maritime department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (in the former Poitou-Charente region), Île de Ré is accessible by bridge from La Rochelle (where it links with the Atlantic Coast La Velodyssee EuroVelo 1 route).
Île de Ré offers wonderful, flat cycling that's perfect for families, newer cyclists and holiday riders.
Click the routes on the map above for more info.
Photo by Lyn @ freewheelingfrance.com
In summer it can be busy, attracting second homeowners from Paris and farther afield. But the bustle is made more bearable thanks to the network of bike paths that make navigating the 30-kilometre-long island safe and easy. Bikes are the preferred mode of transport here – if you're arriving by car, it's possible to park up and take to two wheels for the duration of your stay. Off-season – in spring and autumn – it's quieter (and accommodation cheaper and more plentiful).
Regardless of the season, though, Île de Ré is a cyclist's delight with carfree, safe cycling for the whole family.
More information on Île de Ré is available from the official tourism website. See also the downloadable cycling map of the island.
Aerial photo via Wikipedia
