Circuit Rembrandt is a lovely circular day ride from the Canal de Garonne in south-west France.
Distance: 50.8km
Difficulty: Moderate - it gains 425m (see below for route profile). It's flat near the river but has a few bumps as it heads away from the river
Circuit Rembrandt is a circular route that leaves from Le Mas d'Agenais, a main stopping off point on the Canal de Garonne route. We rode a section of this route to turn a bimble along the canal into a circular day ride. It's signposted and also links into signage for other nearby routes.
The route is very pretty along the canal, but also quite diverse, as it heads away from the canal into farm land and through the countryside. Away from the canal, the Rembrandt route passes through villages and small towns – if you cycle offseason bring snacks and drinks as the shops may not always be open (this is 'untouristy' rural France).
The name of the route may seem strange for SW France, but there is a local connection. Among more than 400 paintings, 300 etchings and 300 drawings produced by the Dutch master was a 1631 work of Christ on the Cross, which can be seen in the Saint-Vincent church in Mas-d'Agenais. Rembrandt's works are more at home in the great galleries of the world, so for a local curch to have one of his paintings is quite unique. Here is a sneak peek:
Download GPX file of this route
Download PDF route – from local tourist board, this PDF shows how the Circuit Rembrandt can be combined with other day rides in the area
More great bike routes in France
Other relevant bike routes and pages
- Sauveterrre loop ride
- Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion bike route
- Sauveterre to Monsegur bike route
- Sauveterre to Saint-Emilion via Castillon
- Canal de Garonne diversion loop
- Cycling the Garonne guidebook
- Circuit Coteaux de Garonne
- Lawrence of Arabia bike route
- Tour de Gironde bike route
- EuroVelo 3 bike route
- Circuit Vignes et Vergers en Duraquois
- Circuit du Duc de Lauzan
- Vignague River bike ride, south-east of Bordeaux
- Rauzan Castle bike ride