Cycling Holidays in Charente Martime and Charente, land of Cognac

Cycling holidays in Charente

Discover the Charente by bike either by taking the Flow Vélo along the river or by following small roads through a bucolic environment. During our bike tours in Charente you will discover a country where traditions and gastronomy go hand in hand. All along this itinerary you will find peaceful banks of the Charente river, vineyards, white limestone villages, preserved nature and hilly landscapes. Saddle up, cyclists! The Charente and its river welcome you for a relaxing bike trip.

The Flow Vélo

The Flow Vélo is a greenway bicycle route that connects the Périgord to the Atlantic ocean by a bucolic route along the Charente. From Thiviers, at the gateway to the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park, to the island of Aix, via Angoulême, Cognac, Saintes and Rochefort, the Flow Vélo is 290 km of cycling to discover the beauty of the South-West in “slow” mode. A real invitation to travel, it seduces epicureans with its natural charm and reveals kilometers after kilometers of green countryside punctuated by Cities of Art and History and rolling vineyards. Without forgetting the arrival on the Atlantic Ocean and its wild beaches! The Flow Vélo is the real symbol of the French art of living and promises timeless moments of discovery of the beautiful nuggets of the Southwest. Not far from the Atlantic coast and Rochefort, note that the Flow Vélo joins the famous Vélodyssée. Also, we propose to extend your cycling vacations in Charente to the North to reach La Rochelle and the island of Ré or to the South to Royan via the island of Oléron.

Bike tours in Charente Maritime

Our trips from or to La Rochelle will allow you to discover some of the richness of the Charente Maritime on the coast. Discover the port and the aquarium of La Rochelle, the island of Ré and its numerous typical fishing villages such as La Flotte en Ré or Saint-Martin de Ré, the Corderie Royale of Rochefort, on the famous Vélodyssée. Take the paths that wind between two waters in the marshes around Marennes, well known for its oysters. Ride along the fine sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast and take the time to visit Royan which has a few surprises in store. Further down, the banks of the Gironde estuary will reveal some hidden treasures, such as the cliffs punctuated with multiple carrelets (coastal fishing with nets), the port of Mescher or the bastide of Talmont sur Gironde on a promontory overlooking the river.

Discover the Charente and the Charente Maritime by bike

With a coastal department, characterized by its wide opening on the Atlantic Ocean and on the Gironde estuary as well as by its insular domain made up of low islands and its 600 km of great cycle tracks. The Charente is a region made for cycling. Moreover the greenways continue to develop year after year, is essentially built on the towpaths that run along the many canals and rivers of the region.
Take a discovery break! Take advantage of a stretch of your bike ride along the coast to discover the Pôle-Nature of the Marais d’Yves Nature Reserve and near the Charente River in Rochefort to visit the Corderie Royale and the Pôle-Nature of the lagoon station. “Between Land and Sea”, many possibilities are offered to you to discover the varied and enchanting landscapes of the Charente Maritime.

Your cycling vacations in Charente

Specialized in the organization of free cycling trips, we propose you itineraries from 6 to 8 days in Charente. Most of our bike tours are accessible to all. These bike rides in the Charente are relatively easy, with a fairly flat terrain and reasonable distances. They can be done with the whole family. To facilitate your cycling itineraries, we offer you the possibility to rent bicycles and electric bikes. These tours in the heart of the Charente region, along the Charente river or the Atlantic coast, following or not the Flow Vélo and the Vélodyssée, are great opportunities for a first experience of bicycle touring.

You want to change your vacation style? Contact us, we will answer all your questions about our cycling trips in Charente and in France. Itinerary, equipment, visit, hotel, logistics… we take care of everything, so you can fully enjoy your cycling vacations.

“Nectar of Gods” by bike

With the Cognac cycling holidays you’ll explore incredibly landscapes of vineyards, rocky promontories gazing out to scattered islands, Queroy Caves. Yous should make the most of the good weather to take a leisurely moment in the french countryside. Between fine wines, chateaux, valleys, and a lot of UNESCO world heritage site.. What more could anybody want?

Inland, marshes criss-crossed with waterways provide home to a myriad of bird species, pastures for cattle jostle with medieval forests and the vineyard of cognac. On the Charente with your itineraries, you will see river cruise and a lot of people barging alongside your cycle route.

Set among these varied panoramas are some wonderful historic towns really romanesque. Cognac where you’ll start your cycling holiday to meet new people, see the amazing natural environment, a perfect view trip. A ride in freedom in the land of the “Nectar of the Gods”. One of the greatestrenowned wine regions of france

Cognac is of course famous for the brandy that bears its name, and the great producers like Hennessy, or Rémy-Martin built magnificent mansions along the river bank in the 19th century. But behind these is a well preserved old quarter dating from the 14th Century. There is no better way to experience the area than our Cognac cycling holidays.

You can ask for guided tours in Cognac wineries, you’ll learn everything : French wine, winemaking, Cognac wine region, red and whites grapes, cellars, winemaker, Cognac crus, wine trade.. and of course tasting!

Gastronomy and Lifestyle

With the sea so close, it’s no surprise that beautifully fresh fish and shellfish should be on most menus. But lamb from the salt marshes and beef from the creamy Charentais cattle that graze the inland pastures also make welcome appearances. Charentais melons with their striped skin and perfumed orange flesh, cherries and plums grow in abundance. Although the region’s most famous drink is Cognac, there are local wines and appellations who made famous food and wine pairing!

On the list of French vineyards bike routes, it’s not one that automatically springs to mind. Cognac the home of that internationally famous nectar is often overshaddowed by the ancient vines of Bordeaux and St-Emilion to the south of France, and by the well-developed cycling routes through Burgundy, the Loirevalley and Provence.But like Alsace, Cognac is on the cusp of breaking through to France’s premier league of wine routes.

Our cycling tour in Aquitaine is an easy ride through these pastoral landscapes, medieval towns, wine regions which will show you the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this fascinating part of France.

All about Cognac

Cognac is now best-known for producing France’s finest spirit, one of its most prestigious exports. But it’s always been a trading town: first for salt and then wine long before the double distillation process was discovered.

Today the region is of course home to Courvoisier and Martell, among a plethora of other cognac houses. There’s also the Musée des Arts du Cognac and the Cognac Country Discovery Centre next door. Cyclists are welcome to visit.

Away from the town centre, producers both large and small are concentrated around the town of Jarnac. It also forms the backdrop for five themed Cognac trails promoted by the local tourist board. If Cognac’s not to your liking, there are also some white wines producers in the area. Make a winetasting in a chateau, a wine guide will share you all the knowledge aboutred wines, winemakers, wine regions, Grand Cru vineyards, winemakers, appellation or grape varieties like Cabernet franc, Malbec, Pinot noir, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon! Don’t forget during this discovery tour to also try Pineau des Charentes, an aperitif made from unfermented grape must (sauvignon blanc or chardonnay grapes).

To be more confortable during your cycling adventures, we can Bike hire or an E-bike as you prefer!