Ready for new adventures?! Do not forget to check out our recommendations on the Vélodyssée!

ACCOMMODATION

Because to pedal well you need to sleep well, find our selection of accommodation on the Vélodyssée.

Nantes - The Hotel 

Ideally located in the center of Nantes, behind the castle. You will enjoy a view on the courtyard or the gardens. A modern and warm decor that also welcomes your bikes!

Saint-Brévin-les-Pins - Auberge Indigo

The ideal house if you are traveling with friends or family. Right on the ocean, you even get a private pool. Where will you take your bath?

Pornic - La Fontaine aux Bretons 

Do you want calm and nature? You are in the right place! This domain appeared in 1896, and was then transformed into eco-domain for a greater respect of nature.

Beauvoir-sur-Mer (La-Barre-de-Monts) - Au Passage du Gois

Charming guest rooms in an old farmhouse dating from 1810, white with blue shutters. In the past, it welcomed those who waited for the low tide to reach the island of Noirmoutier.

Les Sables-d'Olonne - Les Bruyères

800 meters from the beach, in a 19th century house, these charming guest rooms are waiting for you.

La-Tranche-sur-Mer - Hôtel Les Dunes 

The Atlantic as far as the eye can see and the fine sandy beaches just a step away! The sound of the waves will rock you for a real moment of relaxation. For an even more relaxing experience, enjoy a massage at the hotel's spa.

La Rochelle - Hotel Saint-Nicolas 

The hotel has impeccable rooms with contemporary decor. Located in a beautiful building in the city center, you are just a few steps from the Old Port. You will have breakfast in a large dining room with a winter garden feel.

Rochefort - Hotel Mercure La Corderie Royale

Ideally located in the center of Rochefort, on the banks of the Charente, this hotel welcomes you in a 17th century building, renovated in 2018. You are only a few meters away from the museum of the Corderie Royale and the Hermione.

Oleron Island - Hotel Les Bains 

Enjoy a quiet break near the channel, the salt marshes, and the Pointe de la Perrotine from where you will have a breathtaking view of the Fort Boyard.

Royan - Hotel Belle-Vue 

Formerly a guesthouse, the building has been renovated in 2019. Ideally located on the sea front, you will have a breathtaking view of the bay of Pontaillac.

Lacanau - Best Western Golf Hotel 

Surrounded by 80 hectares of pine trees, 3 kilometers from the beach, calmness guaranteed! Why not try your hand at golf? After all, it is the perfect place!

Bordeaux - Hôtel de la Presse 

The ideal location: at the crossroads of Sainte-Catherine and Porte-Dijeaux streets. Rooms with a design decor and bright dining room, which will make you spend a pleasant moment.

GASTRONOMY

Now that you have slept well, it is time to eat well! Here are our addresses to eat well!

Nantes - Le Bouchon 

A bucolic setting: a paved street, half-timbered houses, and a small green garden. Your taste buds will quiver at the sight of an innovative and surprising cuisine, all in the center of Nantes.

Saint-Brévin-les-Pins - Crêperie Le Rozell 

We could not let you leave Brittany without eating a galette. This family crêperie is the perfect place!

Pornic - Le Retz 

Simple and good. An open kitchen to make you salivate.

Fromentine (La-Barre-de-Monts) - L'Annexe 

The pleasure of tasting extra fresh seafood, a stone's throw from the ocean. You will fall in love with their sea burgers, to die for!

Les Sables-d'Olonne - Aux Quais des Saveurs

A place that lives up to its name! You will find Christophe in the kitchen, after having trained for 10 years with the greatest French chefs, and Estelle in the dining room who will know how to perfectly match the dishes with the wines!

La-Tranche-sur-Mer - L'Antre 2

Carefully prepared dishes with fresh products for an immersion in the land of flavors! You are only 5 minutes away from the beach. Ideal for a digestive stroll, no?

La Rochelle - Papy Mougeot 

A charming place run by people who love good food, simple and efficient food. A good home-made burger, a melting chocolate fondant... Your mouth would be watering!

Rochefort - Cap Nell 

A tasty cuisine, with seasonal products and a breathtaking view on the marina and the Corderie Royale site.

Oleron Island - Bord à Bord 

Because you cannot pedal on the Vélodyssée tracks without tasting a good seafood platter! Here, you will have the opportunity to taste oysters and mussels directly from the producer!

Royan - Le Petit Bouchon 

A traditional cuisine, which adapts according to the seasons and the chef's moods! All this, in front of the marina of Royan.

Lacanau - Le Café Maritime 

Taste fresh seafood but not only! Relax on a terrace with a view of the Atlantic, a cocktail in hand. What more could you ask for?

Bordeaux - Ô P'tit Bahut

Good living, you will not be disappointed! Good wine, good charcuterie and especially ... good cheese!

POINTS OF INTEREST

La Vélodyssée takes you to city with a rich history! We tell you which ones!

Nantes

You cannot miss a visit to the city of the Dukes! There is so much to see: the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral, the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the medieval district of Bouffay, the house of the Apothecaries, the Place du Change, the streets of Juiverie, Bâclerie and Sainte-Croix street. Take a walk on the quays of the Loire, planted with trees, take the Victor Schoeler footbridge, and get lost on the Ile de Nantes. Contemporary art lovers follow the green line! We will not tell you more... But what would a visit be without a tasting? The specialities of the region: the small butter, the curé nantais and the muscadet among the most known! Treat yourself!

The Loire estuary

You leave the bustling city of Nantes and after pedaling about fifty kilometers, you reach the Loire estuary. In the past, the maritime activity here was intense. Today the place is calm, wild and fragile at the same time. Since 2007, the banks of the Loire estuary have been home to a collection of contemporary works by artists from around the world! You will certainly see a house in the Loire or a starry garden...

The Poitevin Marsh

From Niort, in the east, to the Bay of Aiguillon, in the west, there are 110 000 hectares of exceptional biodiversity. This labyrinth of canals shelters, in addition to hundred-year-old trees and European otters, nearly 250 species of birds, about 40 species of fish, 60 species of dragonflies, 80 species of butterflies and 126 floral species! The marsh is made up of three parts:

• the wet marsh, criss-crossed with canals and trees, in which you can take a boat ride.
• the dried marsh, green with its cultures and meadows, recognized to produce a quality wheat.
• the maritime marsh, alternating between sandy beaches, dunes, and forests. It is an important crossroads for migratory birds from all over the world.

La Rochelle

Once again, a visit to La Rochelle is a must! Go to the terraces of its famous towers, remnants of the city's fortifications, from where you can admire the roofs of the old town, the port, its boats and its channel, the Ferris wheel... A real postcard view! A little historical aside: the Saint-Nicolas and Lantern towers were used as detention places for foreigners and Huguenots between the 16th and 18th centuries, then as military prisons in the 19th century; while the Chain tower monitored the movements of boats, traffic and collected duties and taxes. Do not miss strolling through the streets of the city, on the quays of the Gabut, the old fishermen's district with its colorful houses, and strolling on the Old Port while enjoying an ice cream! Visit the Palais de Justice, the Henri II house, the cloisters of the Dames Blanches... Also discover the France 1, a meteorological frigate, and climb on the deck of a trawler or a harbor tugboat!

Rochefort

An eminently maritime city, which has preserved its architecture and buildings. Home port of the Hermione, a former French warship, Rochefort is also home to the former royal rope factory and the arsenal. If you want to know more about its fascinating history, visit the National Navy Museum and the former Naval Medical School. Royal city, museum city, spa city, Rochefort is also a nature city thanks to its marshes, lagoons, gardens, and conservatories. To finish, do not miss a trip to the ferry bridge. This ingenious system made up of a fixed and a mobile part allows, by means of a gondola, to link the two banks without disturbing the maritime traffic on the Charente.

The islands of Noirmoutier, Ré and Oléron

Three unique islands just a few pedal strokes away from the Vélodyssée trails! Take advantage of your presence on the route to visit them!

• Take the passage du Gois, between Bouin and La-Barre-des-Monts, and visit the island of Noirmoutier, its small medieval castle, which turns out to be one of the oldest in the Vendée, and the Saint-Philibert church. Stroll through the districts of Coques and Banzeau, with their lively fishermen's houses. Between ports and salt marshes, the island of mimosas has many surprises in store for you.
• Discover the preserved but lively nature and the breathtaking landscapes of the Ile de Ré. Pedal through the salt marshes and reach the Baleines lighthouse, at the end of the island. You will have a panoramic view of Ré la Blanche.
• You cross the Atlantic once again to reach the island of Oleron. 24 hours will not be enough to discover the richness of the island but enough to fall under the charm of the island of light. Pedal along its ports and salt marshes. Go to Boyardville from where you can see and visit the famous Fort Boyard!

Royan

Take time for a bucolic break in Royan. Here, no dungeon or arsenal, but Belle Epoque villas, testifying the 19th century seaside style. Stroll through the streets of the city in search of Rose Rouge, Campaniles, Aigue-Marine or Kosiki. Learn more about the history of the city thanks to Royan museum, which traces the eventful destiny of Royan, twice destroyed and three times rebuilt. Do not miss the sunset with a stroll along the waterfront. For the adventurous, you will have the opportunity to visit the Cordouan lighthouse, at the mouth of the Garonne estuary.

Bordeaux

We could not leave out of this top 10 the inevitable wine capital of the world, which is also one of the most beautiful cities in France. After all, part of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Take a walk along the quays of the Garonne and reach the water mirror, the esplanade of the Quinconces and the rue Sainte-Catherine. Again, there is so much to see: the National Opera, the Place de la Bourse, the Saint-André cathedral... Do not forget to schedule a time for a glass of wine on the terrace!

Gastronomy & Experiences

The important thing in an adventure is to enjoy yourself, so we close this top 10 with this little reminder. La Vélodyssée is an itinerary that is conducive to the discovery of the diverse local gastronomy. From the curé of Nantes to the gâche of Vendée and the Marennes of Oléron, your taste buds will be spoiled. Take advantage of your itinerant trip to create memories during a surfing session, a visit to a winemaker or an oyster farmer. And above all, enjoy!

Stay tuned for new adventures with Paulette!

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