La Loire à Vélo follows the Loire valley between Cuffy and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. Its two ends offer distinct journeys: an Atlantic estuary in the west and river landscapes, canal bridges and historic towns in the east.
The Atlantic end: Saint-Brevin to Nantes
Saint-Brevin stands on the estuary’s southern bank, beside sandy beaches and the Serpent d’Océan artwork. Wooden fishing huts on stilts accompany the riverside journey.
The western section includes Paimbœuf’s colourful waterfront, Le Pellerin and the Canal de la Martinière, a ferry crossing to Couëron and the former fishing village of Trentemoult. Nantes adds the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and the Machines de l’île.
The eastern end: Cuffy to Gien
The route’s kilometre zero is at Cuffy; Nevers is a common place to begin the journey, crossing the Guétin canal bridge towards the Loire–Allier confluence at Bec d’Allier.
East-end highlights include La Charité-sur-Loire, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Sancerre’s hilltop and the Briare canal bridge. The journey alternates between river embankments and the Canal Latéral à la Loire, with possible stops at Saint-Brisson and Gien.
Putting a trip together
Choose sections around the places you want to explore rather than treating the itinerary as fixed daily stages. The official guide includes suggested section distances and ideas for a longer stay around Gien.