The Voie Bressane crosses the countryside between Chalon-sur-Saône and Lons-le-Saunier, with Louhans as its historic midpoint. France Vélo Tourisme presents it as a connecting itinerary between EuroVelo 6 and the Tour du Jura, following a former railway for much of its journey through Bresse.
From Chalon into Bresse
From Chalon-sur-Saône, France Vélo Tourisme directs riders towards Saint-Marcel and signs for the La Bressane greenway. The first part travels near the Saône and through an urban greenway landscape towards Ouroux-sur-Saône. Beyond Saint-Germain-du-Plain, the setting changes to woodland and hedged countryside.
Small roads form part of the journey through Bresse around Montret before the greenway resumes towards Louhans-Châteaurenaud. The Tour Saint Germain and the waterside port at Branges are among the places identified by France Vélo Tourisme for a stop along this western section.
Louhans and the road to the Jura
The greenway passes a little way from central Louhans, but signs point towards Grande Rue. Its 157 arcades make a distinctive reason to leave the route for a town visit. France Vélo Tourisme also highlights the Hôtel-Dieu and its seventeenth-century apothecary, as well as the museum of the history and culture of deaf people.
East of Louhans, the itinerary heads towards the Jura foothills through Bresse landscapes of fields, woodland and ponds. Courlaoux is a place to look for the church with its glazed-tile roof. At Lons-le-Saunier, the route reaches Chemin des Dombes; the town offers arcades on Rue du Commerce and the Maison de la Vache qui rit.
Choosing a section and preparing
The full route is presented by France Vélo Tourisme in two sections, with Louhans between the two ends. It can also form part of a longer journey: the organisation describes the Voie Bressane as a link between EuroVelo 6 and the Tour du Jura. Jura Tourisme describes the connection westwards to the Bourgogne à Vélo network.
Expect a mixture of dedicated cycling sections and small shared roads, including the stretch between Saint-Étienne-en-Bresse and Montret. Some greenway sections are open to agricultural vehicles and are signed on the ground. Jura Tourisme advises that the Courlaoux–Louhans surface is unsuitable for road bikes and roller skates, so check the detailed route guidance when choosing equipment.
For an approach to central Lons-le-Saunier from Chemin des Dombes, the detailed eastern-section guide describes a route past the station and calls for care at the Macornay road crossing. Both ends and Louhans have stations listed in the France Vélo Tourisme guides; check current services and bicycle conditions before arranging a rail journey.