After enjoying the green surrounds of the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, this Scandibérique stage leads you beside the Loire, drawing great meanders up to Orléans. Enjoy rustic stops at Germigny-des-Prés Church and Fleury Abbey, the latter dominating St-Benoît-sur-Loire. At Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, the Musée de la Marine de Loire focuses on river mariners, while the grounds contain rare species of trees and provide a fine picnic spot. Cycling along the Loire-side levée to Jargeau affords you filmic views on the river. Heading for Orléans, the city’s distinctive silhouette dominated by its cathedral comes into view on the north bank. Before reaching its urban bustle, the outdoor leisure centre on Ile Charlemagne offers you a green break where you can unwind.

A main gateway to the Loire Valley, Orléans is a city where the Loire and French history meet dramatically. The town is welcoming, its centre geared to pedestrians who can enjoy a slow pace and a peaceful atmosphere exploring the historic quarters and Ste-Croix Cathedral. After a good wander, time to get on your bike again, starting by enjoying discovering the lovely confluence of Loiret and Loire Rivers. Next, the route takes you in part along a stretch of Loire levée, allowing you to look across the wide agricultural and market-gardening lands up to Meung-sur-Loire. In this historic town, the Château de Meung-sur-Loire’s dungeons once housed disruptive medieval poet François Villon!

Beaugency, a member of the association Les Plus Beaux Détours de France, boasts an unmissable heritage, including its 12th-century bridge with 23 arches spanning the Loire. In summer, its quays transform into a beach, and a maize field turns into a labyrinth! Families cycling the route will love stopping here. Elsewhere, the striking contrast between picturesque villages and castles and St-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear power station reminds tourists of the Loire’s shifting importance down the centuries. Reaching the bridge at Muides-sur-Loire, either follow the Loire closely as far as Blois, or head away from the Loire’s south bank, not sticking faithfully to the Scandibérique, to explore Loire castles covered by Les Châteaux à Vélo…

The Scandibérique route leaves Blois along the Loire’s south bank, going via vine-covered slopes to Candé-sur-Beuvron. The Beuvron River then becomes your thread until rejoining the regal Loire close to the perched Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, surrounded by extraordinary gardens. Next, you ride past prestigious vineyards thriving beside the Loire. By now, you’ve entered beautiful Touraine, with its cliff-side caves and exceptional wineries, inciting you to stop for a tasting. The Château d’Amboise served as childhood home for major French Renaissance prince, the future François I; on becoming king, he called on Leonardo da Vinci to join his court, offering him the Clos Lucé as his home. This stage takes you to the heart of the French Renaissance.

On this Scandibérique stage, to see the startling Chanteloup Pagoda, you need to follow the link towards the Cher River. Otherwise, on this stage, you stay close to the Loire, with tempting wines to be found in the many cliff-side cellars and restaurants along the way, so resist over-indulging (as well as the sun), or else you may risk arriving at an unseemly hour at your accommodation! The gentle capital of Touraine, Tours, proves very welcoming, its historic centre teeming with fine culinary stops and things to discover. To carry on downstream, cycle down Avenue de Grammont, known for hosting the final sprint in the classic Paris-Tours cycle race. This stage then takes you along some gravel stretches and portions along beautiful slopes covered in vines. Enjoy the heady mix of Loire local traditions and new sporting opportunities along here!

The Loire, Cher and Indre are the three major rivers you’ll ride alongside, in that order, on this Scandibérique stage leading you south. You cross an agricultural plateau, the town of Ste-Maure de Touraine at its heart, to link up with the Vienne Valley. Following minor roads from village to village, enjoy remarkable discoveries, some marking the time Frankish leader Charles Martel fought off Arab invaders in these parts in the 8th century. Spot parks, keeps, churches, statuary, reliquaries… The markets are packed with fine local produce. On a picnic, savour different Sainte-Maure goat’s cheeses (laitier and fermier), with their distinctive cylindrical shape and straw through the middle. At the end of your meal, see who draws the short straw to have to transport all the local goodies you’ve bought to your next stopover!

Here, following the Scandibérique brings you back beside a river, this time the Vienne, at Marcilly-sur-Vienne. This stage follows its west bank, offers views of lovely landscapes. Vaux-sur-Vienne, climbing the slope from the river, is a village in a lovely green setting from which to embark on walks. Finally, the town of Châtellerault comes into view. Before and after World War I, it was known for manufacturing Lebel guns; after the factory closed in 1968, it was subsequently transformed into an ice-skating rink and cultural space, a sign of peace for future generations.

Châtellerault boasts an impressive historical legacy and on a stopover here you can even discover its industrial heritage. As well as the charming town centre where the fully restored Italian-style Blossac Theatre stands out alongside Renaissance-style monuments, the former arms factory, with its two imposing brick chimneys, also grabs visitors’ attention. Continuing along the Scandibérique, many surprises await, notably at Vouneuil-sur-Vienne, with Le Pinail Nature Reserve, or then at Chauvigny, its medieval centre rising from its rocky outcrop. Lastly comes Lussac-les-Châteaux and the five mighty pillars of the former drawbridge to its single château!

From Lussac-les-Châteaux to Availles-Limouzine, the Scandibérique follows small, bucolic roads with little traffic. The rolling plains start to have more pronounced slopes, meaning you have to make more physical effort, plus the landscapes will take your breath away! Look out for spots beside the Vienne from which you can go bathing in the river for a refreshing break. The majestic viaduct at L’Isle-Jourdain takes you across the river, which you then leave behind, riding on to Availles Limouzine. The art works scattered around the Château de Lessac are bound to leave you thinking. At the town of Confolens, give your ‘pins’ a break by taking the little tourist train!

Leaving Confolens’s medieval bridge behind, the route takes you beside the Vienne River up to Exideuil, the way revealing more and more of the Charente area’s character, the Château de la Chétardie even being the seat of a Confrérie du Cognac, a fraternity for the famed brandy spirit! In this eastern part of the county, or département, of Charente, the lakes of Lavaud and Mas Chaban were created to help regulate the lack of water in the Charente River certain summers; they also offer nautical activities and places for bird-watching, nice ways to take a break before riding on to Massignac, just a few kilometres on, and a place for a stopover on the route.

This stage takes you along minor county roads offering lovely views, but steep climbs too! Along the way, the valleys are deep, as you’re riding along the western foothills of the Massif Central Range. The Tardoire River can rise suddenly in heavy rain. At Montbron, though, there’s a lovely watersports centre from which you can launch onto the waters in a canoe. Marthon is where the Scandibérique and La Flow vélo cycle routes connect. It’s a village that has preserved its covered market and an historic keep known as the Tour du Breuil. There are shops here, so you can stock up here before continuing along the route.

The Scandibérique now doubles up with La Flow Vélo cycle route heading to France’s cartoon capital, Angoulême. Leading you through the heart of the Bandiat Valley, the Coulée d’Oc Greenway runs through countryside dotted with little villages marked by Romanesque churches. Shortly after Chazelles and the Quéroy Caves, the route then heads off towards Angoulême along the Touvre Valley. Do take the time to view this river’s startling sources, springing up in natural pools from subterranean natural reservoirs. The city of Angoulême is more than a mere stopover for cartoon fans, much more a pilgrimage for aficionados of the so-called 9th art!

Once you’ve enjoyed your fill of cartoons in Angoulême, including on its giant painted walls, time to pick up the thread of the Scandibérique again. The route crosses the city peacefully via the Coulée Verte beside the Charente, which you continue to follow, the river’s banks dotted with little ports and locks, the slopes above producing cognac and pineau. Châteauneuf-sur-Charente is well worth a halt, one of the historic ports for transporting cognac, a spirit known around the world since 1700, and a leading French export today. The final stretch of this first stage connecting two renowned viticultural areas, the Charente and the Bordelais, continues through vineyards to Barbezieux-St-Hilaire.

This Scandibérique stage leads via the county of Charente’s vineyards on to forests typical of the neighbouring county of Charente-Maritime and continues to the border between the historic areas of the Saintonge and the Périgord. Cruise easily along the Galope Chopine Greenway from Barbezieux St-Hilaire to Clérac, the way increasingly wooded. The medieval Château de Montguyon, an imposing fort ravaged by time, offers a tempting reason to deviate slightly from the Haute-Saintonge greenway. Just a few arrows’ lengths further on, cycling into the heart of the Double Saintongeaise Forest (40,000 hectares of woods stretching between Montguyon, Montlieu la Garde and Montendre) you reach Clérac. This stage provides plenty of invigorating country air!

Clérac offers a haven of peace, nestled in its green wooded corner at the southern edge of the Saintonge area. The Scandibérique then leads you into the Bordelais area. At first, up to Guîtres, as well as the green of the pines, the bright white of former kaolin clay mines stands out, while the lakes that have formed in these pits reflect the deep blue of the sky. Next, the scenery changes, as you cycle beside the Isle River, the slopes covered with world-famous vineyards as you approach Libourne, an historic port at the confluence of the Isle and Dordogne Rivers. By now, the feel is very southern!

This Scandibérique stage is associated with luscious ruby reds, as you cross the dense vineyards of the St-Emilion area, or Jurisdiction, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The wines here age extremely well, turning darker with age. Wander around St-Emilion’s spectacular, steep, ramparted streets before crossing the Dordogne River. You then climb through more vineyards to join the Roger Lapébie Greenway. At the spot where you join this beautiful path for non-motorized traffic, take care to turn right towards Créon to then carry on smoothly towards Bordeaux; if you turn left, you head off towards the town of La Réole and the Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo cycle route… but that’s a completely different cycling adventure!

The vine-covered limestone plateau between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers east of Bordeaux is known as l’Entre-deux-Mers, the area ‘between the two seas’! The Roger Lapébie Greenway takes you amidst vineyards, via the east bank of the Garonne, to the great wine city. Cross the Pont de Pierre, the town’s oldest bridge, for the historic quarters of St-Michel and St-Jean. Bordeaux is a great place to explore by bike before continuing on the Scandibérique. This beautifully modernized town merits a cultural break of several days. Once you’ve admired your reflection, together with that of this handsome city, in the mirrored pool beside the quays one last time, it’s time to head south for the landscapes of Gascony’s Landes, including the largest man-made forest in Western Europe.

Bordeaux makes for such a fine city break, parting may be hard, but continuing along the Scandibérique, the cycle route via the Bègles tramline and through the little valleys of the Eau Bourde and the Eau Blanche makes it easy to ride south out of town. The splendid Cayac Priory at Gradignan, once a refuge for pilgrims, is worth a proper visit. Then head for Hostens via the famed vineyards of the Pessac-Léognan area. As you reach La Brède, it would be only fitting to uncork a bottle of finest Graves white in homage to Montesquieu, a major 18th-century political philosopher from here, and to visit his family château. After Graves’s vineyards come a mix of hardwood and pine woods. The greenway from La Brède leads peacefully down to Hostens.

After enjoying all the outdoor possibilities at Hostens, the Scandibérique continues south, via a long stretch of greenway, to the town of Bazas and, thanks to a recent extension, as far as Langon. This good-quality greenway in fact makes it possible to go from the Bassin d'Arcachon by the coast to the Canal de Garonne (via Langon and Castets-en-Dorthe). You cycle along a really lovely path through quiet pine forests. Note how different plots are planted with pines of different ages. While the colour green dominates, when heather and broom flower, Impressionist touches of yellow, white, pink, red and purple are added to the picture. If heading out quietly early in the morning, you may encounter deer on your path.

From Langon, the route joins the Canal de Garonne at Castets-en-Dorthe. Cycling along the next stretch, you can chart the progress of your reflection in the canal’s waters! From Fontet to Buzet-sur-Baïse, the Scandibérique follows the same path as the Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo cycle route. It’s easy to ride at a steady pace, although you may encounter quite a number of other cyclists as you pedal along in the shade of the plane trees. You pass a delightful array of bridges, locks, vineyards and orchards up to the port at Buzet-sur-Baïse, at the end of this stage.

The Scandibérique route now heads for the Pyrenees, taking you into the historical territories of the young Henri de Navarre, who would become King Henri IV of France from 1589 to 1610. After greenways, you ride along peaceful minor roads crisscrossing the Pays d’Albret area of Gascony, made up of a mosaic of lands. From the fortified bastide village of Vianne to Barbaste and its fortified Moulin des Tours, on to Mézin, a perched village, there are many little southern gems a stone’s throw from the route. Gascon culinary tradition encourage you to sample the spirit Armagnac, Buzet wines, and, if you’re up for it, foie gras. This is a blissful area for a cycling adventure!

From Mézin to Sos, the Scandibérique route runs in part along a greenway beside the Gélise River, the path shaded, the atmosphere quite unspoilt. The private Château de Poudenas with its Tuscan looks is the first curiosity you ride past. After Sos, you cycle along quiet county roads. As you approach Escalans Gabarret, you get closer to the edge of the great Landes Forest, the scent of its pines wafting over to you. Come evening, enjoy succulent local specialities on your stopover to regain your energy.

Welcome to the county of Landes, a land full of traditions, offering opportunities aplenty to enjoy the place’s conviviality, with many ferias and places at which to savour local specialities. From Escalans, the Scandibérique heads for Labastide d’Armagnac, a medieval village boasting a rich traditional heritage, nestled in the midst of vineyards that produce the oldest spirit in France. Every self-respecting cyclist should pay homage at the Chapelle des Cyclistes before tasting (in moderation, of course!) Armagnac made by a local producer. Cycling on towards Mont de Marsan, enjoy little detours to the village of Bougue and the archaeological site of Castets. At Mont-de-Marsan, the figurative sculptures at the Musée Despiau Wlérick, plus, not far off, but in the midst of forest, Marsan Lake, with its outdoor leisure centre, are two good reasons for prolonging your stay here.

You might think you’ve arrived in Spain earlier than expected along the EuroVelo 3 cycle route, looking around Mont-de-Marsan on a sunny day, what with its bullring and adverts for its flamenco festival! However, the Musée Despiau Wlérick, with its figurative sculptures, the Parc Jean Rameau, and the well-laid-out banks of the Midouze River, with its gentle quays, are southwestern French in feel. Riding on towards Dax, you might explore the local religious heritage, notably at Carcarès-Sainte-Croix and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. For the more adventurous, leave your bikes a while to take a canoe trip down the Midouze, or to enjoy a hike in the Adour’s barthes, wetland meadows characteristic of the areas around Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Pontonx-sur-l’Adour. If after something more relaxing, in Dax, at the end of this stage, recharge your batteries at the thermal spa baths.

A Scandibérique stage offering you the chance to enjoy the thermal pleasures of the resorts of Dax, Saint-Paul-lès-Dax and Saubusse. Following the Adour by bike, riding along towpaths converted into cycle paths, you reach the village of Saubusse. A former river trading and fishing port, it stands in a lovely setting, tempting for a walk or a drink at a water-side terrace. At Josse’s port, you could opt to go out on the river in a boat or a canoe. There’s something for everyone in these parts, with the many outings, traditions and gastronomy on offer, all in striking landscapes carved out by the Adour’s waters and by Pyrenean torrents.

Continuing beside the Adour and Bidouze Rivers, the Scandibérique cycle route brings to mind the river trading of centuries past, as you ride past the little ports of Guiche, Bidache and Came. Almost half-way along, you’re suddenly made to climb above Came and the Pyrenees Mountains appear on the horizon as ascents and descents follow. The perched villages dotted around display their fine architectural heritage, while typically Basque architecture stands out as you approach Saint-Palais, a picturesque little town that makes a lovely stopover beside the Bidouze. You might push further, into the valley of the Gave d'Oloron torrent, giving you a taste of the different, Béarn culture. Looks change so fast in these parts.

Immediately on leaving Saint-Palais, ride on to Saint-Sauveur Hill, where the Cross to Xibalterre or Gibraltar (the name for St Sauveur in the Basque language!) marks the spot where several pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela (in northwest Spain) meet. All along this stage, you’ll spot many markers for this extremely popular pilgrimage, still much-loved today and rich in heritage. Both cyclists and walkers will appreciate the many related structures dotted along the climbs and descents to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, not just crosses, but chapels, churches, ruined hospices and villages packed with memories, as well as countless gîtes to stop at. The number of walkers and cyclists sharing this track has been growing consistently, showing what a major European route the Scandibérique - EuroVelo 3 is. At the end of the stage, you enter Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port via the Porte Saint-Jacques gateway; the cobbled street taking you down this way makes for a dramatic arrival!

Leaving behind the southern fortified gateways of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you head towards a famous pass into Spain, the Col de Roncevaux, or Roncevalles, known as the Puerto de Ibañeta in Spanish. For cyclists, the challenge is taking on a true mountain pass. From the village of Arnéguy, where you leave France, it’s then 18km of climbing to get over this Pyrenean col. Even if the slopes are relatively reasonable (the gradients between 4.5% and 7% on average), you need stamina riding through the beech forest of the Valcarlos Valley, so change gear accordingly. The effort brings to mind the famed medieval French epic, La Chanson de Roland, telling of the Basque attack here, back in the 8th century, on Charlemagne’s Frankish army returning from attacking Iberia, including Basque Pamplona. Since the 13th century, Roncevalles collegiate church has, though, been dedicated to welcoming pilgrims and travellers.