Country:
District:
Departure from Angers station.
(S) Turn your back to the station and walk up the street of the same name, then Rue Talot, slightly to the right. Turn left when you reach Boulevard du Roi René and follow this wide avenue, which is designed for bikes, until you pass the castle. Take the time to admire it as you go by, as it is unique.
(1) Cross the Maine River via the Pont de la Basse Chaine bridge, then cross the esplanade that runs alongside the convention centre. At the end of the esplanade, turn left onto Avenue Yolande d'Aragon and continue until you reach the large park before Lac de Maine.
(2) Cross the boulevard and take the path along the river on the Promenade Rolande d'Aragon. As you approach the four-lane road, go around the flood-prone areas of the park on the right before finding the underpass that takes you under the motorway.
(3) At the end of the tunnel, you will come out at Lac de Maine. Turn right to go around it (you can also go left). Turn left before the youth hostel, then follow the lake shore as closely as possible until you reach a pyramid-shaped building on stilts.
(4) Pass this building and follow the buildings of the water sports centre. You will then reach a wilder area, but it is well signposted for bikes. After passing the Lac de Maine campsite on your right, return to the riverbank.
(5) When you reach the water, turn right to follow the river downstream. Follow the fairly rugged terrain until you reach the first bridge, then cross a meadow and the terrain becomes more rugged again.
(6) Continue along the cliff until you reach the Bouchemaine railway bridge.
(7) Pass under the bridge to reach the quay that runs along the bottom of the village.
(8) Don't hesitate to go up Rue Brigand on the right to enter the village, passing by the church and the ruins of the old abbey. The street then leads to the large roundabout before the bridge over the Maine.
(9) From the roundabout, go down the small alleyway parallel to and to the right of the road leading to the bridge to reach the riverbank. Continue to the right, keeping the confluence in sight. You will arrive there at the same time as you reach the first houses of the village of La Pointe.
(10) Take the time to stop at the charming little square in the centre of the village, above the slipway leading down to the river. The view of the confluence is exceptional. Continue through the village, following the white and green signs for the Loire à Vélo cycle route, until you reach the hamlet of Chantourteau and pass under the railway line.
(11) The atmosphere changes beyond the bridge. Take the steep little road that climbs to the left and arrive at the Moulin de la Croix Picot, where you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. The Corniche Angevine, which you travelled along during the first stage, is just opposite. Continue to the entrance to the village of Epiré, whose pointed bell tower can be seen through the foliage.
(12) Take the first left and continue downhill to the Loire at the foot of the hill. At the railway bridge, turn right and continue along the foot of the cliff until you reach the Pierre Bécherelle, an astonishing monolith that served as a landmark for sailors on the Loire.
(13) Continue along the riverbank, leaving the tip of Île de Béhuard on your left, and follow the Guillemette arm of the river until you reach Les Forges. The route then leaves the water and follows the railway line until you reach Savennière station.
(14) Turn left to go back up the road that passes over the railway line, then turn right. Cross the bridge over the Guillemette arm, then descend towards Béhuard, turning right after the bridge. Pass under the bridge and head for the car park at the entrance to the village. Leave your bike there to visit the village.
(15) Retrace your steps to the railway bridge and continue straight ahead towards the village of Savennières and its church.
(16) In the heart of the village stands the church, whose façade is particularly remarkable. When you arrive, turn left and go up Rue Duboys d'Angers until you reach Rue du Beau Soleil. Turn right to pass in front of the Manoir des Lauriers, then leave the village on the left shortly afterwards. Go up Rue de la Pierre de Coulaine until you reach Chemin de l'Aiglerie, which branches off to the left.
(17) Before reaching Bellevue, don't forget to take a look at the view on your left. On the other side of the Loire, you can see the Corniche Angevine, where the route will continue in the next stage.
After Bellevue, enter the village of La Possonnière. Follow the cycle route down Rue du Guet, passing in front of the church, then join Rue du Prieuré.
(18) Turn right into this street, then left onto Rue du Port. Quickly leave the village before passing under the railway line and reaching the banks of the Loire.
(19) Leave the guinguette on your left and pass by an aerial boat, a sculpture by the side of the path that seems to be waiting for the next flood, then continue along the riverbank to the right.
(20) As you approach the embankment that blocks the valley on the right, leave the riverbank and climb up. Follow the road for several kilometres, passing a few hamlets below: Le Froux, Les Sablons, Maltête and La Gautraie.
(21) Pass Port Giraud, then leave the road on the left and take a cycle path that runs closer to the river. As you approach the bridge over the Loire, return to the road that crosses it. Please note that this road is busy and not very suitable for bikes.
(22) Fortunately, the bridges are equipped for cyclists: cross the first arm of the Loire safely. Continue on to cross the second bridge over the Boire de Cordé.
(23) At the end of this bridge, leave the main road and take the road that branches off to the right at a place called Les Garnisons. Leave the cycle route and continue straight ahead towards Les Aireaux. The road follows the embankment that protects the north of the Île de Chalonnes.
(24) At Les Aireaux, turn right to continue on the embankment and follow it to La Soulouse, where the road moves away from the water. After La Petite Soulouse, the road turns sharply left across the island, then turns right before reaching La Basse Île.
(25) Pass the crossroads that leads to this village and continue straight ahead on the road in the middle of the island until you rejoin the cycle route.
(26) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead and follow the long curve to the left that leads to the footbridge over the Loire. As you cross, leave the road that leads to the tail of the island on your right.
(27) The metal footbridge takes you to the south bank of the Loire. Turn right to follow the arm of the river on your right. On the left of the route, note the imposing stone structure dominating the riverbank. This is the former headframe of the coal mine that supplied the lime kilns that can also be seen at its base.
Continue along the riverbank until you reach the Pont de Montjean bridge, taking care not to miss the sculpture trail that runs along this section (E).
Visorando member
