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Start from the Quai du Chatelet, on the north side of the Pont Royal (Pont Georges V) in Orléans: the Chatelet car park is nearby, and the Royale-Chatelet station on Line A (North-South); see the ‘Practical information’ section below for details on the tram
(S) Cross the Loire using the pavement (left-hand lane) of the Pont Royal. On the south side of the bridge, cross it and follow the Loire along its left bank via the footpath. To do this, follow the Quai de Prague from the bridge for about forty metres until you reach the path leading down to the riverbank.
(1) Head down towards the Loire and then follow the left bank of the river as closely as possible along the footpath. This path takes you under the Joffre Bridge, the Pont de l’Europe and then the A71 bridge. It then runs alongside the Île de Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Mesmin, before approaching the embankment designed to contain the river’s floodwaters (the Rue des Hautes Levées).
(2) Carry on straight ahead at the foot of the embankment, ignoring the turn-off to the left leading to the hamlet of Montauban. Pass the hamlet of La Rochelle.
(3) Just before the educational sign in the form of riddles, leave the path to reach the embankment. To do this, cross a meadow where horses are grazing, first passing through the opening in the fence provided for this purpose. Then go through a metal gate, opening it by releasing the catch and turning the bolt, and close it again by locking it. Go through the gate, then cut across the embankment to join the small road opposite – which is also blocked – leading down towards the Abbey and the Carmelite Convent of Micy. Continue along Rue Claude Joliot until you reach the Route de Saint-Mesmin.
(4) At the road, turn right towards Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin (signposted “la Loire à Vélo”), and cross the Saint Nicolas Bridge over the River Loiret.
(5) After the bridge, take the hard-surfaced path on the right, through the passageway to the right of the metal gate (usually locked). Turn right, following the path as it approaches the Loiret, and cycle along its left bank (with your back to the bridge).
(6) Just before the confluence of the Pie and the Loiret, cross the footbridge over the Pie and immediately turn right onto the ‘Sentier du Loiret’, keeping as close to the river as possible. The path eventually draws closer to the embankment as it runs alongside it.
(7) Turn right about a hundred metres after the turn-off to the left towards the embankment (rue de Verdun) so as not to stray from the riverbank. The path passes the confluence of the Loiret and the Loire at Pointe de Courpain, until it meets the embankment.
(8) Continue along the embankment, which offers a lovely view of the islands. Head down the riverside path and then back up onto the embankment after 300 metres.
(9) Leave the embankment for good and take a path leading down to the riverbank shortly after a slight bend. Ignore the various turnings on the left until you come to a denser network of paths.
(10) Turn left at the Fork in the road, then follow the path, keeping as close to the riverbank as possible and ignoring the various turn-offs to the left. The path ends by turning left onto a hard-surfaced track (marked ‘la Loire à Vélo’).
(11) Turn right onto the track until you reach the bridge at Meung-sur-Loire. Cross the bridge to reach the Loire embankment on the opposite bank, near the outdoor swimming pool (E).
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Moderate 
