Between Paris and Chartres: from cathedrals to castles
🚴 Distance: 33 to 140 km
⌚ Duration: 1 to 4 days
🚉 Access : TER Paris-Chartres (1h15)
Leave the Île-de-France via the avenues of Parc de Sceaux, past the golden gates of Versailles, through the forest of Rambouillet, and end on the forecourt of Chartres facing its famous cathedral. This itinerary, the beating heart of the Véloscénie, links royal monuments and peaceful villages along the banks of the Eure.
Practical: the TER line serves all the main stages - ideal for choosing your point of departure or shortening the adventure. A great first getaway for those who dream of riding "big" without complicated logistics.
💡 To extend the pleasure, treat yourself to an unusual night in Île-de-France: perched cabins, forest bubbles or tiny houses, perfect for a nature break just a stone's throw from the cycle paths.
The Chevreuse Valley, a green loop within easy reach of the RER
🚴 Distance: 50 to 125 km
⌚ Duration: 1 to 2 days
🚉 Access: RER B to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (45 min)
As soon as you step off the RER, you're already somewhere else. Between wooded hills and blonde stone villages, the vallée de Chevreuse is a classic for Parisians looking for a nature weekend.
Follow the Véloscénie to Versailles or Rambouillet, or trace your own loop between organic farms, mills and country roads.
Renting an electric bike on site (from ECOX or a local rental company) lets you explore without forcing yourself. And if you put your ear to the ground, you'll even hear the silence.
💡 Lokki tip: avoid RER rush hours to get your bike on board stress-free.
On the quiet roads of the Perche
🚴 Distance: 77 km
⌚ Duration: 2 days
🚉 Access: TER Paris-Chartres (1h15) then return from Nogent-le-Rotrou (1h40)
From Chartres, the ribbon of asphalt stretches between golden fields and sleepy villages. At Illiers-Combray, indulge in a madeleine (a nod to Proust) before heading off into the forests of Perche.
A perfect region for a taste of the joys of cycling without too much relief.
We recommend a break at Thiron-Gardais to discover its abbey and the Collège royal militaire, then head for Nogent-le-Rotrou, dominated by its medieval castle. A beautiful bucolic interlude.
La traversée du Perche en voie verte
🚴 Distance: 80 km
⌚ Duration: 2 days
🚉 Access: TER Paris-Nogent-le-Rotrou (1h30) / return from Alençon (≈2h)
Between Mortagne-au-Perche and Alençon, a former railroad line converted into a gentle trail winds its way through the heart of the regional nature park.
Here, you can pedal to the rhythm of hedgerows, apple trees and clear rivers. Stop off at a producer of Perche cider, dip your feet in the Mêle-sur-Sarthe lake, and let the green hills do the rest.
It's the perfect route to reconnect with slowness - a weekend of freewheeling, quite literally.
👉 See also: Rent a bike and go light
From Flers to Mont-Saint-Michel, the royal road to the sea
🚴 Distance: 110 km
⌚ Duration: 3 to 4 days
🚉 Access: TER Paris-Flers (2h30) / return from Pontorson (4h30)
Head west! A few pedal strokes and the Normandy bocages are revealed: sunken lanes, discreet waterfalls, half-timbered farms and the scent of apple trees.
The route, 75% of which is on voies vertes, winds gently towards the sea until it reaches the unforgettable silhouette of Mont-Saint-Michel.
The route is signposted, there are plenty of gourmet stops (cider, galette-saucisse, teurgoule...), and each end of day offers a new panorama.
A real trip in miniature, to be experienced over a long weekend.
Practical tips for combining 🚴🏼♀️ + 🚋
-
Book a bike place: TER trains accept bikes free of charge, but try to avoid rush hours.
-
Prepare your stages: aim for 40 to 60 km a day, depending on your fitness.
-
Choose the right type of bike: VTC, road bike, gravel or VAE depending on the terrain - and why not rent one on site?
-
Sleep local: gîtes, campsites and chambres d'hôtes "Accueil Vélo" dot all these routes.
-
Return by train: most stations offer direct connections to Paris.
