In Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, cycling is the best way to follow the rhythm of the Loing. Ride gently along the canal, mirror water to the left, plane trees to the right, and the lapping of the locks as a metronome. A few pedal turns and you're in Nemours, with its castle-museum and quiet lanes, before taking the greenway, a flat ribbon ideal for families. This is where the Scandibérique (EuroVelo 3) passes through: head north to Moret-sur-Loing and its picturesque bridges, or south to Souppes and Montargis for a longer escape.

Looking for wilder countryside? The Fontainebleau forest is just a breath away. Its sandy paths, sandstone boulders and fragrant pines provide the perfect backdrop for a leisurely loop on a mountain bike or bicycle, with the freedom to stop for a viewpoint, a giant-shaped rock or a picnic by the water.