Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.

Day 1: Your arrival in Le Puy-en-Velay

A day exploring the town of Le Puy-en-Velay.

An opportunity to discover the Velay city! You'll stroll and discover the upper town of Le Puy-en-Velay by exploring its hidden streets.
Accommodation with B&B basis

Things to see:
> The Cathedral and its Cloister - Photo credits: Tourist Office Le Puy en Velay ©Luc Olivier
> Statue of Notre-Dame de France
> Saint-Michel Chapel
> Crozatier Museum
> The narrow streets of the upper town
> The Hôtel-Dieu and its exhibitions
> Polignac Fortress
> Monument passes on sale at the Tourist Office or at the monument ticket offices.
> Bobbin Lacemaking Training Center
> Henry Vinay Garden (Horseshoe Park)

Day 2: Le Puy-en-Velay – Les Estables - 47 km - D+1100m

You will leave the town of Le Puy by taking the Velay Greenway, which will take you to Coubon. The small road will climb, offering unobstructed views of Bouzols Castle, which overlooks the Loire River on a volcanic rock spur. You will then reach Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, a mountain village that marks the entrance to the Mézenc Massif.
The route will take you to the village of Présailles before later reaching the resort village of Les Estables via the GR40 (Tour du Velay: the more adventurous can go via Freycenet-La-Cuche). The arrival facing the Mézenc is magical.
Accommodation with half-board basis

Discover:
• Coubon
> St. Georges Church
> Poinsac Castle
> Volhac Fortified House

• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
> Saint Chaffre Abbey, which combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture. > Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
> Museum of Popular Beliefs
> School Museum
> The Recoumène Viaduct

• Longetrée
> Longetraye Cave Trail

• Freycenet-la-Cuche
> The Fortified House

• Les Estables
> Ascent of Mont Mézenc – Roof of the Haute-Loire and Ardèche
> Les Estables Church
> A walk to the Boutières cross for views of the Ardèche, the Rhône Valley, and the Alps

Day 3: Les Estables - Le Puy-en-Velay- 47 km - D+365M (possibility of variant +6km)

After a beautiful night spent in the village of Les Estables, it's time to hop back on your bikes and head back towards Le Puy-en-Velay. You'll ride along a small road that's perfectly connected to these vast meadows. You'll then head towards Saint-Front and its hamlet of Bigorre, known for its thatched cottages. You'll descend the magnificent Aubépin Valley on a small road before reaching Brives-Charensac.

End of stay with luggage collection from 5 p.m. at our partner's or optionally with an additional night in Puy-en-Velay (overnight stay & breakfast with luggage delivery to the hotel).

Discover:
• Saint-Front
> The typical highland village – Saint-Front
> The Souteyros waterfall
> The 12th-century Romanesque church – Saint Front
> The volcanic lake
> The thatched village and the Bigorre Ecomuseum

• Saint-Germain-Laprade
> Château du Bourg
> Remains of the former Doue Abbey

• Brives-Charensac
> The bridges spanning the Loire
The 13th-century Chartreuse Bridge, the 12th-century Old Bridge in the center of Brives-Charensac, of which only two arches remain, and the Gallard Bridge, used by cars.

Prices include:

• Accommodation in a double, twin, or multiple-occupancy room
• Half-board basis in Les Estables and B&B basis in Le Puy
• Tourist taxes,
• Luggage transfer at the stopover (one bag, max. 13kg/person),
• Access to the guidance app and travel diary,
• Telephone assistance.

Extras

• Electric bike rental or a non-electric bike rental, two rear panniers, a helmet, a light repair kit,
• Multitasks and cancellation insurance
• Single supplement

This price does not include

• Transportation and transfers to the starting point
• Meals other than those listed in the description
• Multirisks and annulation insurance
• Parking Bike rental
• GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks for our routes – guidance via the app)
• Drinks, spending money, any visits or activities
• Generally, anything not listed in the “This price includes” section

Administration fees

• €12/person if ordered online
• €15/person via quote

As an optional extra, L’Autre Chemin offers:

You want to rent a bike

• E-bike rental with two panniers + the guarantee “Sereine Mind”: +€85/bike
• Standard bike rental with two panniers + the guarantee “Sereine Mind: +€50/bike

If you plan to travel with your bike, please ensure certain points: If it is an electric-assisted bike, the battery must have a minimum power of 400 or even 500 watts. Please note: the battery must be removable; if not, please contact us to check availability. It is imperative that your bike is in perfect working order before departure. Remember to have it serviced. Please bring a suitable repair kit and a smartphone mount for the handlebars. Our routes combine small roads and trails; your bike must be a hybrid, mountain bike, or gravel bike with suitable tires. City and road bikes are therefore prohibited. Our trips are more or less sporty, and a basket on the handlebars is to be avoided, as are large city bags. You’ll be riding on trails, and this type of equipment risks destabilizing the bike’s balance and making it difficult to transfer bikes (similarly, front mudguards make it difficult to load bikes onto trailers, so avoid them). Any doubts? Contact us.

Add a final night in Le Puy-en-Velay

Enjoy one last night in Le Puy-en-Velay at the end of your tour. We’ll take care of booking your overnight stay and breakfast at a 3-star hotel in the city center, and your luggage will be delivered directly to reception.

L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you the best of Haute-Loire and to ensure that each stopover is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, the gastronomy, but also a moment of exchange and meeting.

By Train

The town of Le Puy-en-Velay has a train station that takes you right to the city center, close to your first hotel and all the sights and shops. In short, it’s very pleasant to take the train from home to begin your cycling trip to Le Puy. Psst, even if the journey may seem long, when you arrive via Saint-Etienne, the tracks run alongside the wild Loire Valley, a very pleasant sight.

By Car

Le Puy is accessible by road, notably via two main roads: the RN88 from Saint-Etienne/Lyon or Aubenas/Mende, or via the RN102 (Clermont-Ferrand). There are suitable parking lots on site, but we’ll explain everything in your travel guide!

• Paris: 515km
• Lyon: 134km
• Marseille: 300km
• Toulouse: 350km
• Montpellier: 250km

Where to park in Le Puy?

• Breuil underground car park – Place du Breuil – Closed Sundays and public holidays – 7 days: €60 & 14 days: €100/14 days – Reservations: +33 4 71 02 03 54

Le Puy above-ground car parks – Rates: €10/week and €20/month. Subscriptions must be reserved and paid in advance at the Mobilité-en-Velay commercial center. Tel. +33 4 71 02 60 11 (open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) – Height limit 2.20 m & length 5.50 m maximum. These car parks are served by a free shuttle or the urban transport network.

• Bertrand de Doue Parking: Parking without video 
• Estrouilhas Parking: Parking without video 
• Quincieu Park and Ride Parking: Parking without video 
• Montredon Park and Ride Parking: Parking without video (free bus service to the city center)
• Dunant Parking (free bus service to the city center)
• Train Station Parking: Video-monitored parking – €6 / 24 hours

• Carmes Parking: Video-monitored parking – €40 / week – Reservation: +33 7 68 10 76 81
• Foch Parking – 6 avenue du Maréchal Foch – Video surveillance – 7 days: €30 – Reservation: +33 7 68 10 76 81
• Saint-Jacques Parking (Center served by bus) – 13 bis de Roderie – Aiguilhe – Video surveillance – Reservation: +33 4 44 43 97 43 – 7 days: €35

Prices given for information purposes only, subject to change without notice

Whether you’re looking to book your electric bike trip or have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.