Please note that every stopover is given as an indication and may be modified according to the availability of accommodation 

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 through the secret streets of the upper town and discover the Cathedral, the starting point of the Way of Saint James.

Discover:
> The Cathedral and its Cloister, the starting point of the Way of Saint James
> Notre-Dame de France
> The Saint-Michel Chapel
> Crozatier Museum
> The narrow streets of the upper town
> The Hôtel-Dieu and its exhibitions
> The Polignac Fortress
> Monument passes on sale at the Tourist Office or at the monument ticket offices.
> Bobbin Lacemaking Training Center
> The Henry Vinay Garden (Horseshoe Park)

Day 2: Le Puy-en-Velay - Yssingeaux- 43km - D+520m

You'll leave Le Puy to reach Lavoute-sur-Loire and its magnificent château overlooking the Loire River. You'll then follow the trail of the Galoche, the old railway line that once connected Lavoûte-sur-Loire to Lavoulte-sur-Rhône! You'll discover a quiet and safe route that will take you through the Ravins de Corboeuf, with its stunning landscapes. The greenway now follows a small road (without much traffic) to reach Yssingeaux.

Discover:
• Lavoûte-sur-Loire
> Lavoûte Polignac Castle, built on a rocky spur above a bend in the Loire
> Aquapassion Center
> The ponds along the Loire River in Saint-Vincent with an introduction to fishing

• Beaulieu
> Notre-Dame Church (12th century)
> Adiac Castle
> L'Etoile - an equestrian center
> The target shooting center
> Beaulieu Educational Farm

• Rosières
> The Ravins de Corboeuf and its multicolored clays
> Le Moulin du Pinard - Old locomotives and water features

• Yssingeaux
> Saint-Pierre Church and its remarkable paintings, most of which are listed as "historical monuments"
> The Chapel of the Penitents
> The Saint-Roch Museum, housed in the former chapel of the hospital and hospice
> The workshops of Ceramics and pottery
> The Saussac archaeological site

Day 3: Le Puy-en-Velay - Yssingeaux- 43km - D+520m

From Yssingeaux, the route winds down through valleys and meadows. You'll reach the city wall bridge, then the route will invite you to discover numerous villages and structures. In Riotord, you'll be expected at 4 p.m. (passengers and cyclists) for the return trip to Le Puy-en-Velay (approximately 5 p.m.).

End of tour or optional with an additional night in Puy-en-Velay (overnight stay & breakfast)

Discover:
• Grazac
> The Priory - a Cluniac site worth visiting
> La Chapelette
> The Snail House
> The Pont de la Sainte

• Lapte
> The Church and its tall bell tower (the tallest in Haute-Loire - 54m - Belvedere)

• Raucoules
> The Velay Express, steam train ride
> Train Museum

• Montfaucon
> The Mirandou Garden, a barefoot sensory discovery
> Notre-Dame Church, home to 12 Flemish paintings

• Dunières
> Vélorail du Velay
> 12th-century Romanesque church
> Thematic tour: "In the footsteps of our past" - Industrial interpretation

• Riotord
> Fishing pond - Educational tour
> Clavas Cistercian site and its medieval-inspired garden

• Le Tracol
> A pass at an altitude of 1,000m between Loire and Haute-Loire
> The forest

Prices include:

• Accommodation in a double, twin, or multiple-occupancy room with half-board basis
• Tourist taxes,
• Luggage transfer at the stopover (one bag, max. 13kg/person),
• Access to the guidance app and travel diary,
• The journey back from Riotord to Le Puy (travelers & bikes)
• Telephone assistance.

Extras

• Electric bike rental or a non-electric bike rental, two rear panniers, a helmet, a light repair kit,
• Multrisks and cancellation insurance
• Single supplement
• Additional night in Le Puy-en-Velay (B&B basis)

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

• Electric-assisted hybrid bike rental with two panniers: +€85/bike
• Non-electric hybrid bike rental with two panniers: +€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.

Additional  night in Le Puy-en-Velay

Enjoy one last night in Le Puy-en-Velay at the end of your tour. We’ll book your overnight stay and breakfast at a 3-star hotel in the city center.

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 (near Ibis Styles and Ibis Centre) – 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 (near train station, Ibis Styles & Budget)
• Estrouilhas Parking: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
• Quincieu Park and Ride Parking: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
• 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 (near Ibis Styles & Budget)

• Carmes Parking: Video-monitored parking – €30 / week – Reservation: +33 7 68 10 76 81 (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
• Foch Parking – 6 avenue du Maréchal Foch – Video surveillance – (near Ibis Styles & Budget) – 7 days: €30 & 14 days: €60 – 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: €29 & 14 days: €55 (near Ibis Center)
• La Malle Postale – Parking at 7km from Le Puy – Drop-off and pick-up guaranteed – 7 days / 7– 7 days: €30 & 15 days: €50 – Reservation: 04 71 04 21 79 Prices given for information purposes only, subject to change without notice

Whether you’re looking to book your cycling trip along the Via Fluvia or have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.