- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Via Fluvia and some trails
From €845 / pers.
with luggage transfer
Via Fluvia and some trails
One way on the Via Fluvia and a return trip via a magnificent variation of the paths and picturesque roads. You’ll set off by electric bike or hybrid bike to meet the Loire River and join the Via Fluvia, which connects Lavoûte-sur-Loire to the Col du Tracol. This will be an opportunity to discover small villages and enjoy a route built on the old La Galoche railway line that connected the Loire Valley to the Rhône Valley. A 7-day stay to explore this greenway, discover the Château de Lavoute-Polignac, the Ravins de Corboeuf, the Flemish paintings of the church of Montfaucon… before returning to the trail of the Way of St. James (Geneva route) and the typical back roads of Haute-Loire. An experience to enjoy with family or friends! The stages are organized in guesthouses offering comfort and authenticity…
To prepare for your trip, check out our tips!
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The benefits of your bike tour:
- You travel independently and follow a specially designed route to fully enjoy the Haute-Loire region.
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Accommodation: In a private room (B&B, cottage, hotel)
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Half-board accommodation (dinner + overnight stay + breakfast)
- Optional: You have access to modern electric bikes for comfort and convenience. L’Autre Chemin also offers children’s bikes and child trailers.
- Easy to navigate thanks to a digital guidance app.
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop (one bag, max. 13kg/person).
- All routes have been carefully planned to offer you exceptional and accessible stays.
- For this tour, bike rental include the Guarantee “Sereine Mind” – More information can be found in the Insurance section
- Our travel bikes for this stay
Your itinerary:
- Elevation gain 2,770 m – Greenway, country roads, and trails
- Family: From 13 years old on an electric bike (depending on comfort level)
- Self-guided bike tour (you choose your departure)
- Accommodation: in a private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or unique accommodation)
- IMPORTANT: Bike touring requires good self-management skills: knowing how to change an inner tube, putting a derailed chain back on, and also knowing how to ride a bike.
- What climate? See our Frequently Asked Questions
- Program day / day
- What's in your bike tour ?
- Extra
- Accommodation
- Access to le Puy-en-Velay
- Need help ?
Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.
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)
You'll ride alongside the Loire. First on the Puy-en-Velay greenway, then on the road before returning to the Via Fluvia, which follows the old Galoche railway line!
Discover:
• Brives-Charensac
> The bridges spanning the Loire
The 13th-century Chartreuse Bridge, the 12th-century Old Bridge in the center of Brives-Charensac
• The Loire Gorges
• Lavoûte-sur-Loire
> The Lavoûte Polignac Castle, built on a rocky spur above a bend in the Loire
• Beaulieu
> The Plaine Pond - a walk along the pond
> Notre-Dame Church (12th century)
> Adiac Castle
> L'Etoile - an equestrian center
> The target shooting center
> Beaulieu Educational Farm
The Via Fluvia follows this old railway line, which once carried a steam train connecting Lavoûte-sur-Loire to La Voûlte-sur-Rhône. You'll discover the Ravins de Corboeuf (a canyon of multicolored clay), the Moulin du Pinard (an interpretation of the Vivarais railway lines and water features), and many other attractions. From Yssingeaux, the greenway will become paved and offer an incredible ride. A real pleasure to ride safely and surrounded by nature!
Discover:
• Rosières
> The Ravins de Corboeuf and its multicolored clays
> The Moulin du Pinard - Old locomotives and water features
• Yssingeaux
> The 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 ceramics and pottery workshops
> The Saussac archaeological site
• 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, sensory discovery barefoot
> Notre-Dame Church, home to 12 Flemish paintings
Between the Greenway and the Way of St. James
You will leave the town of Dunières along the greenway through paths and forests to reach the Col du Tracol, then follow the trails of the Way of St. James through a welcoming forest before arriving in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, a mecca of Haute-Loire gastronomy...
Discover:
• Dunières
> Vélorail du Velay
> 12th-century Romanesque church
> Thematic tour: "In the footsteps of our past" - Industrial interpretation
• Riotord
> Fishing pond - Educational tour
> Cistercian site of Clavas and its medieval-inspired garden
• Le Tracol
> A pass at an altitude of 1,000 meters between the Loire and Haute-Loire
> The forest
• Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid
> The village and the church
> The springs of the Haut-Plateau (Spa and wellness)
Cycling along the GR 7 & GR430...
You'll cycle along a magnificent forest path filled with the intoxicating scent of broom to reach Le Devesset and its lake. You'll then return to Le Chambon-sur-Lignon and then Tence.
Discover:
• Devesset
> The lake - Swimming and water sports
• Le Chambon-sur-Lignon:
> Steam train
> Memorial site
• Tence
> The Chapel of the Penitents
Returning to Le Puy-en-Velay, you'll discover the Pic du Lizieux, then the peaks of Meygal before reaching the town of Saint-Julien-Chapteuil.
One last night in Le Puy-en-Velay to regain your strength after a wonderful cycling odyssey.
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:
• Araules
> The Pic du Lizieux
• Saint-Jeures
> Salcrupt Castle
> Saint-Georges Church
• Queyrières
> Volcanic Chimney
• Saint-Julien-Chapteuil
> Romanesque Church
• Saint-Germain-Laprade
> Bourg Castle
> 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 with half-board
- 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,
- 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 + guarantee “Sereine mind”: +€185/bike
- Non-electric hybrid bike rental with two panniers + guarantee “Sereine mind”: +€125/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.
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 want to book your cycling trip to the heart of the Mézenc highlands or ask us any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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