Cycling in Brittany: complete guide to road cycling and major cycling routes

Discover one of France's most beautiful cycling regions, between wild coastlines, peaceful canals and the legendary heritage of professional cycling

‍

Brittany undoubtedly represents one of France's most fascinating cycling regions. As the cradle of French cycling and a land of champions and deeply rooted cycling traditions, this wild peninsula offers cyclists a rarely equalled diversity of terrains: wind-swept Atlantic coasts, tranquil canals winding through the interior, towpaths lined with flower-decorated locks, and small hilly roads crossing remarkable architectural heritage.

At Baroudeur Cycling, we know how to recognise terrains offering cyclists a truly authentic experience. Brittany proposes exceptional cycling richness: on one hand, major waymarked routes such as the Vélodyssée, Vélomaritime or Nantes-Brest canal, and on the other hand, a dense network of small rural roads ideally suited to road cycling.

This guide offers a comprehensive exploration of Brittany by bike. You'll discover the essentials of Breton cycling, the major cycling routes and the best periods to organise your holiday in this exceptional region.

Why choose Brittany for a cycling holiday?

The cradle of French cycling

Brittany historically remains one of the most fertile lands of French cycling. With nearly 10,000 licensed cyclists spread across 180 clubs organising approximately 1,200 events each year, the region maintains a deeply rooted and popular cycling culture.

This cycling tradition has produced legendary champions. Bernard Hinault, born on 14 November 1954 in Yffiniac in the Côtes-d'Armor, embodies alone Breton cycling genius. Five-time winner of the Tour de France (tied with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain), the "Badger" also won three Giros d'Italia, two Vueltas a España and the world road championship title in 1980.

Numerous regional cyclosportives bear the names of Breton champions: la Bernard Hinault, la Pierre Le Bigaut, la Ronan Pensec, la Guy Ignolin or la Marc Gomez. Cycling in Brittany means following the tracks of generations of champions.

Landscapes of exceptional diversity

Brittany distinguishes itself through its particularly contrasting geography that offers cyclists an impressive variety of experiences. The coastline unfolds more than 2,700 kilometres alternating between wild beaches, spectacular cliffs, authentic fishing ports and preserved natural sites.

The interior lands present a gentler yet still hilly relief, punctuated by historic canals, mysterious forests like Brocéliande, wind-swept moors, and numerous preserved character villages.

Remarkable cultural and gastronomic heritage

Cycling in Brittany also means crossing a territory rich in exceptional architectural heritage. Medieval cities, castles, abbeys, monumental calvaries and small character towns line all the cycling routes of the region.

Breton gastronomy, with its crêpes, galettes, exceptional seafood, cider and emblematic butters, adds a remarkable culinary dimension to any cycling adventure.

To complete your French exploration, also discover our France cycling holidays proposing other exceptional cycling regions.

The major cycling routes of Brittany

The Vélodyssée: the emblematic Atlantic route

The Vélodyssée constitutes the most famous cycling route in Brittany. As the French section of EuroVelo 1 (Atlantic Coast Route), this mythical itinerary extends from Roscoff to Hendaye in the Basque Country over 1,300 kilometres total. Its Breton section offers approximately 400 kilometres notably following the Nantes-Brest canal.

Crossing Brittany from Roscoff to Nantes, the Vélodyssée magnificently alternates between peaceful towpaths, shaded greenways and small rural roads. Landscapes vary constantly: Redon marshes, Monts d'Arrée, deep forests, agricultural plateaus and lush river banks.

This route presents the major advantage of being clearly and continuously waymarked in both directions, greatly facilitating navigation even for less experienced cyclists.

The Vélomaritime: exploring the northern coastline

The Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) runs along Brittany's northern coast and offers cyclists absolutely stunning maritime landscapes. This route notably allows discovering the legendary Pink Granite Coast (Côte de Granit Rose), located between Perros-Guirec and Trébeurden in the Côtes-d'Armor.

This unique coastline owes its exceptional colour to the particular mineralogical composition of the granite, resulting from volcanic activities that occurred approximately 300 million years ago. At that time, Brittany formed a genuine mountain massif, sometimes referred to as the "Breton Himalaya," with peaks reaching 5,000 to 6,000 metres.

The itinerary between Roscoff and Paimpol constitutes a particularly appreciated section. It crosses magnificent villages like Perros-Guirec or Plougasnou, offers breathtaking viewpoints over preserved bays and allows discovering the island of Bréhat, nicknamed "the island of flowers."

The Nantes-Brest canal: the family route par excellence

The Nantes-Brest canal by bike represents one of Brittany's most emblematic cycling routes. With 390 kilometres of cycling paths mainly on greenways, this historic waterway crosses the region from end to end.

Considered one of the greatest technical works of the 19th century, the canal counts 238 locks and numerous remarkable engineering structures. The cycling route uses the old towpaths and presents little elevation change, making it particularly suited to families, beginners and leisurely riders.

Classic canal stages :

• Nantes → Blain (58 km)
• Blain → Redon (50 km)
• Redon → Montertelot (50 km)
• Montertelot → Saint-Gérand (50 km)
• Saint-Gérand → Gouarec (50 km)
• Gouarec → Cléden-Poher (50 km)
• Cléden-Poher → Pleyben (49 km)
• Pleyben → Landévennec (45 km)

The route crosses several remarkable sites: the majestic Guerlédan Lake (Brittany's largest lake), Bon Repos Abbey, the medieval fortress of Josselin, as well as numerous small character towns.

To prepare such a self-supported journey, our bikepacking preparation guide provides essential advice.

The Tour of Brittany by bike

For ambitious cyclists wishing to embrace the entire region, the Tour of Brittany by bike constitutes an exceptional adventure. This ambitious itinerary combines several major cycling routes and allows discovering all the landscape and cultural diversity of Brittany.

The route connects the three major European cycling routes: EV4 - Vélomaritime in the north, EV1 - Vélodyssée and EV6 - Rivers Cycle Route in the south. This configuration allows modular itineraries according to individual desires and capabilities.

Cycling highlights of Brittany

The Pink Granite Coast

This exceptional portion of the Breton coastline, located between Perros-Guirec and Trébeurden, owes its name to the spectacular red granite rock formations. It's one of the few places in the world where pink granite emerges in such quantities, creating absolutely unique landscapes.

The cycling approach offers exceptional perspectives over these rocks sculpted by winds and tides, as well as over the numerous secret coves scattered along this preserved coast.

Saint-Malo and the Mont Saint-Michel bay

Saint-Malo, the corsair city, represents an essential cycling stop. Its ramparts, its historic walled centre and its dynamic port offer an exceptional setting for any cycling break.

From Saint-Malo, several cycling routes allow reaching the mythical Mont Saint-Michel whilst crossing exceptional coastal landscapes and authentic villages.

Guerlédan Lake

Located in the heart of Brittany, on the border between the Côtes-d'Armor and Morbihan, Guerlédan Lake represents Brittany's largest lake. This genuine natural gem, surrounded by greenery and forests, constitutes an ideal refreshing stopover at the heart of the Nantes-Brest canal route.

The cycling route bypasses the lake by using a former railway line up to Mûr-de-Bretagne, offering exceptional viewpoints over the shimmering waters.

The Gulf of Morbihan

The Gulf of Morbihan, an inland sea dotted with islands, constitutes another essential Breton cycling stop. Its unique landscapes, picturesque ports and megalithic heritage (Carnac nearby) offer a refreshing and enriching cycling experience.

Brocéliande Forest

A land of Arthurian legends, Brocéliande Forest (Paimpont) offers particularly enchanting cycling routes. Cyclists can discover emblematic sites like the Barenton fountain, Merlin's tomb or the golden tree.

When to plan your cycling holiday in Brittany?

Spring (April-June): the ideal period

Spring probably constitutes the best period for cycling in Brittany. Temperatures generally oscillate between 12 and 18°C, offering pleasant conditions for prolonged effort. Landscapes then don brilliant colours with coastal and interior blossoms.

Tourist attendance remains moderate before the arrival of high summer season, allowing cycling on quiet roads.

Summer (July-August): the tourist season

Breton summer generally remains mild, with temperatures rarely reaching more than 25°C on the coasts. This season offers the longest daylight hours and the most meteorologically stable conditions, despite possible oceanic influence that may bring some cloudy passages.

However, expect significant tourist attendance, particularly on the coasts and the most frequented cycling routes.

Autumn (September-October): a quality alternative

Breton autumn offers very pleasant cycling conditions, with still mild temperatures (15-20°C) and particularly magnificent light that showcases coastal and forest landscapes.

This season also corresponds to Breton autumn gastronomic traditions (oysters, shellfish, new cider), adding a remarkable culinary dimension to the holiday.

To effectively manage efforts on long distances, consult our long-distance cycling nutrition guide.

Winter (November-March): reserved for the most motivated

Breton winter remains relatively mild thanks to oceanic influence, with temperatures rarely below 5°C on the coast. Nevertheless, more frequent precipitation and sometimes sustained winds make this period more demanding for cycling practice.

How to prepare your cycling holiday in Brittany?

Equipment adapted to the Breton climate

The Breton oceanic climate imposes specific clothing preparation. Technical breathable and waterproof clothing constitutes essentials, even in summer, because showers can occur rapidly.

An effective windbreaker also proves essential, notably on coastal sections exposed to dominant westerly winds.

To choose the ideal bike, our touring bike selection guide provides valuable advice.

Adapted physical preparation

Contrary to popular belief, Brittany isn't flat. Bernard Hinault himself declared about the 2008 Tour de France whose first three stages departed from Brittany: "We know Brittany isn't the hardest terrain, but if riders want to make a race of it, they'll find on Breton roads the terrain to have fun."

The successive "bumps" characteristic of Breton relief can generate substantial cumulative elevation on long rides. Serious physical preparation therefore becomes necessary to fully enjoy the most demanding itineraries.

Our expert cycling resources constitute essential references for effectively preparing your Breton holiday.

Logistics: access and transport

Brittany benefits from particularly efficient rail service. Since the High-Speed Line opening in July 2017, Rennes is only 1h30 from Paris, considerably facilitating access for cyclists travelling with their own bike.

Several airports also serve the region, notably Rennes, Brest, Nantes and Quimper, offering alternatives according to the chosen cycling destination.

Brittany with Baroudeur Cycling

Our current French destinations

Although Brittany doesn't yet form part of our official destination portfolio, at Baroudeur Cycling, we accompany passionate cyclists in discovering Europe's most beautiful cycling territories.

Our current French and Mediterranean destinations :

France cycling holidays : Discover our hexagonal programmes, notably in the Esterel massif which offers remarkable contrasting landscapes.

Portugal cycling holidays : Perfect Mediterranean complementarity with the Algarve, the National 2 route and Atlantic coasts.

Gravel cycling holidays : Diversified gravel programmes across Europe's best terrains.

Custom trips to explore Brittany

Our custom cycling trips service allows imagining personalised cycling experiences, including towards destinations like Brittany. If you dream of exploring the Vélodyssée, the Pink Granite Coast or the Nantes-Brest canal, don't hesitate to contact us to discuss accompaniment possibilities.

Personalised coaching

For those wishing to seriously prepare their cycling holiday in Brittany, our cycling coaching programme offers physical preparation specifically adapted to your objectives.

Conclusion: Brittany, an exceptional cycling territory

Brittany undoubtedly represents one of France's most complete and authentic cycling destinations. The unique combination of its spectacular coastline, peaceful canals, legendary cycling heritage and deeply rooted culture creates an absolutely exceptional playground for all cyclists.

Whether you're attracted by long contemplative stages along the Nantes-Brest canal, by the spectacular landscapes of the Pink Granite Coast on the Vélomaritime, or by the 400 kilometres of the Breton section of the Vélodyssée, Brittany will fulfil all your cycling aspirations.

The gastronomic richness of the territory, with its seafood, crêpes, cider and regional specialities, adds a supplementary dimension to the experience. Each stage becomes an opportunity for authentic culinary discoveries in a region where the table remains a way of life.

Ready to live your next cycling adventure in Brittany with Baroudeur Cycling? Don't hesitate to contact us to build together your next cycling project in this exceptional region.

‍