Great crossing of southern Brittany

QUIMPER, LOCRONAN LOOP 65km 760m

This hilly loop takes you from the edges of the Odet to cross the Prieuré mountain for a sumptuous view of the Douarnenez Bay. Below, one of the most beautiful villages in France, classified as a small town of character, Locronan. Admire this medieval village built in granite from the Monts d’Arrée which still seems to belong to another time. Back to Quimper, City of Art and History, to take advantage of the cobbled streets lined with beautiful half-timbered houses and the many crêperies grouped around the Place au Beurre (Butter Square), you couldn’t make it up!

From QUIMPER to PLOBANNALEC-LESCONIL, PAR LA POINTE DU RAZ 126km 899m

From the city of Quimper, you reach the world’s end! Symbolized here by the impressive Pointe du Raz, the western end of France offers an exceptional geological and natural spectacle. Your route then follows what is called here The Solar Wind Route. A cycling route that mainly borders along the ocean to Penmarc’h and its lighthouse. You are expected at 4 p.m. at Guilvinnec to warmly welcome fishermen. Daily, they return to the harbor for their afternoon snack, offering a dance of boats and fairly unique colored trawlers. A few more kilometers and it is on another port, in Lesconil that your day getaway ends.

• For a few more km 149km 969m

  A detour to the charming sardine port of Douarnenez and its boat museum starts this extended stage.

From PLOBANNALEC-LESCONIL to PONT-AVEN 110km 680m

You cross the beautiful city of Pont-L’Abbé, classified among the small cities of character. Then you reach Bénodet, which has known how to highlight its marvelous location opposite the Glénan archipelago. It is here that one of the prettiest rivers in France, the Odet, meets the open sea. You ride to Concarneau, an old fortified town in Brittany. The Walled Town, fortified between the fishing and pleasure ports, is an exceptional historic site. You extend your journey along the ocean to the Aven estuary. You then have to go up the river to reach the first bridge and switch to the other riverside. It’s a done deal in Pont-Aven. The city of painters welcomes you for the night.

From PONT-AVEN to CARNAC 117km 544m

From CARNAC to LA ROCHE-BERNARD, VIA LA PRESQU'ILE DE RHUYS 95km 404m

A first stage of 15km takes you to the port of Locmariaquer. You embark at 9:20 am with your bikes for a 25-minute sea crossing to reach the southern shores of the Gulf of Morbihan.

It is therefore on the Rhuys peninsula that your second stage begins which then offers you small roads between land and sea allowing you to enjoy beautiful views of the inland sea of the Gulf.

You reach the small character town of Roche Bernard which proudly overlooks the Vilaine and its deep valley.

• For a few more km 119km 649m

  You ride away from the Gulf of Morbihan and take advantage of the country and hilly roads of the hinterland. You reach one of the most beautiful villages in France and preferred by the French: Rochefort-en-Terre. This long drawn-out granite village with beautiful half-timbered houses is a jewel in the middle of the woods and Breton moors. After a few purchases and/or treats, back to the saddle to face the last hilly kilometers along the Vilaine. You descend it to La Roche Bernard.

From LA ROCHE-BERNARD to LE CROISIC 100km 365m

Close to the ocean, you ride from port to port. Water surrounds you everywhere, rivers, sea, marshes of the Brière Regional Natural Park, salt evaporation ponds of the Guérandaise peninsula. Unique landscapes, flat and picturesque.

Piriac-sur-Mer offers you a pleasant stop for lunch. This port is classified as a Small City of Character, like La Roche Bernard left this morning, like Le Croisic, your point of arrival for the day. This label rewards villages that have managed to preserve and maintain a rich historic built heritage.

Guérande, City of Art and History, has one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in France. The city proudly dominates its white gold marshes: the salt evaporation ponds. Salt from Guérande, recognized throughout the world, is harvested by the salt workers you come across during your cycling trip. Admire their work in planning and harvesting this space. The marshes also offer birds a suitable place to live.

By the salt marshes you quickly reach Batz sur Mer where we advise you to climb to the top of the Saint-Guénolé Tower. The view of the entire peninsula is unique and fascinating. You pass the Barrière isthmus to reach the charming port of Le Croisic. A small town of character, Le Croisic lives to the rhythm of fishermen and the tides. The colorful trawlers are positioned all around the big fish markets, the modern on one side, and more interesting, the old one, transformed into an exhibition hall.

LE CROISIC, LA COTE D'AMOUR LOOP 65km 175m

This cycling loop on the Guérande peninsula allows you to discover the coast of the Côte d’Amour. Your itinerary guides you all along the wild coast, dotted with cliffs and small coves that invite you for a swim. A beautiful cycle path allows you to take advantage of this beautiful coastal road. The ride takes you to the port of Pouliguen and along the longest bay in Europe, La Baule.

Small roads allow you to make an excursion in the Brière Regional Nature Park. The return to Le Croisic requires you, not without joy, to cross the salt evaporation ponds of Guérande.

• For a few more km 81km 237m

  On this long version, you go up in the natural park of Brière to discover the village of Kerhinet.