Vendée

Part of France

Cycling in the Vendée

The Vendée

The Vendée might not be the first thing you think of when planning a cycling holiday in France. But anyone who thinks that beautiful cycling routes can only be found in the Alps or the Pyrenees is clearly never been on a bike along the Atlantic coast. The region is located in the west of France, between Nantes and La Rochelle, and offers a surprising mix of coastal paths, forests, open plains, and rolling inland. What’s more, the area has very good cycling trails with a length of 1800 kilometers, of which 1160 km are along the French coast. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Vendée has been able to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France several times. This is France as you would hope it to be: peaceful, cyclist-friendly, and full of charming villages and vast landscapes.

Why you want to cycle in the Vendée

Cycling in the Vendée is ideal for those who enjoy making progress on quiet roads, combined with occasional short climbs or to cool off in the sea breeze. The Vendée region has been investing in cycling for years. They were themselves a sponsor of a cycling team for a while. As a result, the road network is perfectly maintained and there are hundreds of kilometers of well-signposted cycling routes, including the famous Vélodyssée – a long-distance cycling route along the Atlantic coast. But there are also plenty of challenging and varied courses for the sporty race cyclist.

Here you don’t ride mountain passes at an altitude of 2,000 meters, but rather longer rides where you glide smoothly through the rolling landscape. That makes it perfect for training weeks or an active holiday. In addition, many roads are car-free and the local population is accustomed to cyclists. Add to that the delicious food, the relaxed atmosphere, and the salty air of the ocean, and you’ll understand why more and more cyclists are heading towards this region.

Climbs? Yes!

The Vendée is not known for its mountains, but there are plenty of climbs to tone your calves. Think of the Côte de Pouzauges, the slope to the Mont des Alouettes, or the climb to Mervent, with views of the namesake reservoir. Climbs of 1 to 2 kilometers with percentages of 6 to 10% are no exception here – perfect for building rhythm or training your punch.

Popular cycling destinations in the Vendée

The most beautiful peninsula in France?

Island of Nourmoitier

France has a number of islands and some peninsulas. When it comes to peninsulas, Île de Noirmoutier is a very well-known one. It is not very large, but it is very well-known, even if only because of the Passage du Gois, which caused a lot of controversy in the 1999 Tour de France. The island of Noirmoutier in France is a small paradise by the sea for lovers of the sea and nature thanks to its exceptional microclimate. The Passage du Gois, which we mentioned earlier, is a road that is submerged during high tide but passable by low tide. The island is covered by marshes and salt pans for a third of its area. Along the coastline you find dunes like those in the Netherlands where you find the typical coniferous trees.

Cycling in the Marais Poitevin: discover the green heart of the Vendée

The Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park, in the south of the Vendée, is one of the most extraordinary natural areas in France. This unique landscape, once completely flooded, has been transformed over the centuries by human efforts into a maze of waterways, pastures, and marshy forests. The area is not without reason called the Green Venice. Thanks to its rich biodiversity and wonderful peaceful surroundings, the Marais Poitevin is a paradise for cycling enthusiasts who enjoy getting out into nature. Perfect for slow tourism.

If you want to go cycling in the Vendée, you should definitely go here: you ride along quiet bridleways along the canals, through picturesque villages and over leafy country roads. The park is officially recognized as a Parc Naturel Régional and has prestigious titles such as “Grand Site de France” and “European Destination of Excellence”. So it is therefore in the company of places like Puy de Dome, which is also a Grand Site de France. This makes it not only a gem for nature lovers, but also one of the best places to cycle in the Marais Poitevin.

Although you can’t cycle here, a visit to Puy de Fou is part of your (cycling) holiday in the Vendée. The amusement park is beautiful, but the surroundings around it are perhaps even more beautiful. The scenery around Puy du Fou is a delicate interplay of sunken paths, rolling hills, forests, and lakes — a natural backdrop that lies like a theater behind the villages. These mysterious ‘backdrops’ create intimate vistas and a special atmosphere that makes the region so enchanting. Along winding paths and beautiful so-called watercourses lie stunning lakes, where you can also go fishing for a while. If that appeals to you. You can also just sit down and enjoy nature. For those looking for both peace and mystery in the nature around Puy du Fou, you’ll find the charm of this scenery in every season.

1. Coast of the Atlantic coast – 90 km

From Les Sables-d’Olonne, you can make a beautiful loop along the Atlantic coast. You follow the road towards Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie and then drive back inland via Brem-sur-Mer. Along the way you pass salt pans, small fishing ports and surf beaches. The wind can be treacherous here, but the asphalt is tight and the views of the sea are worth every pedal stroke.

2nd Les Herbiers – Mont des Alouettes – 60 km

The interior of the Vendée is hilly, with some steep climbs here and there. From Les Herbiers, you drive along quiet roads to the Mont des Alouettes, with its old windmills at the top. Not long, but certainly stylish. This route is perfect for those who want to climb without immediately hitting 1,000 meters of elevation gain.

3. La Roche-sur-Yon – bocage route – 95 km

La Roche-sur-Yon is the capital of the Vendée and a great base from which to explore the area. From here you can take a loop through the so-called bocage landscape: a mix of fields, hedges and forests. The roads are narrow, winding and perfect for those who enjoy variety. Along the way you pass through villages where time seems to stand still.

4. Southern loop around Fontenay-le-Comte – 120 km

A little further south lies a beautiful route that starts and ends in Fontenay-le-Comte. This route passes through the Marais Poitevin – a marshy natural area that is also called the ‘Green Venice’. Peace and quiet, nature and endless straight stretches: ideal for those who want to make long journeys.

5. Tour de Vendée route – 145 km

For the true enthusiasts, there is the route that largely follows the course of the one-day professional race Tour de Vendée. This race, part of the Coupe de France, allows you to discover the interior of the region with plenty of elevation gain, short punchy climbs and technical descents.

Our race bike routes in the Vendée

Thirteen routes we drove ourselves: from the salt pans of Noirmoutier and the Marais Poitevin to the hills around Mont des Alouettes. Plus the Vendée Vélo Tour, a tour through the entire department.

Long-distance routes and award-winning cycling regions

• Vendée Vélo Tour (700 km, round trip from Les Sables-d’Olonne).
• La Vélodyssée (1300 km, Roscoff – Hendaye), along the entire coast of the Vendée.
• Velocéan (148 km, Pénestin – Saint-Nazaire).

Grand’R (La Roche-sur-Yon) was awarded the title of Destination France à Vélo in 2026.

When are you leaving?

How do you get there?

• Flying: Fly to Nantes. Bring your own bike; then book a place for your bike box in time.
• By train: Easy to get to. Convenient stations: La Roche-sur-Yon · Les Sables-d'Olonne.
• By car: From Utrecht you are there in about 9 hours. Vendée.