{"id":8196,"date":"2022-08-18T10:46:03","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T08:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=8196"},"modified":"2022-08-18T10:46:34","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T08:46:34","slug":"cycling-in-france-lot-et-garonne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/fietsen-in-frankrijk-lot-et-garonne","title":{"rendered":"Cycling in France: Lot-et-Garonne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many cyclists riding in France<\/a> go on an adventure once they arrive at the Dordogne. This river that flows from eastern to western France and empties into the Gironde near Bordeaux is perhaps France's most famous water after the Seine. Yet confusion often arises there when it comes to cycling in the Dordogne. This is because the river covers a much larger area than just the Dordogne department. I myself was once on a campsite in the town of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, a hamlet in the Corr\u00e8ze department. From there, the river first flows through the Lot before arriving later in the Dordogne itself. Explorer Neal also came to that conclusion. With a lot of preliminary work about the Dorrrrrrdogne (as Ronald Giphart once described it in 'Ik ook van jou'), he came home cold. Cycling in Lot-et-Garonne was his portion, resulting in a no less enjoyable report<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text and photos: Neal Beentjes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycling in Lot-et-Garonne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I get ready for a wonderful holiday with girlfriend and little son in France, I take a closer look. The Dordogne. A stunning area. Komoot is working overtime as I start planning and wildly enthusiastic I mention the collection <\/a>soon 'Dordogne Dreaming'. After making a few routes, which I will eventually cycle, comes the revelation. Viller\u00e9al, a royal village, which has nothing to do with the Villareal football club, lies just south of the 'real' Dordogne. Just my luck. Reluctantly, I change the collection name to the boring 'Lot-et-Garonne'. Pretty weird really, because despite not being the real Dordogne, that doesn't make cycling any less beautiful. Viller\u00e9al is also worth a visit in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus Beau Village de France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who is a little at home in French history and customs knows that the French are very proud (and sometimes chauvinistic) people. There is France, there you have beautiful villages and towns, and for many the world ends after that. Which is convenient, because in that world everyone speaks French and if you don't understand that, well, what are you doing in France anyway? Nonetheless, France has some truly beautiful towns and villages that you really must have been to, so to speak. Every so often, the organisation 'Les plus beaux villages de France' chooses the most beautiful villages and towns in France. So this is the cream of the French crop. The village of St. Paul de Vence in the Provence<\/a> is one such place but also Viller\u00e9al. The beautiful central square with its distinctive market hall and unusual church makes this a tourist attraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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La Douce France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite its proximity to cities like Bergerac, Villeneuve sur Lot and Bordeaux, the Lot-et-Garonne department is relatively quiet. That is not to say that there is nobody there. I will advise against cycling on the (major) D-roads in France. Most French people race like crazy and a safe return to campsite or flat is by no means guaranteed. Fortunately, you have plenty of alternatives. There are plenty of shortcuts to avoid the crowds. Turn into any country road and you'll encounter practically no one. A typical drive in the Lot-et-Garonne is our VVV drive below, east of the village of Viller\u00e9al. Imagine the endless rolling roads in a transitional stage of the Tour de France. The average pro will not turn a blind eye to it, but with my beach body, the climbs are still a bit fierce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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