1250 km drawn from Roscoff to Hendaye, snaking in the heart of the most beautiful landscapes of the Atlantic coast and dedicated to lovers of the little queen.
Here is at your feet the Véloroute Atlantique, known as the enchanting Vélodyssée. This gigantic project is carried by three regions and nine departments and offers the largest network of bike paths in France, and one of the ten most beautiful in the world according to the amateurs.
The route, fully signposted, is 80% built on lanes exclusively reserved for bicycles.
The pearl of the course in the heart of the Landes forest
The Landes offer the longest stretch of route with 160 km of track between Biscarosse in the North and Tarnos in the South. Young and old, serious sportsmen or dreamy walkers, you will cross the forest by sliding on a smooth asphalt bike path, with a few short sections of roads open to moderate traffic. To you the heart of the Landes pine forest, with its resin and heather odors that tickle your nostrils! To you the coast and its wild coast, splitting the spray!
Ondres, located between Capbreton and Tarnos, is an exceptional stage on the Vélodyssée. The route of about twenty kilometers offers an excursion in total immersion in the natural environment, with varying degrees of difficulty.
Departing from Ondres, on a cycle path completely in the forest where children can move freely in the shade of pines, you will reach the long beach of Tarnos, about 6 km to the south. If you decide to go back to Capbreton, via Labenne-Plage 4 km away, you can stop at the zoo to discover more than two hundred animals from five continents. Continuing the journey for an additional 10 km, you will then join the small seaside resort of Capbreton which is home to the only fishing port and marina of the Landes.
You may also choose to go down to the beautiful Bayonne, in the neighboring department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques about 10 km from Tarnos. This route presents some difficulties, because it forces to leave the green ways to engage on the roads open to the circulation. It is therefore not advisable for a ride with children.
“Bike Home” points
The France Vélo association attributes this logo to members of the “Accueil vélo” label: accommodation, rental or repair of cycles, tourist offices or tourist sites. They are necessarily located less than 5 km from the bike path. Accustomed to two-wheeled hikers, they will reserve you a warm welcome. You will find useful information or advice, but also services adapted to cyclists: rental, maintenance or repairs, parking lots, drinking water and sanitary facilities, etc.
As always, Green Resort facilitates your experience and proposes to relay your request to its partner 1VELO which offers several models for rent: mountain bike, tandem, classic gear or luxury VTC, seats or trailers to harness for the youngest … The bikes 1VELO white polka dots are everywhere and providers will always be available to provide advice. Maps, presenting the different circuits possible from Ondres, are at your disposal, they classify the courses according to their length and their difficulty and according to the centers of interest which punctuate them.
The adventure continues beyond the Vélodyssée!
The expert advice of the 1Vélo rental point in Ondres will allow you to discover many other circuits, beyond the Vélodyssée, accessible to all levels, with advice of visits, excursions and good plans. A few heart-throbs, including the circuit n ° 7 which leads you to the marsh Orx, a nature reserve where you can see a rich fauna, including many birds. The n ° 8 invites to a long hilly ride in the heart of Seignanx, along the Adour. The n ° 9 finally is ideal for the children, this short circuit will guide you on paths towards the town center of Ondres until the lakes of Turk and Garros.
How to remain insensitive to the charms of the Vélodyssée and all the bike paths of this region with breathtaking landscapes? So get ready to ride in the saddle soon!
Useful links to prepare your stay:
1VELO Ondres : tél : 07 62 56 65 98 – www.1velo.fr
La Vélodyssée : www.lavelodyssee.com
France Vélo, France Vélo Tourisme, the most beautiful bike routes in France:
Ondres, Tarnos and The Seignanx
