J. Damase - CRT Centre-Val de Loire

In and around Gien

Just 1 hour south of Paris, the cycling loops around Gien will take you past stunning scenery and a rich heritage on both sides of the Loire. The famous bridge-canal and marina at Briare are a lovely place to wander on a sunny day. On the north bank, La Puisaye is brimming with farmhouses, smallholdings and properties, stately houses and châteaux nestling in flat, open farmland dotted with small woods and ponds. On the south bank, the Loire banks are home to delightful little towns packed to bursting with history. In Haut-Berry, little country lanes criss-cross sweeping meadows amidst rolling scenery. Stop off at Le Pays Fort for breathtaking views over the Sancerre hillsides.