France has well understood the potential of bicycle touring and has been engaged for years in the realization of cycling routes, in cities and in greenways across the country.
The vastness of the French nation allows cyclists to choose their favorite scenery for pedaling: the rugged alpine mountains or the Pyrenees, the plains at the Belgian border, the Loire Valley or the Moselle, the art cities.
The typical “greenways” of France (voies vertes) are true paved paths reserved for bicycles and pedestrians. Usually they are made along the banks of rivers, lakes or artificial canals or on the traces of disused railways. So they develop mostly flat and are also suitable for less experienced cyclists or travelers with children. There are now about 40 in the country, totaling 2,600 km in France.
One of the most striking green streets is the Veloroute des deux-mers, about 500 km long, connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. Also popular is the Avenue Verte which is part of the Eurovelo 1.
There are also other itineraries that wind up along suburban roads almost totally free of traffic. These trails are mostly small villages in the French countryside, where there are tourist facilities and refreshments. One of the most famous itineraries of this type is the Véloscenie.
In large cities, cycling routes are not developed as in the Netherlands or Denmark, so more attention has to be paid, but several interventions are programming to improve this.
Services dedicated to cyclists are also slowing down, for example, the emergence of bike hotels and the rise of specialized workshops. In the towns touched by the main itineraries it is possible to rent a bike, sometimes even at the stations.
The billboard indicating cycling routes is generally colored white and green and easily recognizable. In France the cycling helmet is not mandatory, but the front and rear lights are.
The best time to visit the country by bike is from April to October, but it is better to avoid the central weeks of July and August due to the warmth and the far higher prices.