Boucle de La Loire à Vélo d’Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire à Loireauxence

Set off on a cycling tour of the banks of the Loire with the Loire à Vélo loop, linking Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire, Montrelais, Loireauxence and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil.

Setting off from Loireauxence (Varades), from the village of La Meilleraie – a former fishing village – take a look at the abbey church of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil.
Then head towards Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire. You can stop off at La Guinch’ette, a family-run open-air café on the banks of the Loire in Montrelais, open from April to October. You can also pop into the MAT, Montrelais’ contemporary art centre, if there’s an exhibition on.
Continue along the path to reach Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire. Take the time to admire its bridge, slipways and quays, which still bear witness to the town’s once-thriving port activity. This ‘Petite Cité de Caractère’ (Small Town of Character), currently awaiting official recognition, charms passing visitors.
Cross the bridge to reach Mesnil-en-Vallée, where you have two options: follow the embankment along the Loire or take the Thau valley route.
Then carry on to Saint-Florent-le-Vieil to complete the loop and discover this ‘Petite Cité de Caractère’, its abbey church, its panoramic view of the Loire and its narrow streets.

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