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Seven bicycle routes from central Paris into the countryside, mainly free of traffic,
amply photographed, and with precise directions.
For a good day's tour, the two most enjoyable
are:
Route #2, returning by Route #1 (about
75 kilometers - 45 miles).
Route #4, returning by train (about 60 kilometers - 48 miles).
Use Routes 1, 4, 5, 6 or 7
for pleasure and also to begin a long distance cycling vacation.
Route
#1 |
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How to Bicycle Northeast from Paris towards
Meaux or Chantilly along the Canal de l'Ourcq.
Calm, pleasant, flat, canal-side route
without traffic,
15 miles (25 kilometers) one-way, return possible by train.
This is the best route to begin a long
distance trip to the northeast or east. |
Route
#2 |
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How to Bicycle East from Paris, along the
Marne River, with a return possible by Route #1 or by Route #3.
Beautiful route with flowers and woods,
then riverside, flat and without traffic, ending at large lake,
18 miles (30 kilometers) one-way.
A loop continuation with one big hill leads to the return by Route
#1, about 45 miles (75 kilometers) in total. |
Route
#3 |
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How to Bicycle Southeast from Paris
The Marne River Meander circuit.
Calm, pleasant, nearly flat, loop route
in the Paris suburbs along the lower Marne, 24 miles (39 kilometers)
in total.
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Route
#4 |
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How to Bicycle South from Paris, along the
Seine River, to Barbizon and Fontainbleau.
Complex, varied route often along
the Seine through industrial areas, residential cityscapes,
suburbs, exurbs, villages, forests, and farmland. Most of the route
is on bike paths or quiet lanes, but 2 miles (4 kilometers) is on
roads with light to moderate traffic. Total one-way ride is 45 -
48 miles (75 to 80 kilometers), with a return possible by train.
Though mostly flat, there are two big hills.
This is the best route to begin a long
distance trip to the southeast or south.
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Route
#5 |
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How to Bicycle Southwest from Paris in parkland,
with return loops, or to head towards the Loire château
Amusing, pretty, mainly traffic-free,
rolling, slow ramble on bike paths and in parkland, along and over
the Atlantic TGV tracks. Several extensions and return loops are
possible, for rides totaling 12, 16, 19, or 30 miles (20, 26, 32
and 49 kilometers).
This may be the best route to begin a long
distance trip to the southwest--Rambouillet, Chartres, Tours & Orleans..
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Route
#6 |
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How to Bicycle West from Paris to Versailles
and beyond
In 10 miles (16 kilometers), ride through
woods, parkland, and some quiet suburban streets from the edge of
Paris to the Château of Versailles and beyond. There is one short, steep
hill and one long, not very steep hill.
This is the best route to begin a long
distance trip to the west or northwest, including Giverny, Rouen and La Havre. It is arguably better than Route 5 to reach the southwest--Rambouillet, Chartres, Tours & Orleans. |
Route
#7 |
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How to Bicycle Northwest from Paris to Auvers-sur-Oise
A rapid, easy, safe 31 kilometer route to the home of Van Gogh and Cezanne, often on bicycle paths or in bicycle lanes, and then on a highway with only light traffic. Mostly flat. Some interesting or beautiful sights on the way.
This is the best bike route to reach Beauvais, and Dieppe on the English Channel, with a continuation on to London. Alternative routes in this direction are discussed, including the official Paris-London route. |
Airports |
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How to transport a bicycle to or from a Paris airport |
C D Gaulle |
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Low traffic and bike path route form Charles De Gaulle Airport to Paris. |
Orly Airport |
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Low traffic and bike path route from Orly Airport to Paris . |
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Sister Sites: EuropeBicycleTouring.com—Information on choosing and self-organizing a great European Bicycle Tour. My selection of best European cycle tours. Discussion of the most important issues of European cycle touring, such as budget, whether to take a commercial tour or a self-guided tour, best bicycles for tours, renting versus bring your bicycle, security, and so on.
Planning and directions for riding the Austrian Danube to Vienna, Dordogne Valley, Loire Valley Chateaux, the Atlantic to the Black Sea, North Sea Route from France to Holland, Alentejo province Portugal, Alsace Wine Route, Ijsselmeer, Netherlands, Austria-Bavaria, Bodensee (Constance) Circuit, French Riviera, Provence, Southern Tuscany and Umbria, and the Saint James Pilgrimage.
Grfive.com—for complete information on hiking the GR5 long distance trail and its variations across the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Meditteranean, passing Mt. Blanc, the Vanoise Park, and the Mercantour in four or five weeks.
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