Читать книгу The Loire Cycle Route. From the source in the Massif Central to the Atlantic coast онлайн

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By road

If you’re lucky enough to have someone prepared to drive you to the start, Gerbier de Jonc is on the D378 close to its junction with D116 and D237 in the Ardèche département of France (44˚50’29”N, 04˚13’08”E; 31T 596317E, 4966063N). With your own vehicle the most convenient place to leave it is Tours, from where trains can be used to reach Valence or Langogne on the outward journey, and which can be reached by train from St Nazaire on the return. Tours is about 525km from Calais.

European Bike Express operates a coach service with dedicated cycle trailer from Northern England, picking up en route across England to the Mediterranean, with a drop-off point at Valence. Details and booking through www.bike-express.co.uk

Intermediate access

There are international airports at St Étienne (Stage 5), Tours (Stage 18) and Nantes (Stage 24). After St Étienne much of the route is closely followed by railway lines; stations en route are listed in the text. From mid June to mid September SNCF run Interloire cycle trains daily between Orléans and Le Croisic (west of St Nazaire). These have enhanced capacity for cycles, at no extra charge, and call at Blois, St Pierre-des-Corps (for Tours), Saumur, Angers, Ancenis, Nantes and St Nazaire. Find details at www.loire-a-velo.fr