The Véloscénie: Paris to Mont Saint-Michel by Bike

Day 1: Arrival in Paris
You will arrive in Paris and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city.

Day 2: Paris – Versailles (36 km)
Your first ride begins gently through Paris itself. You will pass the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and other landmarks before cycling along quiet roads in the valley of La Bièvre. The ride ends at the royal city of Versailles, where the palace and its gardens need no introduction.

Day 3: Versailles – Hanches (69 km)
You will leave Versailles and cycle along the picturesque Valley of the Chevreuse. Châteaux, museums, washhouses, and small villages line the route. In the Regional Natural Park, farms offer local produce to sample. You will then enter the Domaine de Rambouillet with its famous château — once a residence of the Kings of France — before arriving in Epernon.

Day 4: Epernon – Illiers-Combray (66 km)
The ride takes you through charming villages on quiet roads. Before reaching Chartres, you will pass the magnificent Château de Maintenon, built for the last wife of Louis XIV, with its recently restored à la française gardens. Chartres Cathedral — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and masterpiece of Gothic art with nine sculpted gates and 2,600 square metres of stained glass — is the highlight of the day. You will continue to Illiers-Combray, the countryside that inspired Proust's "In Search of Lost Time".

Day 5: Illiers-Combray – Condeau (56 km)
The route enters the National Park of Perche, a region of authentic green landscapes renowned for its Percheron horses. You may visit a breeding centre and take a carriage ride. The area is also famous for its apples and cider — local producers will be happy to offer a tasting along the way.

Day 6: Condeau – Alençon (69 km)
You will ride gently through the National Park of Normandie Maine, partly along cycle paths and partly through varied landscapes. The day ends in Alençon, a charming town famous for its needle lacemaking — a technique recognised by UNESCO.

Day 7: Alençon – Bagnoles-de-l'Orne (54 km)
Today the scenery becomes a little more challenging but the views are breathtaking. Along the route, the small Château de Carrouges and its gardens make a fine picnic stop. The day ends in Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, a spa town celebrated for its Belle Époque architecture and thermal baths.

Day 8: Bagnoles-de-l'Orne – Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (61 km)
You will ride through fascinating landscapes and forests to Domfront, a town with a historic centre perched above the valley. Most of the day follows dedicated cycle routes through quiet Norman countryside to Saint-Hilaire, a small but lively town.

Day 9: Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët – Mont Saint-Michel (61 km)
The final riding day brings you to one of the most iconic sights in France. Mont Saint-Michel rises majestically from its vast bay, crowned by a Gothic abbey. The bay is subject to some of Europe's largest tidal variations — at high tide the island is surrounded by water, and as the waters recede a vast network of channels is revealed. The sight is stunning and unforgettable.

Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, a transfer takes you to the train station in Saint-Malo. A return shuttle to Chartres, Versailles or Paris is available on request.