Ride from Basel to Nevers – EuroVelo 6

The EuroVelo 6 is a 4,500-kilometre (2,800 mi) route that links the Black Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In France, this route starts at Basel-Mulhouse on the Swiss border and meets the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Nevers-Nantes section is very popular as the Loire castles line the way. But the entire route, including from Mulhouse to Nevers, is also worth a visit.

I suggest seven stages of 60 to 90 kilometres (37 - 56 mi). You start from Basel and ride through southern Burgundy with its world-famous wines and Franche-Comté, with a stop in its capital Besançon. If you don’t wish to cross a border, it’s possible to start from Mulhouse, which reduces the 580 kilometres (360 mi) of this Collection by 40 kilometres (25 mi).

The majority of the route follows rivers and canals hence the gradients are so low. Each day, you have around 150 to 500 metres of ascent (492 - 1,650 ft) per day. Cycle paths and roads with minimal traffic alternate with towpaths so the route is suitable for most bikes, aside from some road bikes. Gravel, city and mountain bikes are ideal. This Collection passes through several towns but the majority of the route is in rural areas, away from traffic and close to nature.

More information on accommodation is in each of the stage descriptions. In general, each day ends in a town with several options. However, sometimes you have to plan a small detour to reach a campsite in rural areas. It’ll be easy to find something to eat in towns, but lunch choices can be limited en route, so stock up on food before you set off.

You can ride the route from east to west as in this Collection or from west to east. The overall gradient is similar and the wind varies, so the direction doesn’t change the difficulty. However, I’d recommend riding this route in summer as the weather is nicer and the accommodation and tourist spots are more likely to be open.

To get there, you can take the train to Basel, but bear in mind that TGVs don’t always allow bicycles. You could take the train to Mulhouse, around 25 mi (40 km) from Basel on the way to the first stage. Nevers has direct trains to Paris, Lyon, Dijon and Nantes. You can also continue on the Loire à vélo, one of the most popular cycle routes in France. To get from Nevers to Nantes via the Châteaux of the Loire, follow this Collection: komoot.fr/collection/445