Along water and time – France’s Lot Valley Véloroute

What could be more exhilarating or adventurous than riding along a river from its mouth to its source?

The River Lot is not quite comparable to the Amazon or St. Lawrence, but it’s marvellous nonetheless. The adventure I propose here has the added benefit of being suitable for all levels of explorers.

This six-stage Collection covers 467 kilometres (290 mi), following the Véloroute along the Lot from Aiguillon to Mende. You discover many fantastic places, as you ride from the confluence of the Lot and the Garonne to the gateway of the Cevennes.

You’ll come across plenty of surprises along the way. The Lot conceals many treasures, despite being modest in length. You’ll come across beautiful villages, such as Saint-Cirq Lapopie, Cajarc, Montbrun, Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Espalion, Estaing and Sainte-Eulalie d'Olt. These charming settlements are often perched on the hills or built along the river bends. They’ll make you feel as though time has stopped.

The cities here are just as interesting. The famous Valentré Bridge reflected in the waters of the Lot in Cahors is an unforgettable sight. . The three gigantic towers of this 14th-century bridge are very impressive.

The nature along this route is fantastic too. You’ll find many places to swim in the clear waters of the Lot River. This adventure gives you the luxury of being able to swim almost any time.

The region is also known for its food and wine. You’ll find plenty of accommodation too, ranging from luxury hotels to camp sites.

You can do these stages from spring until autumn, but avoid cycling them in winter. Many of the interesting places are closed during the off-season and it would be a shame to miss them.

The GPX route of the V86 (another name given to this Véloroute) starts from the SNCF station of Aiguillon and ends at the one in Mende. Both are served by TER trains that accept unmounted bicycles without the need for reservations. It seems to me that this is the best way to get there and back.

As for the choice of bikes, a touring bike with panniers or a gravel bike in bikepacking mode will do the trick.

Happy exploring!