A 5 km longer route with a smoother surface which, despite a few steep climbs, offers stunning views of the surrounding hills.

At Le Nizan Gare, there are two routes available:

• The official route of the Scandibérique :  it heads towards Langon and takes a detour through the Pays d’Albret. 
• The CycloTransEurope route : taking a more direct route, it heads towards Bazas and then due south.

You cycle along a lovely greenway through pine trees, surrounded by the scent of pine resin, heather and the Gironde countryside.

Be sure to visit the Roquetaillade site, 3 km from the course – there are a few hills, but it’s well worth the detour! The medieval castle and the newer castle, the chapel and the grounds.

In the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, the Hostens nature reserve offers swimming, water sports and nature walks to explore the rich ecology of its ponds, wet heathlands, peat bogs and oak forests… The pine forest, weakened by fires, borders this beautiful cycle path which runs towards Saint-Symphorien via Le Tuzan.

From Hostens, you can reach the Arcachon Bay by taking the cycle path towards Mios.

Where to stop for a break? Swimming at the Fontet nautical base or have a picnic on the Esplanade du Tertre in Meilhan-sur-Garonne, where the view is breathtaking. However, the climb is steep, so it’s best to park your bike at the harbour master’s office and take the stairs.

The village of Couthures-sur-Garonne, which faces flooding from the Garonne, and the town of Marmande, renowned for its market halls and the remarkable gardens of its cloister, are well worth a detour from the Canal.

La Brède is the birthplace of the famous philosopher and winegrower Montesquieu, author of ‘The Spirit of Laws’; his Renaissance-style fortified château is surrounded by wide moats and a beautiful English-style park.

A tour around La Brède is possible to discover wine châteaux producing organic wine, a practice that is still relatively undeveloped in the Bordeaux appellations.

This section offers a transition between the famous vineyards of Graves and the wooded areas of the Landes de Gascogne, which can be reached via the beautiful departmental cycle path that starts at the old railway station. Head south through deciduous clearings that quickly give way to pine forests.

Bourriot-Bergonce is a village with a distinctive atmosphere, characterised by a cluster of houses set amidst an open clearing, typical of the Landes region’s airiaux.
A few kilometres to the south-west, the 13th-century chapel of Lugaut is well worth a visit, just as it is for pilgrims on the Way of St James. Please note : the section of the old unpaved railway line can only be used by mountain bikes.
Taking the direct route, you reach Saint-Gor, where you turn off towards Roquefort, a small town.

The route is full of tourist attractions: paddle down the Ciron in Villandraut, admire the collegiate church in Uzeste or take a detour through the vineyards of Sauternes.

In Bazas, there is a link to the Tour de Gironde cycle route, which leads to the Canal de la Garonne and then on to La Réole. Click on “link lanes”.

This stage takes you to the Garonne side canal at Castillon-de-Castets. The route initially follows small roads lined with meadows, woods, fields and market gardens. Between Cazats and Savignac, there is slightly more traffic, but then you reach the peaceful, shaded towpath.

Near the trail, why not explore the Cistercian Abbey of Sainte-Marie du Rivet, the Pont d’Or bridge in Pondaurat and the ancient medieval streets of La Réole?

Perched above the Estampon valley, Roquefort is a former castelnau, a powerful 14th-century stronghold built around Pénecadet Castle.

Leaving the wooded area via Sarbazan, you enter the region of the bastides of Armagnac, a famous wine-growing area that straddles the border with the neighbouring department of Gers.

In the Douze Valley, the Templar Tower marks the entrance to Saint-Justin, a fortified town dating from 1280, built around its central square. Beneath the arcades of the charming Place des Tilleuls, it is lovely to enjoy the shade for a break where time seems to stand still. In this peaceful atmosphere, a few kilometres away lies Labastide-d’Armagnac.