From the Charente to the Bordeaux area
From Angoulême to Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, Eurovélo 3 runs alongside the Flow Vélo , which links Thiviers to the Ile d’Aix.
Châteauneuf-sur-Charente begins the journey through the hillsides of the famous Cognac vineyards. From Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire to Chevanceaux, you cycle along the Galope Chopine and then the Haute-Saintonge greenway as far as Clérac, where the blue lakes created by the old clay quarries invite you to take a few detours.
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De Tours à la Côte Basque par l'Eurovélo3
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The 5 stages of the section « From the Charente to the Bordeaux area »
It’s lovely to stroll through the streets of Angoulême, discover the painted walls of this comic book capital, linger on the terraces of the bars and restaurants, or enjoy the summer events.
We leave the upper town and its ramparts, cycling along the Coulée Verte to the Bassau bridge.
The route is picturesque, following the meandering course of the Charente as closely as possible, mostly along the towpath.
In Saint-Simieux, there is a beautiful view of the Charente river bend and its old eel fisheries.
In Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, , the seaside resort of Le Bain des Dames offers a refreshing break.
The official route follows the D14, the road to Birac. There is heavier traffic and the gradient is steeper than on the route suggested by CycloTransEurope.
The route continues along the Galope Chopine, a superb 21-kilometre greenway built on a former railway line. Hilly and well-shaded, it winds its way through wooded moorland, meadows and vineyards, passing through the pretty villages of Reignac and Baignes-Sainte-Ragonde.
The Haute-Saintonge Greenway, a very pleasant route, largely follows the Ary Valley for around fifteen kilometres, allowing you to cycle in complete peace and quiet from Chevanceaux to Clérac.
Close to the greenway, you can explore the Maison de la Forêt de Haute-Saintonge in Montlieu-la-Garde, as well as the medieval town of Montguyon and the Lake Beauvallon leisure area.
Clérac offers a cultural stop at its museum of traditional crafts and a relaxing stroll along the Promenade de la Lune, which leads to a pleasant picnic area by the pond. The route then continues along quiet country lanes on the edge of the wooded Saintonge region, which is mainly covered in maritime pines.