Inland argi-gravel and Atlantic coastal beauty to la Rochelle

92 km 210 m Hard

Route Description

This gravel route takes you from la Tranche sur Mer to the old port in the city of La Rochelle. The route takes you on a beautiful detour though the national parc du Marais poitevin, where you ride endless kilometers of gravel next to many (very many) and long canals. These canals cut through a historically looking agricultural countryside.

After this countryside first part, the route heads to the coast and takes a turn south. I recycled this part of the route of a previous route I made to Île de Ré. It’s so beautiful to ride the gravel beside the Atlantic coast. Enjoy the sight of traditional fishing cottages WWII remnants while you head to la Rochelle.

In la Rochelle you slowly make your way from the raw industrial harbour to the old and charming port.

Tip: It can be windy and sunny in the Parc du Marais poitevin. You can not really hide from both. So know your wind directions and carry sunblock.
Tip: There’s a nice bakery “la dou’langerie” in Villedoux where you can restock and have some bread and pastries.

Contributor

Vincent Neve

Since buying my first gravel bike in 2019 cycling has never been the same for me. The gravel bike quickly became my favorite bike that pushed my MTB and race bikes one place further back in the pecking order. I love how the gravel bike gives me the drive to explore. To set out for discovery of new routes and gravel roads, both in my backyard around Breda in the Netherlands and when traveling abroad with the family. Since that day in 2020 my time on bike and annual kilometers increased dramatically. Up to a point where I participated in my first ultra endurance events in 2025 where I finished FlatLands 300 and the Bright Midnight.

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