700km of cycle route following waterways from Luxembourg to Lyon.
A journey for cyclists who truly appreciate discoveries, delicious treats and a delightful pace of life, together with uplifting encounters.
La Voie Bleue – Moselle-Saône à Vélo is a French national cycle route stretching from the town of Apach, on the French border with Luxembourg, down to Lyon. Crossing France north to south, this route forms a major link between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The way first meanders gently beside the Moselle, then follows the Canal des Vosges before running beside the Saône to Lyon, the great city at the confluence of Saône and Rhône. From Lyon, ViaRhôna (also known as EuroVelo 17) leads you right down to the Mediterranean.
Thanks to just small shifts in altitude and cycle paths well laid out along the majority of the way, La Voie Bleue is an ideal route for families, or for those embarking on their first cycling journey. For more seasoned cyclists, there’s no doubt that this 700km route, plus the many interconnections with further cycle routes it offers, can provide you with an unforgettable trip.
A bike route accessible to all
Thanks to just small shifts in altitude and cycle paths well laid out along the majority of the way, La Voie Bleue is an ideal route for families, or for those embarking on their first cycling journey. For more seasoned cyclists, there’s no doubt that this 700km route, plus the many interconnections with further cycle routes it offers, can provide you with an unforgettable trip.
Tranquillity and escapism along the waterways
What about a siesta in the shade of poplars towering up beside the Moselle? Or then observing a heron flying over the Saône? Might an aperitif at a pretty river port appeal? Or what about chatting with an angler about the day’s fishing?
The whole of this cycle route sticks to waterways, from the Moselle Valley to both Petite and Grande Saône, via the Canal des Vosges, so get back to the source of the good things in life along La Voie Bleue!
A « picture-postcard » cycle route
La Voie Bleue leads you into the heart of bucolic landscapes. Forests, hedge-divided fields and vineyards follow in quick succession, really immersing you in nature. You cross character-filled villages providing refreshing stops and friendly encounters.
What will you bring back from this cycling trip? Many memories, for starters!
Culture & discoveries
Those of you keen on city breaks or passionate about heritage will find your fill.
Crossing the towns of Metz, Nancy, Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon and Lyon, discover exceptional historic and cultural sites. From highlights listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Lyon’s historic quarters, Nancy’s Place Stanislas, Metz, recognized as a ‘creative city’…) to hidden little treasures, there’s plenty to suit everyone’s tastes.
Nor should we forget the remarkable man-made structures dotted along the way: canals, locks, towpaths, swing bridges, canal-bridges… there are so many technical surprises to fill you with wonder.
A gourmet journey
Who says that travelling by bike means living exclusively off packet soup?
All along the route, savour typical local specialities and regional produce. To start with, try a Bresse chicken in a cream sauce in the counties of Saône-et-Loire or Ain, followed by a delicious cancoillotte (a unique, runny cheese) with shallots in Haute-Saône, then, for dessert, arriving in Lyon, tuck in to a tasty tarte aux pralines (made with crunchy sugared almonds)! Along the way, enjoy bonbons des Vosges (hand-crafted sweets) and mirabelles de Lorraine (sweet little yellow plums).
Wines & vineyards
From the French Moselle wine-producing areas to those of Beaujolais, via the Burgundian ones of the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais, La Voie Bleue takes you alongside iconic vineyards. Make the most of this good fortune to taste authentic wines that reflect the areas where they’re made. Stop at wineries, country inns, wine bars or village café terraces to sample them.
An interconnected route
La Voie Bleue is linked to other cycle routes at different stages along the way. So you can consider various combinations, for example joining La Voie Bleue at different points, or leaving La Voie Bleue for further cycle routes. Going north to south you can link with: EuroVelo 5 (also known as the Via Romea Francigena), EuroVelo 6 (leading to La Loire à Vélo), and EuroVelo 17 - ViaRhôna.