Arriving from Normandy in the north, and after crossing the Mayenne department along the river of the same name, your first contact with Maine-et-Loire will be at La Jaille-Yvon. If you still have some energy left, we recommend stopping off at the leisure centre, which offers tree climbing, canoeing, archery and paddle boarding.
On this section, the French cycle route is 100% safe, as it follows the river via the tow-path. Numerous tourist sites are just a few pedal strokes away along the V43 (the technical name of the cycle route).
There are, of course, many manor houses and private châteaux to admire along the way. Open to the public, we strongly recommend a visit to the Château du Plessis-Macé and its inner courtyard. And since you’re by the river, you won’t want to miss the many lock-houses, such as the one at Montreuil-Belfroy or at Roussière dam.
If, after warming up your calves, you’d like to tantalise your taste buds, the Anjou region is full of good restaurants and wine estates to visit. There are also two major liqueur producers in Anjou, the famous Cointreau distillery and the Giffard distillery (inventor of the no less famous Menthe-Pastille). Finally, if you like theme parks, the Vélo Francette route takes you directly to Terra Botanica, a leisure park dedicated to the world of plants.