Originally Posted by
achiii
Hello,
I have a few days in france coming up that I would like to spend riding and am looking for suggestions. I will have about 5 days free and my bike with me. I would really like to stay in a central place and take day long rides around it (60-80mi). A few years ago I was working near Sarlat and had my bike and was able to do some great long day rides in this manner. Any suggestions for a good village/small city to base rides out of that I can get to by train relatively easily from Paris?
Any suggestions appreciated.
If you like châteaux and wines, take the train to anywhere on the Loire (Orléans being an obvious choice) and go from there. Mostly flat, except in and out of the valley.
For WWII history head north.
Grand cathedrals, go to Reims, Metz. Flat-ish unless to reach the Vosges.
A little longer on the train and you can reach Strasbourg, or stay in a nearby town. Tons of things to see there (climb up into the Vosges, or the Black Forest, ride along the Rhine, etc.).
Or you could go to Oudenaarde (Belgium) and ride all the côtes from the Spring Classics.
France is a big place.