Touring - France tour: looking for route suggestions

I'm in early stages of investigating a tour in the summer (possibly as early as late June, early July). My plans are flexible, I'd like to do 14-21 days, flying in and out. I'll be loaded touring, camping.

I've done Loire valley a couple of times now, really enjoyed it but need to try somewhere new. I'd like to find:

- somewhere accessible to an international airport,
- with nice scenery,
- plenty of campsites,
- relatively flat,
- cycle-friendly roads/traffic.

I'm currently looking at Canal du Midi, one possible route is Sete up to Bordeaux (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Canal_du_Midi_map-fr.svg/800px-Canal_du_Midi_map-fr.svg.png) (is the 2nd canal as good as the first section?)

I have been and will continue to read other threads here about folks routes, but I don't want to hijack their threads. My plans are completely open, so all suggestions welcome.

Finally, I'll probably be heading alone (I've done solo tours before), but I don't have any problem if anyone wants a touring partner for a week or 2.

Cheers,
Alastair.

I spent 26 days in May, 2008 riding from Paris to Avignon. It was a great trip and you will have a wonderful time riding in France.

I wrote down the steps I went through in planning my trip to France that you might find useful: http://www.biketouringtips.com/showTipComments.php?tipID=504 . Much of it is particular to me and the trip I was planning but it may give you some ideas and it contains some useful links.

I have created a journal of my ride (http://www.biketouringtips.com/showJournalPages.php?jid=17) that might also be of interest to you.

In addition, this page contains 66 links to information about bike touring in France (http://www.biketouringtips.com/searchTips.html?country=France&state=&place=&id=&subtopic=). Obviously, not all of them will be useful to you but some of them will be.

If you don't already speak French, take the time to learn enough to ask someone for road directions and understand the answer.

I'd reconsider your requirement for flat routes. For truly stunning scenery, I'd recommend that you ride along the Dordogne, Lot, and Tarn rivers as part of your trip. In truth, it would be hard to find a really bad route in France.

Bon Chance.

Ray

did most of the rides in the lonely planet cycling france book in 2004. they are pretty good. lots of what you want in there. if you mostly stay on departmental routes, you will likely enjoy wherever you go. france is awesome. someone on crazyguy has an article with a lot of helpful information, http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/CyclingInFrance

did most of the rides in the lonely planet cycling france book in 2004. they are pretty good. lots of what you want in there. if you mostly stay on departmental routes, you will likely enjoy wherever you go. france is awesome. someone on crazyguy has an article with a lot of helpful information, http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/CyclingInFrance

I used the LP Cycling France book in 2001, it was an excellent resource. Too bad it's out of print, but maybe the OP could find a used copy somewhere.