Discover the World Heritage site by bike
On the initiative of the regional authorities of Centre and Pays de la Loire and of partner local authorities, a route named “Loire à vélo” (the Loire by bike) will link the Atlantic Ocean to the borders of Burgundy. The Val de Loire Mission is supporting this project to develop the UNESCO listed Val de Loire – World Heritage site
The 500 mile cycle path, 350 miles of which is in the Centre region and 150 miles in the Pays de la Loire, will be available in 2006, so that residents of the Loire region and tourists can explore the Val de Loire. From 2005, Angers will be linked to Tours.
The route will be made up of cycle tracks and roads that are relatively traffic free. Special signs will be set up to help users discover the heritage of the Loire area.
Aims
This project aims to improve cycling amenities in the area, by increasing the availability of bikes for hire, organising cycle transport and repair, strengthening partnerships within the tourist industry and promoting and improving advertising for the network of hirers.
Process
This initiative is built around measures to protect and develop the Val de Loire:
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Manage cycle routes in vulnerable areas of the heritage site.
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Define, equip and sign rest areas on the “Loire à vélo” cycle route.
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Develop a structure for the amenity and train professionals in:
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Transport
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Accommodation and catering
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User services: cycle hire, baggage transport, cycle repairs
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Leisure facilities: ticket distribution in tourist areas, events organisation
EuroVéloRoute project
The “Loire à vélo” scheme is part of a large scale European cycle route project: EuroVéloRoute. The aim of this project is to link Nantes in France to Budapest in Hungary.
in order to set up this large scale European project, the regions of Centre and Pays de la Loire are co-operating with the regions of Alsace, Burgundy and Franche-Comté, the councils of Haut-Rhin, Côte d’Or, Sâone-et-Loire, Territoire de Belfort, Jura and Doubs, two European partners (Badenwürttenberg region and the Swiss organisation, Véloland), the Etablissement public Loire (a public body which oversees management of the Loire and its tributaries) and the Val de Loire Mission. The scheme will link France to routes that already exist in Germany, Austria and Hungary.
Among the actions being undertaken for this project, the Val de Loire Mission is giving particular support to the “development and promotion of natural and cultural heritage”.
Its role consists of defining the best ways to exploit the area’s natural and cultural heritage and the heritage of the river. It is also defining where to include links to other outstanding natural sites and how to create multilingual educational support.
Timescale
This project is planned over 3 years (2004-2006) and will cost 12.6 million euros, nearly 10 million of which is earmarked for the completion of missing sections of the route in eastern France. Some 55% of the financing of the project is undertaken by FEDER (the European Regional Development Fund).