CYCLOTOURISM: Le Petit Futé Cycling and Cheese Guide

What better way to represent the diversity of heritage and expertise of France’s Départements than with cycling and cheese? It is around these two positive and unifying trends that the Assemblée des Départements de France (ADF), in partnership with the Centre National Interprofessionnel de l’Economie Laitière (Cniel), ADN Tourisme, and Vélo & Territoires, launched the project “Vélo & Fromages, la France sur un plateau” (Cycling & Cheeses, France on a platter). Behind this concept are themed cycling routes centered on the cheese heritage of the Départements. Through a structured network of over 17,500 kilometers of cycle routes and greenways, partly developed by the Départements, pioneers in the field, cycling in France serves as a benchmark.

Aimed at novice and experienced cyclists alike, these routes are even more accessible thanks to the rise of electric-assist bicycles. Cycling guarantees an ideal pace to take the time to discover, meet, and share. A legacy of tradition and local expertise, cheese is a symbol of French heritage and our Départements. Often associated with a moment of conviviality and pleasure, it was only natural to combine it with cycling: there’s nothing like discovering the cheese flavors of the Départements to punctuate a bike ride—after the effort, the comfort!

Through the “Vélo & Fromages” project, visits to farms, aging cellars, meetings with cheesemongers, etc., are offered along existing cycling routes to showcase the expertise of passionate artisans and the diversity of the culinary heritage of the Départements. 45 Départements are currently committed to the “Vélo & Fromages” concept. From the most athletic to the most family-friendly rides, 87 itineraries have been designed. Ideas for rolling and gourmet getaways… served on a platter to discover through this new Petit Futé guide, initially available for free in a digital version only, then, next August, in a print version from all partners of the “Vélo & Fromages” network, as well as in bookstores, supermarkets, etc., and online.

The 45 Départements currently labeled “Vélo & Fromages“: Allier, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Bouches-du-Rhône, Calvados, Cantal, Charente-Maritime, Cher, Corrèze, Côte-d’Or, Creuse, Doubs, Drôme, Indre, Isère, Jura, Loir-et-Cher, Haute-Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Haute-Marne, Mayenne, Moselle, Nièvre, Nord, Orne, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Rhône, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Seine-Maritime, Seine-et-Marne, Deux-Sèvres, Tarn and Yonne.

“Vélo & Fromages” means over 1,050 cheese sites, 72,000 m of cumulative positive elevation gain, 6,760 km of roads to crisscross (a true Tour de France), and, as a reminder, 45 labeled départements and 87 itineraries.