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Recommend an establishmentPays de la Loire by Motorcycle
Between the Loire estuary, the Atlantic coastline, the Vendée marshes, the Mayenne bocage and the valleys of Anjou, Pays de la Loire is a region that deserves far more attention from motorcycle travellers. Often crossed on the way to other destinations, it offers an impressive variety of landscapes within just a few hours of riding. Scenic roads follow the Loire through vineyards and troglodyte villages, while the Atlantic coast reveals long sandy beaches, rugged shorelines and peaceful fishing ports. Further inland, forests, rolling countryside and quiet bocage roads provide relaxed riding away from the crowds. One day you can ride along the Loire estuary between Nantes and Saint Nazaire, the next explore the Muscadet and Anjou vineyards, cruise through the Brière marshes or wander the peaceful roads of the Mayenne countryside. The region is crisscrossed by quiet departmental roads that are perfect for discovering hidden villages, historic towns and ever changing scenery at your own pace. With five departments, each offering its own character and riding experience, Pays de la Loire is an excellent destination for a week long motorcycle tour combining the Loire Valley, the Atlantic coast and the tranquil inland landscapes. To make every stop as enjoyable as the ride itself, Bivo helps you find motorcycle friendly accommodation with secure parking, allowing you to travel with complete peace of mind.
The Pays de la Loire departments for your next motorcycle road trip
To help you choose your next motorcycle destination
Nantes is the natural gateway to the region and an ideal base for heading out towards the coast or the interior. The Loire estuary, the Guérande peninsula, the Brière marshes and the wild coast between La Baule and Le Croisic make up an outstanding coastal itinerary. The Muscadet vineyard roads south of Nantes offer a more intimate and laid-back side of the region, with pleasant vine-covered landscapes and schist villages that are a joy to ride through off-season.
Anjou is a department of vineyards, châteaux and riverside roads that rank among the finest in France. Between Angers, Saumur and the Layon hillsides, the routes alternate between riverbanks, troglodyte caves and white tuffeau villages. The Saumur area, with its hilltop châteaux and open plain roads, is particularly enjoyable on a bike. The Savennières, Coteaux du Layon and Saumur-Champigny vineyards mark out a route that's as scenic as it is a pleasure for wine lovers.
The most under-the-radar department in the Pays de la Loire, and one of the most rewarding for relaxed, authentic riding. The Mayenne roads cut through a dense bocage of hedgerows, ponds and forests with a feel very close to neighbouring Normandy. Laval makes for a pleasant stopover. The routes through the Coëvrons hills, the Ernée country and the fringes of the Sarthe offer miles of quiet back roads through unspoilt, deeply appealing countryside.
Le Mans and its legendary 24 Hours circuit is every rider's first thought when it comes to this department, but the Sarthe has plenty more up its sleeve. The Alpes Mancelles, on the border with Normandy's Orne, are one of the most unexpected hilly areas in the whole of western France, with winding roads threading through valleys and forests. The Perche sarthois, the banks of the Sarthe river and the Maine roads round out a department that's far more varied than it first appears.
Vendée offers three very different riding experiences in a single department. Along the coast, the route between Les Sables d'Olonne, Saint Jean de Monts and the island of Noirmoutier, accessible at low tide via the Passage du Gois, is one of the area's must ride itineraries. Further inland, the Vendée section of the Marais Poitevin reveals a quieter atmosphere, with wetland landscapes and peaceful bocage roads. Away from the coast, the inland Vendée bocage offers rolling roads, granite villages and a more authentic feel, often making it the most enjoyable area to ride outside the summer season.