Cycling on the Voie Verte
Cycling on the The Voie Verte [ in French, Voie Verte translates as Green Way] is a fantastic way to see and explore the countryside. The Voie Verte is part of an initiative to create more pedestrian and cycling pathways that are 100% free of motorized vehicles. You will find ‘greenways’ all over Western Europe, though the names will change slightly in each country, for example in Spain the Voie Verte is called Vias Verdes, but the physical nature of these greenways is the same no matter what language it is in.
The Voie Verte in France is a series of pathways that have been derived from old disused railway lines or old disused canal towpaths. They are an ingenious way of utilizing existing pathways and transforming them into a safe place for walking or cycling. With a few exceptions a particular stretch of Voie Vert will not be longer than 50km, though you can link with other nearby Voie Vertes usually using a ‘Veloroute’, which is a designated cycling path, though there is the possibility you will have to do some road cycling here or there.
It is possible to travel throughout Western Europe by cycling on the Voie Verte, with the exception of short stretches to get from one greenway to the next. As the Voie Vert is very popular with tourists there is usually always a campsite nearby, meaning you could literally camp your way around Western Europe on your bicycle.
There are 807 km of cycle paths running throughout the department of Aude. Plan a day trip or your entire vacation using this website – most of these trails have accommodation along the way.
There are no steep hills to worry about whilst cycling the Voie Verte as by law they must have a gradient no greater than 3%, which makes them perfect for families, or novice riders, or anyone just looking to peddle around the countryside at their own leisure.
Cycling is a pastime that the French are particularly passionate about; it is virtually impossible to drive along a country road in France without passing a cyclist or six. Road cycling though is not for everyone, aside from the obvious dangers from passing vehicles you will also have to overcome steep climbs in some places, and chances are you will be concentrating on what you are doing so much that you may miss out on the scenery.
You will encounter all kinds of scenery along the Voie Verte; from peaceful rural landscapes, miles of vineyards, to old factories left over from the time when these pathways were used by trains to transport raw materials and the products made from them. Cycling along the Voie Verte is a great way to get a snapshot of a by-gone era, from the factories of the second industrial revolution to the old gates and bridges used by the trains to the gate-keepers’ cottages and old train stations.
It really is more than just a cycling path, you will see things on the Voie Verte that are not on the tourist maps, things that you just won’t see anywhere else. Cycling the Voie Verte is truly a brilliant way to get out in the fresh air and experience the countryside in a safe and well sign-posted environment where you are free to explore at your own pace.
