Boucle à vélo de Montjean-sur-Loire à Chalonnes-sur-Loire en passant sur l'île de Chalonnes

Discover the Loire by bike from Montjean-sur-Loire via the island of Chalonnes.

/!\ As part of the Chalonnes-sur-Loire half-marathon on 27 September 2026 (9.00 am–1.00 pm), the Île de Chalonnes will be closed to traffic (cars and bicycles). Cyclists using the ‘Loire à Vélo’ cycle route will, as a one-off, need to follow the RD210 to: travel from Angers to Montjean-sur-Loire and from Montjean-sur-Loire to Port Girault /!\

Set off on a beautiful 18 km cycle loop between Montjean-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire, passing through the Île de Chalonnes, Europe’s largest river island.

Montjean-sur-Loire, situated on the left bank of the Loire, welcomes you with its rich heritage of the Loire region. Admire the lime kilns, impressive industrial remains, and the headframe of the Tranchée shaft, listed as a Historic Monument since 2004.

You’ll cross the Trottier footbridge, built in 1979 – the perfect vantage point for capturing your finest shots of the Loire – to reach the Île de Chalonnes.

This island then invites you on a peaceful journey through the heart of a vibrant and ever-changing natural landscape: amongst the Loire’s branches, wet meadows and farming hamlets. Once renowned for its hemp and tobacco cultivation, today the island is home to crops such as maize, sunflowers, asparagus and melons. You may spot herons, storks or beavers in this wild setting as the seasons change.
Numerous hamlets dot the island, dotting the landscape and home to nearly 300 residents, proud of their identity.

In Chalonnes-sur-Loire: take a stroll along the quays to admire the Loire, the banks of which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Set off to explore the architectural heritage on the Chalonnes-sur-Loire Discovery Trail: the Church of Saint-Maurille and Pierre Mabille’s stained-glass windows, the Malpavés, the boatmen’s houses…

Finally, continue your route along the north bank of the Loire to reach Montjean-sur-Loire and round off your cycling trip.

This loop is suitable for everyone, with very little elevation gain, making it perfect for a half-day ride or a full day out with a lunch break at a riverside café!