The Seine Valley cycle route

Cycling is a brilliant way to travel through the Seine valley in Normandy. Moving at a slower pace, engage more deeply with the landscapes that so inspired the Impressionists and capture unrivaled views of the meandering River Seine on this cycle route connecting Giverny to the English Channel at either Le Havre or Deauville.

Cycle through the Seine Valley in the footsteps of the Impressionists

Saddle up for an Impressionist cycle route in the Seine Valley, whose light and landscapes inspired whole generations of artists; painters from Monet and Courbet to Turner and Sisley but also writers, including Victor Hugo, Flaubert, and Guy de Maupassant! On this 165km two-wheeled adventure, the section running from Saint-Aubin-les-Elbeuf to Le Havre is part of the Véloroute du Val de Seine, a medium distance scenic cycle path of Seine-Maritime that is signposted and secure, mainly along the towpath that follows the River Seine.

This cycle route kicks off in Giverny, art lovers’ favourite village to marvel at the Impressionist artist Claude Monet’s gardens he so lovingly created and which inspired his water-lily series. With a combination of flat and hilly terrain, novice riders, families and seasoned cyclists alike can immerse in 19th-century landscapes, capturing both the industrial heritage of towns such as Rouen, La Bouille, Caudebec-en-Caux and Le Havre and the untouched countryside which surrounds them. The route offers many cultural sites to visit on the way like the abbeys of Jumièges and Saint-Wandrille and the picturesque fishing village of Honfleur. For a well-deserved break, you can also board the bac (a free ferry) with your bike and cross from one side of the River Seine to the other.  

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE SEINE VALLEY CYCLE ROUTE

• “Cyclists welcome” accommodation
• Guides & gpx plots
• Bike rentals and repairers
• Bike rentals “One Way”
• Train access 
• Ferries to cross the Seine River
• Work in progress