Along the Seine to the sea

Route details

This 246 km route runs from the Paris metropolitan area along the Seine through the Vexin and Normandy to the port city of Le Havre on the English Channel.

The Tour begins in the northern Parisian suburb of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and heads west, initially through the Île-de-France conurbation. After passing through Cergy-Pontoise, you reach the more rural terrain of the Vexin Français Regional Nature Park. The first section requires patience: the roads around Paris are busy, with traffic lights and traffic circles setting the pace. From Mantes-la-Jolie onwards, the character of the route changes. The town with its Gothic collegiate church of Notre-Dame, often referred to as the little sister of Notre-Dame de Paris, offers a first cultural highlight.

After Mantes, the route leads along well-maintained Country roads through the Eure valley towards Pont-de-l'Arche. Here you pass the Forêt de Bord-Louviers, a state forest of around 4,500 hectares that once belonged to the Dukes of Normandy. The forest roads are mostly asphalted and in good condition, with patches in places. Traffic decreases significantly and the route becomes smoother.

The middle section between Pont-de-l'Arche and Le Havre runs through typical Norman countryside: rolling hills, orchards, pastureland. The roads are mainly two-lane without a central reservation and the surface varies between good and somewhat worn in places. There are no significant differences in altitude - the Tour remains topographically unspectacular. Curves are moderate, there are no narrow passages or challenging Switchbacks.

Le Havre welcomes the rider with its UNESCO-protected city center, which was rebuilt in concrete style by Auguste Perret after its destruction in the Second World War. The church of St. Joseph with its 107-metre-high concrete tower is the city's landmark. The port itself stretches over 30 kilometers and is one of the largest in France.

For motorcyclists, this route is suitable as a relaxed day trip or as a first Stage towards the coast. The technical demands are low and beginners will have no problems. If you are looking for winding Mountain roads, you won't find them here - the Tour scores with cultural Stopovers and the contrast between big city traffic and Norman tranquillity. The best time is between April and October, when the beach restaurants in Le Havre are open.