At the leisurely pace of a bike ride

AN INCREASING NUMBER OF ADVENTURERS are embracing the principles of slow travel: a more contemplative way to roam that offers time for reflection and which pays respect to the environment. In fact, cycling–a great way to take it slow–has surged in popularity and become the foremost touring activity in France. Meandering along pathways to the sound of birdsong and the scent of the vegetation, you can venture off the beaten track or stop whenever you feel like it, to admire the view or explore a local market. Taking it all in at your own speed is what vacations are all about. Here is a selection of inspiring getaways among the many properties found across these four regions of France.

Alsace-Vosges: forests and vineyards

With 1,550 miles/2,500 kilometers of cycle paths, Alsace is an ideal destination for bikers. L’Arnsbourg Restaurant et Hôtel peeks out from among a conifer woodland at the very heart of the Vosges forest. Its great glass-sided dining room offers expansive views of these natural surroundings. Fish and shellfish take center stage in menus conceived by Laure and Fabien Mengus, but their selection also includes a beef fillet and sweetbreads for those seeking something a little more hearty. Guests staying in any of the 12 rooms and suites can enjoy warm, convivial evenings by the fireplace in the cozy lounge. Further south, a stopover in Strasbourg is a must. Here, Au Crocodile restaurant, in the heart of the historical city, has been a local institution since 1840. Among its many delights, diners can choose the half-lobster tucked beneath a delicate ravioli with buckwheat risotto; pork mingled with flavors from the sea; and farm-raised beef brightened with lemon balm. Only a few miles separate the capital of Bas-Rhin from that of Haut-Rhin. In Colmar, cyclists might stop over at La Maison des Têtes, built in 1609 during the height of the German Renaissance. The house is named after the 106 heads and masks that adorn its façade. Inside, Chef Eric Girardin’s intimate gastronomic restaurant hosts just 18 diners. Alternatively, there’s a cozy brasserie enhanced with stained glass and warmed by a large cast-iron stove. This is the ideal place to rediscover traditional Alsatian dishes, such as the choucroute with eight garnishes and the ever-popular baeckeoffe. Just a few miles to the south, the town of Kaysersberg–near the vineyard of the same name in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park–is home to Le Chambard Hôtel. The property features a winstub, the term for a traditional Alastian tavern, as well as La Table d’Olivier Nasti, a gastronomic restaurant awarded two Michelin stars in 2025 for its contemporary regional cuisine.

Burgundy, from village to village

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is a sought-after destination for cyclists, both leisurely and athletic, offering paths along canals, through vineyards and into mountain massifs. Le Côte Saint Jacques–a former guest house that was converted first into a fine dining restaurant in the late 1950s, and later into a five-star hotel–boasts a 8,610-square-foot/800-square-meter wellness center with panoramic views over the banks of the Yonne. Chefs Jean-Michel Lorain and Alexandre Bondoux, are respectively the heirs to three and four generations of an institution that has earned two Michelin stars as well as a Green star. By heading east along the wine route some 18 miles/29 kilometers south of Dijon, towards the charming village of La Bussière-sur-Ouche on the Côte d’Or, cyclists reach the Abbaye de la Bussière. Nestled within a 42-acre/17-hectare park, this 12th-century Cistercian monument offers accommodation in a style that resonates with medieval times. South of here, the Hostellerie de Levernois–a typical 18th-century Burgundy-style building–stands just three miles from the center of Beaune. Cyclists are spoiled for choice between the Michelin-starred Table de Levernois restaurant and its more casual Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau. The region’s characteristic flagstones, antique terracotta tiles and exposed beams are a delight for travelers in search of authenticity. Your next stop is Maison Lameloise, located just 12 miles/19 kilometers from here, in the town of Chagny. It is said that the Dukes of Burgundy were regular visitors to this 15th-century former coaching inn, now a charming hotel of 16 rooms. For a few years now, Chef Eric Pras has been reinterpreting traditional local cuisine: an excellent opportunity to sample his delicate tart of Burgundy escargot served with a medley of fresh herbs, or perhaps the milk-fed veal chop rubbed with marjoram and orange. Enjoy a tranquil night before getting back in the saddle.

Loire-Atlantique, land and sea

From major routes to minor trails, the cycling network in Brittany is truly extensive and offers plenty of opportunities for leisurely rides. But be prepared, at times, to walk your bike along the rocks. That’s how you’ll get to Domaine de Rochevilaine, which stands on the tip of the Pen Lan peninsula. With 3,230 square feet/300 square meters of private seafront, the site comprises a hotel, restaurant and an impressive balneotherapy spa spanning 14,000 square feet/ 1,300 square meters–the perfect place to release tension after a day spent pedaling. Guests enter the property through a 13th-century gate that opens onto the vast flower garden that surrounds the buildings. After your stay, it only takes two short hours of cycling to reach Domaine de la Bretesche, a bit farther south in the Brière Regional Natural Park. This imposing 15th-century building stands in a park spanning 495 acres/200 hectares, which includes an 18-hole golf course in addition to its rooms, suites and villas. Continuing south along the Côte d’Amour, cyclers arrive at Le Castel Marie-Louise. This Belle Epoque manor house is located in the heart of La Baule, facing the ocean, surrounded by trees and overlooking a fine sandy beach. Its cozy interiors, decorated by Jacques Garcia, give pride of place to floral fabrics, while balconies face the ocean or the pine grove. The road leads to the Couëron dock, where bicycles can be loaded onto the ferry to reach the opposite bank. Then it’s onwards to the town of La Plaine-sur-Mer on the Jade Coast. Here, the beachfront Anne de Bretagne hotel and restaurant features Chef Mathieu Guibert’s seaside cuisine, awarded two Michelin stars in 2025. His masterful fish and seafood dishes showcase the local flavors of the Pays de Retz. The hotel rooms feature streamlined decor and offer sweeping views of the sea.

Luberon, from beautiful stone to lush gardens

To cycle through Provence is to venture through a picture-postcard setting of lavender fields, vineyards and hillside villages. Le Prieuré Baumanière is located a short ride from the Palais des Papes in Avignon. This 14th-century manor, a former monastery, spans three buildings surrounded by a lush garden abounding in rose bushes and Mediterranean plants. The pace of daily life trickles along here: while away the time reading beneath the plane trees, savoring a meal in the shade of century-old wisteria, or cooling off in the swimming pool. Freshly rested travelers should then head east ward toward Le Phébus & Spa - Villa des Anges, a stone-built farmhouse located on a historically protected site between the famous villages of Gordes and Roussillon. This peaceful haven, scented with lavender and other fragrant wild herbs, offers 30 rooms and suites with views of the park, the valley or the ocher cliffs of Roussillon. It is also home to two restaurants–including the Michelin-starred La Table de Xavier Mathieu–a spa and a private villa. To the south, the Domaine de Fontenille, located near its traditional vineyard, houses an elegant hotel and restaurant in a spacious 18th-century family home. It stands out for its ecological–and wonderfully educational–garden, and the restaurants grow a portion of their produce at another vast organic vegetable garden on site. The 21 rooms and suites overlook the cedars of the park or the rolling hills of Luberon, with some extending onto charming private exterior spaces. The Château de Fonscolombe awaits among vineyards to the south, not far from Aix-en-Provence. Saddle-weary cyclists will discover 50 classically decorated rooms and suites, and will particularly appreciate the beautiful terrace overlooking the gardens, as well as La Table de l’Orangerie, the Michelin-starred restaurant of Chef Marc Fontanne, specializing in mindful dining.