La Voie Bleue is Hicle Cycle Route of the Year
La Voie Bleue in France has been named Hicle Cycle Route of the Year 2026 at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Utrecht.
The cycle jury, consisting of Bert Sitters, Mirre Oost and Jessica de Korte, was full of praise for the French route:
“La Voie Bleue treats cyclists to a wide variety of French landscapes and, in Burgundy, to Grand Cru-level wines. Highlights along the way include the beautiful cities of Metz and Nancy, perfectly suited to be explored by bike. At the end, the vibrant city of Lyon awaits – the gastronomic capital of France. Between the cities, there is above all peace and space. Almost every village has its own story,” according to the jury.
La Voie Bleue runs from the Luxembourg border (Apach) to Lyon in France. This 727-kilometre cycling route largely follows the rivers Moselle and Saône and passes along the Canal des Vosges. Its development took longer than planned due to COVID, and in some places nature conservation regulations made it difficult to build cycle paths along the towpaths. Nevertheless, the result is a beautiful route that showcases France at its very best.
Theme of water
The name Voie Bleue – literally “Blue Route” – refers to the theme of water. Cycling from north to south through France, you follow several rivers and canals, each with its own character. The tranquillity of nature alternates with lively cities: Metz, Nancy and Lyon are highlights, but Épinal, Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon are also well worth a visit. Along the way, you will also discover many picturesque villages.
Most of the route follows dedicated cycle paths. In the near future, more than a thousand benches and picnic tables will be installed, and the signage is clearly recognisable by its logo. Remarkably for France, there are hardly any obstructive barriers such as gates. The website is well organised, and the La Voie Bleue guide by Le Routard includes an access route from Luxembourg City. The route is largely flat, making it suitable for families and older cyclists as well.
More information: www.lavoiebleue.com
Other nominees
The two other nominees were Ode aan het landschap in the Achterhoek (Netherlands) and La Vélidéale in France.
The election of the Hicle Cycle Route of the Year is an initiative by Hicle/Fiets en Wandelbeurs, aimed at encouraging the development of high-quality cycling routes. Eligible are new or recently modified routes in Europe.
