Cœur de France à vélo cycle route · V46
The Cher Valley by bike, from Tours to Montluçon
The cycle route along the Cher, its stages and stations, and a stop at Château de Thésée, one kilometre from the bridge: tastings and gîtes.
Le Cher à vélo
334 km from Tours to Montluçon, along the Cher and then the Canal de Berry.
Le Cher à vélo is the Cœur de France à vélo cycle route, number V46 in France’s national network. It starts in Tours, where it meets La Loire à Vélo, follows the Cher valley through Chenonceaux, Montrichard, Thésée and Selles-sur-Cher, then the Canal de Berry to Vierzon, Bourges and Montluçon. It crosses Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Cher and Allier in thirteen stages.
France Vélo Tourisme- from Tours to Montluçon
- 334 km
- stages
- 13
- opened in 2025 in Loir-et-Cher
- 76 km
- from the Thésée bridge to the château
- 1 km
The route
Stages through the Cher valley
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Tours → Bléré · 25 km
From Tours, the route follows the Cher through Véretz and Azay-sur-Cher, past locks, lock-keepers’ houses and needle weirs.
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Bléré → Montrichard · 16 km
Through Chenonceaux and its château, then Chissay-en-Touraine, to the keep and medieval village of Montrichard.
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Montrichard → Selles-sur-Cher · 37 km
The Thésée stage: 18 km of greenway and 19 km of quiet shared roads, beginner level. Gallo-Roman site of Thésée, the Sauldre canal bridge at Châtillon-sur-Cher, the château of Selles-sur-Cher.
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Selles-sur-Cher → Mennetou-sur-Cher · 27 km
On the greenway along the Canal de Berry to Villefranche-sur-Cher, then the medieval town of Mennetou-sur-Cher.
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Mennetou-sur-Cher → Vierzon · 17 km
Then Mehun-sur-Yèvre, Bourges, Dun-sur-Auron and Saint-Amand-Montrond along the Canal de Berry, all the way to Montluçon.
The Thésée stage
Montrichard – Selles-sur-Cher, via Thésée
Thésée lies halfway along the Montrichard – Selles-sur-Cher stage. The 76 km section between Chissay-en-Touraine and Châtres-sur-Cher that runs through it opened in 2025: 51 km of greenways, 25 km of quiet shared roads and fifteen rest areas. The château is one kilometre from the Thésée bridge.
- Stage length37 km
- Levelbeginner, +76 m of climbing
- Thésée bridgeabout 1 km
- Thésée stationabout 1.5 km
- Saint-Aignan and ZooParc de Beauvalabout 10 km
- Montrichardabout 13 km
- Chenonceauxabout 20 km
Around the stage
Worth a stop
The Gallo-Roman site of Thésée
The remains of an ancient town, a stone’s throw from the cycle route and the château.
The keep of Montrichard
The 11th-century fortress towers over the Cher valley and its medieval village.
Château de Chenonceau
The “ladies’ château”, spanning the Cher, one stage from Thésée.
Saint-Aignan and Beauval
The medieval town of Saint-Aignan and the ZooParc de Beauval, about ten kilometres away.
Plan your stop
Passing through Thésée?
Tell us when you are arriving and how many of you there are: we will prepare your tasting or your stay in a gîte.
Frequently asked questions
What is Le Cher à vélo?
It is the name of the Cœur de France à vélo cycle route (V46) in the Cher valley. The full route is 334 km long in thirteen stages, from Tours to Montluçon, through Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Cher and Allier.
Is the cycle route open at Thésée?
Yes. The 76 km section between Chissay-en-Touraine and Châtres-sur-Cher, which passes through Thésée, opened in 2025. Before setting off, check the route status on France Vélo Tourisme.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. The Montrichard – Selles-sur-Cher stage is rated “beginner”, with 76 m of climbing over 37 km. Between Tours and Bourges the route suits families; further on, some sections still use hillier minor roads.
Can I come by train?
Yes. Thésée station is about 1.5 km from the château, on the Tours – Vierzon line, like the stations of Montrichard, Chissay-en-Touraine, Saint-Aignan-Noyers and Selles-sur-Cher. Rémi regional trains carry bikes.
Where does it meet La Loire à Vélo?
In Tours, where the cycle route starts.
Where can I stay on this stage?
At the estate, in our gîtes, one kilometre from the cycle route. Use the form above to send us your dates.
Coming as a group?
Write to us using the form above: we will prepare your visit.
Page updated on 23 October 2026