A spiritual, rural cycling adventure on the V56

Pedal to Compostela along the V56

On the V56, you'll be covering 92 km in Burgundy, from Vézelay to La Charité-sur-Loire.

Your 2-to-3-day adventure on the Camino de Santiago will include discovering treasures of local heritage and tastings of wines and gourmet delights.

The departure point for your expedition will be the 'eternal hill' of Vézelay with a 360° panoramic view of the Morvan. Follow the marked 'Saint-Jacques à vélo' cycling route and you'll be crossing through the medieval town centre before joining onto the cycle route to pedal over the rolling hills of Burgundy, through vineyards and forests. You'll cycle through the medieval villages of Tannay, Varzy, and Murlin. Take the time to stop off and visit the wineries and the countless places that have been welcoming pilgrims for centuries.

The end of your voyage is near as you approach the banks of the Loire. Fans of historic buildings will enjoy visiting La Charité-sur-Loire, a walled town with picturesque steps and painted messages on the stone.

Varied picture-perfect scenery

From the hills of Burgundy to the rolling Loire valley, the V56 leads you across diverse landscapes.

You'll be cycling over rolling vineyards and through forests perched on the hillsides covered in the golden shades of sunflowers and cereal crops.

You'll then leave the hills of Burgundy and head through the forests, such as Bertranges, the green lung of Nièvre.

Flowing waters will also be a part of your journey! Crossing the rivers Yonne and Nièvre as well as the countless tributaries and canals is a reminder that Burgundy boasts one of Europe's most beautiful and varied inland waterway network.

2 unmissable UNESCO heritage sites along the Camino de Santiago

• Vézelay Church and Hill are both listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. These architectural treasures of Romanesque art in Burgundy are not to be missed!
• The Priory Church of La Charité-sur-Loire is a historic treasure of Romanesque art in Burgundy. It was built from 1070 and is a remarkable Benedictine monastery. 

The ancient Château de Champlemy, the washhouse in Dompierre-sur-Nièvre, the Murlin frescoes, the Fontaine de la Vache and many more. There are so many diverse places to visit along this route. Even if some of these treasures require a detour from your route, they are worth taking the time to visit.