The Accueil Vélo label: what is it?

Created in 2012, the Accueil Vélo label is a certification awarded to accommodation and services located close to cycle routes. It guarantees touring cyclists a welcome and facilities designed specifically for them. The aim is to offer comfortable stopovers tailored to their needs, to encourage cycle tourism.

The criteria for obtaining the label are strict. In particular, establishments must :

• Be less than 5 km from a signposted cycle route;
• A warm welcome and dedicated information for cycle tourists;
• Offer reception and repair services for bicycles (repair kits, pumps, plugs for recharging electric bikes, etc.);
• Provide a covered, secure area for storing bicycles;
• Providing dedicated services for bicycle travellers, such as luggage transfer, laundry and drying, etc.

Recognising certified partners with the Accueil Vélo logo

Whether you're looking for accommodation, cycle hire or repair, a tourist office or a tourist site, you can identify a certified Accueil Vélo partner by the official logo, usually displayed at the entrance to the establishment.

The national "Accueil Vélo" label has been set up under the aegis of France Vélo Tourisme by local tourist organisations to offer the best possible welcome to cyclists throughout France.

Accueil Vélo services at campsites

Guaranteed cycle-friendly accommodation for cyclists: the case of campsites

Among the accommodation with the Accueil Vélo label, including hotels and bed and breakfasts, campsites are particularly popular. They are particularly popular with cyclotourists, as they offer a solution that is both economical and friendly. Here's an overview of the services you can expect at an Accueil Vélo campsite:

• Suitable infrastructure: secure bike storage areas, washing facilities and self-service repair facilities.
• A tailor-made welcome: personalised advice on nearby itineraries, points of interest and local shops.
• Catering options: takeaway breakfasts or picnic baskets so you can get back on the road with peace of mind.
• Additional services: laundry facilities for washing your technical clothes, facilities for recharging the batteries of electric bikes, luggage transfers to your next stage, and sometimes even shuttles to stations or other stages.

With these services, approved campsites become real havens for cyclists, whether they're travelling solo, with the family or with friends.

What is a cycle station at a campsite?

As we have seen, one of the requirements of the Accueil vélo label is to offer facilities suitable for touring cyclists, and in particular a secure shelter where you can wash or repair your cycle.

Here's an example of a bike station you might find at a campsite: CycloCamp offers turnkey bike stations that combine a dozen or so services that bike travellers expect: a toehold, a tool station, an inflation station, a washing station, a water fountain and sink, an information panel on local cycle routes, parking bays, charging points for electric bikes and, of course, access to a secure garage and a living area for cyclists, with a kitchen, a dining area and phone charging facilities.

Of course, there are other types of secure shelters for your bicycles that are also certified by Accueil Vélo.

Accueil Vélo accommodation: find a Accueil Vélo campsite in France in the Vendée, on the Ile de Ré, in Arcachon...

We've put together a selection of almost 900 Accueil Vélo campsites. Don't hesitate to take a look to find the ideal stopover for your next cycling adventure.

Would you like to follow an official cycling route? We recommend the following campsites with the Accueil Vélo label:

Where to stay when cycling the Vélodyssée?

The 1,300km-long Vélodyssée® runs along the Atlantic Ocean from Hendaye in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Roscoff in Finistère, via Brem-sur-Mer, Bretignolles- sur-Mer and Longeville-sur-Mer, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, L'Aiguillon-la-Présqu'île and La Tranche-sur-Mer in Vendée, and Grayan-et-l'Hôpital, Marennes-Hiers-Brouagen Saint-Girons, Soulac-sur-Mer and Vendays-Montalivet in Charente-Maritime.

• In Brittany, the Ar Kleguer campsite **** is located in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, by the sea, in Finistère. Its bicycle reception service offers a room, repair service, cleaning and battery recharging for your electric bike.
• In the Pays de la Loire region of the Vendée, the Sandaya Le Littoral campsite *****, located in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, runs alongside the Vélodyssée cycle route. Its many facilities will satisfy cyclists looking for a restful stopover.
• Le Caravan'Île campsite *****, located on the Île de Noirmoutier in La Guérinière, is around 5 km from the official La Vélodyssée cycle route. The island is accessible via cycle paths that link up with the main route on the mainland.
• In Saint-Jean-de-Monts in the Vendée, several campsites have been awarded the Accueil Vélo label. Check out Les Amiaux ****, Côté plage ***, Bontempo la Yôle **** or La Prairie ****.
• On the Ile de Ré, discover the L'Océan campsite *****, located in La Couarde-en-Ré, 50 m from the sea and with direct access to the cycle paths that will allow you to discover the Ile de Ré by bike.

Accueil Vélo campsites on the ViaRhôna

The ViaRhôna cycle route® runs from Geneva (Switzerland) to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, and covers 815 km along the Rhône.

• In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, in the Ain department, close to the Via Rhôna route, Le Colombier*** campsite is the ideal setting for a host of sporting activities, particularly cycling, with its cycle paths, mountain bike trails and, of course, numerous mountain passes.
• Located 200m from the ViaRhôna in the Ardèche, Harmony Camping de Cruas *** has the advantage of being open all year round. Among other services, the campsite offers cyclists suitable and unusual accommodation: bivouacs on stilts, perfect for an original night's sleep, and fully-equipped mobile homes for a well-deserved rest.
• In the Vaucluse, just as the Vélodyssée is about to enter the Gard, the Pont d'Avignon campsite **** offers you a stopover during your cycle tour.

Accueil Vélo campsites along the Véloscénie

The Véloscénie® stretches from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel. This 450km cycling route combines heritage and nature.

• In the Yvelines region of Ile-de-France, the Huttopia Versailles *** campsite guarantees you the quality welcome and services required by the Accueil vélo label and invites you to start the Véloscénie trail or explore the Versailles forest on your two wheels.
• In Normandy, the Seaonova Haliotis*** campsite, located in the Manche department, provides access to a completely safe cycle path linking the campsite directly to Mont-Saint-Michel.

Accueil Vélo campsites along the Loire à Vélo cycle route

The famous Loire à Vélo ®cycle route covers 900km, from Saint-Nazaire (44) to Nevers (58), and takes in the châteaux and vineyards of the departments it passes through. This route is part of EuroVelo 6 (EV6), which crosses Europe from west to east, from the Atlantic to the Black Sea.

• The Nevers *** campsite in the Nièvre region is just 500m from the route.
• In Indre-et-Loire, La Gâtine campsite *** is located on the banks of a river.
• In the Loiret region, stop off at Les bois du Bardelet**** campsite, just a few kilometres from Giens.
• In the Maine et Loire region, La Promenade campsite **** is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Loire.

Accueil Vélo campsites if you choose the Grandes Alpes cycle route

The Route des Grandes Alpes® is a 700km cycling route through the French Alps, taking in some of the most beautiful and highest passes in the Alps. The Route des Grandes Alpes follows legendary routes through the Alpine massifs from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean.

• In Savoie, stop off for the night at the Le Reclus *** municipal campsite, open all year round, or at the Huttopia Bourg-Saint-Maurice **** campsite, from where a signposted cycle path leads to the mountain roads and tracks.
• In Isère, cycling enthusiasts can choose the Château de Rochetaillée campsite****, at the foot of the legendary Alpe d'Huez climb, a must-see in the Tour de France.

Other examples of Accueil Vélo campsites along cycle routes and itineraries for cyclists

• Use Le Pré Lombard campsite **** as a base for cycling through the magnificent mountain landscapes of Ariège, in the Occitanie region, and in particular the famous Ariège-Pyrénées mountain pass route, including the famous Col de Port, which is just 10 km from the campsite: 600 m difference in altitude, but an easy route and magnificent scenery!
• In the Tarn-et-Garonne region, Les Gorges de l'Aveyron campsite **** is a cycling destination on the Vallée et Gorges de l'Aveyron à vélo cycle route, between Toulouse, Montauban and Cahors, where you can discover the secrets of the Quercy region between lush plains and impressive gorges around the meandering Aveyron river.
• In the Grand Est region, discover the vineyards of Champagne via the Châlons-en-Champagne campsite ****. The campsite is close to the Voie Verte de la Vallée de la Marne. Around 70 km long, the route follows the Marne river through valleys, vineyards (especially near Épernay, famous for its champagne) and picturesque villages.

A number of resources are available to help you plan your stopovers. Whether you're looking for accommodation, a repair shop or another partner of the Accueil Vélo label, you can use the France Vélo Tourisme platform and consult dedicated interactive maps.

A commitment to sustainable tourism

By choosing a Accueil Vélo campsite, you are also supporting a model of sustainable tourism: these campsites encourage soft mobility, reduce the carbon footprint of travellers and help to preserve the environment. Many campsites with the label are committed to minimising their ecological impact through responsible practices such as waste management, the use of renewable energy and support for local producers.