France is known for its art, fashion, and culinary delights. In the eyes of a cyclist though it’s much more than this, so much so that it is widely known as a haven for bikes.

Paris is an ideal base for a longer cycling vacation, not least because it sits in the heart of the Eurovelo No.3 Pilgrims Route. This is a partially complete cycle route which stretches from the West Coast of Spain, all the way through France and on to Norway. But it is also ideal for those who are looking to explore the confines of the city and visit the many tourist attractions in a leisurely fashion without having to worry about parking or public transport timetables.

Despite being the capital it remains pleasurable to ride around, and you’ll find it’s not at all congested when compared to a city like London which seems to be a breeding ground for HGVs and buses. France is in many ways the spiritual home of cycling and if you forget sports involving leather balls it can be considered its national sport. The main bicycle hire company in Paris is ran by RATP, the equivalent of London Transport, and this pays testament to how seriously they take cycling in the city.

If you step back and consider the network of carefully laid out cycle paths and the nations respect for cyclists, and then throw in it’s mild climate you’ve got all of the ingredients for a fabulous cycling holiday.

If you are looking for a holiday in Paris you’ll be pleased to know that a ride across the capital only takes around 20 minutes, so suffice to say you’ll have no trouble ticking off several attractions each day if you have a lot you want to fit in. Cycling can in fact be twice as fast as taking the tube and won’t cost you a penny, unless you are lured into one of the many street cafes by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee along the way.

For those using Paris as a base for their travels there are many beautiful circular routes which head out of the city and into the surrounding countryside. You can head out in any direction, although routes to the North and North West are best avoided. The other points of the compass offer a mixture of pleasant canal side routes, and runs along the Marne river and past sunflower fields and woodland. To the south tends to be a mixture of quiet suburbs, and parkland. Whichever direction you chose though you’ll soon find yourself immersed in the beautiful French countryside.

There are such a wide variety of things to see and do on a cycling holiday around Paris, and you’ll no doubt over indulge on the gastronomic delights so what better way to burn off all of those excess calories.

Written by Matthew Coughlan from the hotels team at travelsupermarket.com. Photos by Kirsten Corbett.