It's now possible to cycle the length of Europe. A groundbreaking 5,000 km cycle path links Norway to Spain.
This brand-new route, EuroVelo 3, is a dream for avid cyclists seeking fresh adventures and stunning landscapes.
Stretching from Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, it traverses Western Europe.
Part of the expansive EuroVelo network spearheaded by the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), it forms a comprehensive system of cycle routes across the continent.
The ambitious goal: a fully connected cycling network. By 2020, 15 routes totaling 70,000 km will span 43 countries.
In France, eight EuroVelo routes are already established: the Atlantic cycle route (EuroVelo 1), Central European cycle route (EuroVelo 4), Via Romea Francigena (EuroVelo 5), Atlantic-Black Sea (EuroVelo 6), Mediterranean cycle route (EuroVelo 8), Baltic-Adriatic cycle route (EuroVelo 9), Rhine and Rhône cycle routes (EuroVelo 15 and 17), and the Pilgrims' Route (EuroVelo 3).
EuroVelo 3 winds through France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway over its 5,000 km.
On French soil, it's dubbed Scandibérique—a fusion of Scandinavia and Iberian—covering 1,600 km across 19 departments and threading through Europe's largest forest, the Landes.
Rich in culture, festivities, and athletic challenge, the Pilgrims' Route shadows a Camino de Santiago path while visiting Oslo, Hamburg, Paris, and Bordeaux.
Construction kicked off in 2015, with full completion slated for 2020. France's segment opened in 2018—time to dust off your bike!
As a seasoned cyclist who's pedaled many EuroVelo trails, I highly recommend this guide: EuroVelo 6 Atlantic-Black Sea: From Basel to Nevers, the world's longest bike path.
