Montargis
The ‘‘Venice of the Gâtinais’’ area
Some 100km south of Paris, in the Centre-Val de Loire Region, Montargis is an exciting town along the Scandibérique route, given its cultural and economic life. Crossing the 14 parishes encompassed by the wider Agglomération Montargoise, on your biking adventure, enjoy meandering through the maze of canals, removed from the hassles of contemporary life! The so-called ‘‘Venice of the Gâtinais’’, boasting 131 bridges and footbridges, including the Passerelle Victor Hugo designed by the Eiffel Company, consists of little islands, canals and streets over the water which you can discover thanks to the Circuit des Ponts, or Bridges Trail.
Do visit the Musée Girodet, dedicated to artist Anne-Louis Girodet, from Montargis, once a pupil of the Revolution’s classical master, David, and the Musée Historique de l’Amitié Franco-Chinoise, plus follwo the Chinese trail, revealing China’s close links with Montargis! Fans of bicycles will be interested to know that adjoining Châlette-sur-Loing was the birthplace of Hutchinson, leading world specialist in rubber, making pneumatic bike tyres since 1890, its tyres featuring on the podium in many events!
