Nicknamed the “land of a thousand ponds”, the Brenne is a broad clay plateau in the south of the Indre dotted with fish ponds first dug in the Middle Ages. The Regional Nature Park that now protects this landscape offers an unusual kind of gravel terrain: neither mountain nor coast, but a mosaic of ponds, heathland and forest linked by quiet tracks.
A route between ponds and heathland
Starting from Mézières-en-Brenne, the route winds between the park’s best-known ponds — including the Étang de la Mer Rouge and the Étang Ricot — on a mix of rural tracks and quiet small roads. Expect around 55 km for the full loop, with virtually no elevation gain, making this one of the smoothest, flattest routes in the catalogue.
The scenery keeps shifting: reed beds, heather-covered heathland, oak forests and pond dykes follow one another over largely flat but never monotonous terrain.
Getting the ride right
The mostly hardpacked or small-road surface suits a standard 38-40mm gravel tyre without an aggressive tread. Supply points come up more often than in mountain terrain, with several villages dotted along the route.
The Maison du Parc, in Rosnay, provides detailed maps of the tracks open to cyclists — useful for adjusting the route on the day, since some sections of the nature reserve are closed to protect wildlife.
When to go
April to October, with spring best for nesting birds and autumn for migration. Summer is still rideable but less rewarding for wildlife, with most species less visible.
Good to know
Mézières-en-Brenne, the park’s small central town, has a limited but sufficient choice of accommodation for a stopover, with several places geared toward ecotourism and wildlife watching.
