Continental Road Book, Vol. I
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Citation
S. A. Stead, comp. Continental Road Book, Vol. I. 1887. cyclearchive.com, https://cyclearchive.com/books/ctc-continental-road-book-vol1-1887/
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Contents
- A page describing the C.T.C., founded 5th August 1878 and numbering nearly 25,000 members, under whose auspices the book is first published. It lists the club's aims, including hotel headquarters at reduced rates, local consuls and road books, and gives the subscription as two shillings and sixpence a year with a one shilling entrance fee.
- Lists the three volumes of the road book: I. France, II. Germany, Austria and Hungary, and III. Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Servia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
- S. A. Stead explains that he took up the work in 1884 because no one else would, thanks his helpers, and says distances are given in kilometres and hotels chosen for economy. He notes that the rule of the road, except in Bohemia, is to keep to the right, and asks users to report errors and the character of the hotels.
- Notes that French roads are about the best in Europe except in the paved north, that the touring season runs from April to October, and describes Normandy, Brittany and the Pyrenees. It warns that Paris is dreadful for cyclists because of the pavé, advises taking the train in, gives meal-time advice, and recommends the French government and Service Vicinal maps and where to buy them.
- Numbered list of the book's French routes, each with its chain of towns, from No. 1 Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Abbeville, Amiens and Compiègne to No. 160 Chauny, St. Quentin, Bohain and Le Cateau, including lettered variants such as 133A and 159A.
- Conversion table of kilometres to miles for France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with English measures compared with French, the Dutch, Prussian, Austrian, Swiss and Russian road measures, and a note on the 30 kilogrammes of luggage carried free on the French lines.
- Runs from Calais through Boulogne-sur-Mer, Etaples, Berck, Abbeville, Longpré and Amiens to Montdidier and Compiègne, about 247 kil. Uninteresting road with very steep hills to Boulogne, 4 kil. of bad pavé from Boulogne to Pont-de-Briques, good surface from Neufchâtel to Abbeville and 2 kil. of pavé near Compiègne.
- Calais to Amiens by Attaques, St. Omer, Wizernes, Fauquembergues, Fruges, St. Pol, Doullens and Beauval, about 150 kil. Bad road for the first 6 kil., then better but hilly to St. Omer, sandy surface to Fauquembergues, then good with some hills; pavé at St. Omer and Doullens.
- Boulogne to Caen, about 375 kil., by Samer, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Abbeville, Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher, Amiens, Aumale, Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Forges-les-Eaux and Le Vert Galant to Rouen, then Grand Couronne, Pont Audemer, Honfleur, Pont l'Evêque and Dozulé. The first 5 kil. are vile and there is a very stiff climb at Samer; the route continues beyond Honfleur to Caen.
- Calais to Pontoise (263 kil.) by Abbeville, Poix, Grandvilliers, Beauvais, Méru and Amblainville, with rail on to Paris because the road is paved; an alternative branch runs Beauvais, Gisors, Vernon, Bonnières and Mantes. Fair road, good and undulating from Poix to Marseille-le-Petit, a steep winding ascent of 2 kil. to Bois de Molle and two stiff climbs beyond Vallangoujard.
- Abbeville to Breteuil by Eu, Dieppe, St. Valery-en-Caux, Fécamp, Havre, Lillebonne and Caudebec to Rouen, then Gournay-en-Bray and Crèvecoeur. The Havre to Rouen road by the coast is the very hilly "Route d'en bas"; the alternative "Route d'en haut" by Bolbec and Yvetot is less interesting, good and hilly. Branches from Tancarville to Honfleur and from Caudebec to Elbeuf and Louviers are also given; loose surface near Eu and Criel.
- Abbeville to Châteauroux (489 kil.) by Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Rouen, Bernay, Gacé, Alençon, Le Mans, St. Calais, Vendôme, Blois, Selles-sur-Cher and Levroux. Good road to Rouen, then undulating and monotonous to Bourgtheroulde, good from Gacé to Alençon, rough, stony and very hilly from Alençon to Le Mans, and good with stiff hills from Le Mans to Blois.
- A short cross-country link from Alençon by Mamers and La Ferté-Bernard to St. Calais, joining Route 5. Gives hotels at each town and fork-by-fork directions, keeping to the left at the first fork and to the right at the second.
- Lille to Pontoise (229 kil.) by Pont-Maudit, Hénin-Liétard, Arras, Bienvillers, Rubempré, Amiens, Flers, Breteuil, Beauvais, Méru and Amblainville, with rail on to Paris as the road is vile. The canal is followed to Pont-Maudit, the road is fair to Arras with few hills, Rubempré to Rainneville is undulating and there is a 1 kil. descent into Amiens; an alternative by Haubourdin, Carvin and Oignies is also tabulated.
- Boulogne to Strassburg (about 617 kil.) by Montreuil, Hesdin, St. Pol, Arras, Cambrai, Le Cateau, Le Nouvion, Hirson, Mézières, Sédan, Stenay, Verdun, Gravelotte, Metz, Château-Salins, Sarrebourg, Phalsbourg and Saverne. The first 5 kil. are very bad, the Route Nationale is paved from St. Pol to Le Cateau, the Mars-la-Tour and Rezonville frontier posts are noted, and the descent into Saverne is very winding and dangerous; a shorter hillier way from Saverne to Strassburg is also given.
- Hesdin to La Capelle (158 kil.) by the Canche valley, Frévent, Avesnes-le-Comte, Arras, Bourlon, Cambrai, Bohain and Guise. Avesnes to Vanquetin is undulating with a long descent into Arras.
- Cambrai to Chimay by Le Cateau, Landrecies, Maroilles, Avesnes and Trélon. The road is paved as far as Le Cateau; at Lagroise the way turns off to the left, and a fork after Maroilles goes to the right.
- Verdun to Gravelotte by Etain, Warcq, Conflans and Doncourt-lès-Conflans. Long stiff climb and descent out of Verdun, a keep-straight-on warning at Warcq, very hilly beyond Conflans and a stiff climb of 1,500 metres after Larmy.
- Sédan to Strassburg by Carignan, Montmédy, Longuyon, Longwy, Thionville, Sarrelouis, Saarbrücken, Sarreguemines, Saarunion, Drulingen, Phalsbourg and Saverne, with the shortest but hilliest finish by Wiltheim and Stützheim. Fearfully hilly at Völklingen, a very winding dangerous descent into Saverne and a poor road at Fürdenheim.
- Sédan to Saarbrücken (201 kil.) by Carignan, Montmédy, Longuyon, Pierrepont, Metz, Courcelles-Chaussy, St. Avold and Forbach. Very hilly country around Courcelles, with a steep descent before Saarbrücken.
- Sédan to Autun by Vouziers, Châlons-sur-Marne, Arcis-sur-Aube, Troyes, St. Florentin, Auxerre, Clamecy, Corbigny and Château-Chinon, with alternative finishes to Vitteaux or Fère-Champenoise. Fair road to Troyes, hilly from Troyes onward, and a poor surface beyond Villeseneux on the Fère-Champenoise branch.
- Nancy to Briare by Neuves-Maisons, Colombey, Neufchâteau, Rimaucourt, Chaumont, Châtillon-sur-Seine, Tonnerre, Chablis, Auxerre, Toucy and St. Fargeau. A stiff climb of 3 kil. out of Nancy, good and level to Maizières, steep climbs after Andelot and a fair, hilly, not very interesting stretch from Auxerre to Briare.
- Sens to Charleville (236 kil.) by Nogent-sur-Seine, Sézanne, Champaubert, Epernay, Reims, Isles-sur-Suippe, Réthel and Mézières. Fair road at the start, a capital road from Reims, a nice run down into Réthel and a long climb out, dangerous descents on either side of Launois, and a paved stretch from Mézières to Charleville.
- Dormans to Montmédy by Verneuil, Ville-en-Tardenois, Chambrecy, Bligny, Pargny, Reims, Isles-sur-Suippe, Réthel, Vouziers, Buzancy and Stenay, with a more direct way that avoids Réthel. A climb from Verneuil is followed by a 2 kil. run down and a 6 kil. climb, then it is very hilly beyond Chambrecy; the road to Réthel is good with a nice run into the paved town.
- Sédan to Bourg by Mouzon, Stenay, Verdun, St. Mihiel, Commercy, Vaucouleurs, Domrémy, Neufchâteau, Langres, Dijon, Beaune, Chagny, Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus and Montrevel, with an alternative from Neufchâteau by Colombey to Toul. Stiff hills but mostly good road, rather monotonous to Commercy, skirting the vineyards from Dijon.
- Paris to Arlon by La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Montmirail, Châlons-sur-Marne, Ste. Menehould, Clermont-en-Argonne, Verdun, Etain, Spincourt and Longuyon, taking rail for the first 45 kil. because the road is paved. Good and pretty with few hills, a stiff climb of 4 kil. to Ste. Menehould and a poor first 10 kil. from Châlons; an alternative from Paris by Lagny and Meaux and a branch by Charly and Château-Thierry are also given.
- Meaux to Epernay by Nanteuil, Coulommiers, La Ferté-Gaucher, Montmirail, Vauchamps, Orbais, Mareuil-en-Brie and Pierry. Frequent ascents and descents with a fine run into Coulommiers, all rideable except the climb into Montmirail.
- Dieppe to Bâle by Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Poix, Amiens, Péronne, St. Quentin, Guise, Montcornet, Réthel, Vouziers, Verdun, Conflans, Gravelotte, Metz, Nancy, Charmes, Epinal, Remiremont, Le Thillot, the Ballon d'Alsace and Belfort. Capital road at the start, a stiff climb out of Poix, bad pavé at Verdun, good from Mars-la-Tour to Gravelotte, continually up and down beyond Nancy and then level and good to Charmes.
- Metz to Pont-à-Mousson by the west bank of the Moselle through Moulins, Ars-sur-Moselle, Novéant and Pagny-sur-Moselle. Good road.
- Amiens to Ste. Menehould (about 211 kil. to Suippes) by Roye, Noyon, Chauny, Brancourt, Vailly, Bourg, Reims, Suippes and Valmy, with a branch from Noyon to Laon by Coucy-le-Château. Capital undulating road to Roye, then 9½ kil. of pavé followed by macadam; chiefly level with some hills, then very hilly, with a stiff climb followed by a steep descent.
- Dieppe to Bâle by Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Gournay-en-Bray, Clermont, Compiègne, Villers-Cotterêts, Château-Thierry, Epernay, Châlons-sur-Marne, Vitry-le-François, St. Dizier, Neufchâteau, Mirecourt, Epinal, Remiremont, the Col de Bussang, Mülhausen and Bâle. Very good road at first, with 1 kil. of pavé beyond Clermont and at Arsy, level splendid surface from Vitry to St. Dizier, a capital road up the Col de Bussang and a flat bumpy road from Mülhausen.
- Compiègne to Châlons-sur-Marne by Attichy, Soissons, Bourg, Beaurieux, Maizy, Reims and Beaumont-sur-Vesle. Level road with the first 8 kil. from Soissons paved, capital surface from Reims, and undulating beyond Petites-Loges with all hills rideable; the main road, paved at first and then macadam, is also described.
- Dieppe to Pontoise (146 kil.) by Arques, Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Forges-les-Eaux, Gournay, Gisors, Trie-Château and Chaumont-en-Vexin, with rail on to Paris as the road is vile. Undulating and hilly but all rideable to Gournay; at Gisors ask the way to Trie-Château because the main road to Pontoise is unrideable.
- Gisors to Le Pontel (76 kil.) by Magny, Arthies, Mantes, Septeuil and Neauphle-le-Vieux, with Versailles reached by Route 50a. About 1 kil. of pavé at the start, very hilly but good to Magny, very hilly and pretty to Mantes, then good road and pretty scenery.
- Three ways from Dieppe to Rouen: by Arques, Tôtes, Bellencombre and Maromme; by Tôtes, Valmartin and Malaunay; and by Bois-Robert, Pommeréval and Laboissière. The surface beyond Bellencombre is soft, there is a steep rise out of Dieppe then splendid undulating road to Tôtes, 200 metres of pavé at Valmartin and a hilly, rather bumpy third route.
- Rouen to Paris or Versailles by Pont-de-l'Arche, Vaudreuil, Gaillon, Vernon, Port-Villez, Bonnières, Rosny, Mantes, Orgeval and St. Germain-en-Laye, with an alternative by Maule and Le Pontel. Take the left-hand road at the first fork to avoid an unrideable stretch, a steep rough descent into Gaillon then very good to Vernon, half the road paved from Port-Villez, and steep hills between Flins and Hecqueville.
- A short way from Rouen to Vernon by Le Mesnil-Esnard, Boos, Pont-St.-Pierre, Amfreville and Bouafles, about 50 kil. Take the new road at the first fork passing below the church of Bon Secours, a moderate climb, and keep right near Boos and left at Bouafles.
- Dieppe to L'Aigle by Forges-les-Eaux, Argueil, Fleury-sur-Andelle, Ecouis, Les Andelys, Vernon, Pacy-sur-Eure and Evreux, with the L'Aigle branch by Conches and La Neuve-Lyre (224 kil.). Hotels and a fork-by-fork guide, turning left at Fleury and keeping right or left at the several forks and carrefours.
- Fécamp to Mantes (151 kil. to Paris-bound Route 25) by Yvetot, Barentin, Rouen, Le Mesnil-Esnard, Boos, Fleury-sur-Andelle, Ecouis and Les Thilliers, with a branch to Gisors and Magny. Yvetot to Rouen is good and hilly; Gisors to Pontoise is paved and unrideable.
- Cherbourg to St. Germain by Valognes, Carentan, Isigny, Bayeux, Caen, Lisieux, L'Hôtellerie, Evreux, Pacy-sur-Eure, Bonnières and Mantes, with a branch by Brionne and Bourgtheroulde to Rouen. A 4½ kil. climb out of Cherbourg then fine scenery, a splendid road to Bonnières, a rather bare country for 16 kil. beyond Caen, and a poor, very hilly road from Mantes.
- Cherbourg to Alençon by Valognes, Ste.-Mère-Eglise, Carentan, St. Lô, Torigny-sur-Vire, Tinchebray, Flers, Briouze-St.-Gervais and Carrouges. A long climb out of Cherbourg and a grand surface until the main road is left 4 kil. beyond Valognes; keep straight on at the carrefours.
- Vire to Alençon by Sourdeval, Mortain, Barenton, Domfront, Couterne, Couptrain, Pré-en-Pail and St. Denis, with a continuation by Le Teilleul and St. Hilaire-du-Harcouët to Pontorson. Fair road.
- Bayeux to Nantes (334 kil.) by St. Lô, Coutances, Granville, Avranches, Pontorson, Mont-St.-Michel, Antrain, Rennes, Châteaubriant, Joué-sur-Erdre and Nort. Capital surface to Granville though steep for 6 kil. from Bayeux; Granville to Avranches very hilly with a 3 kil. stiff climb out of Avranches; good surface to Pontorson and Mont-St.-Michel.
- Bayeux to La Roche-Bernard (265 kil.) by St. Lô, Villedieu-les-Poêles, Avranches, Pontorson, Antrain, Rennes, Redon and Fégréac, with a branch from Villedieu to Caen by Pont-Farcy and Villers-Bocage and another from Pontorson to Fougères. Rough and hilly beyond Villedieu, Pontorson to Rennes good, and rough to La Croix.
- Cherbourg to Brest by Valognes, St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, La Haye-du-Puits, Coutances, Granville, Avranches, Pontorson, Dol, St. Malo, Dinan, Lamballe, St. Brieuc, Guingamp, Morlaix and Landerneau. A steep climb out of Cherbourg, a poor road from St. Sauveur to Lessay, good but very hilly from Granville to Avranches with a dangerous descent, and Landerneau to Brest very hilly with a bad road; a steamer from St. Malo to Dinan is noted.
- Rennes to St. Malo by Hédé, Combourg and Dol. A long walk over pavé out of Rennes, then a few kil. of hilly and bumpy road, afterwards good until within 3 or 4 kil. of Dol; very pretty scenery near Hédé.
- St. Malo to Rennes by Châteauneuf, Le Vieux-Bourg, St. Pierre-de-Plesguen, Pleugueneuc, St. Domineuc and Hédé. Very bad for about 10 kil., then better but hilly; pretty country near Hédé and hilly and bumpy into Rennes.
- Rennes to Dinan by La Chapelle-Chaussée, Bécherel and Evran. Easy road to Bécherel.
- St. Malo to Vannes by Châteauneuf, Pleudihen, Dinan, Caulnes, St. Jouan-de-l'Isle, St. Méen, Gaël, Ploërmel, La Chapelle, Roc-St.-André and Elven, with a branch from Dinan to Dol by Lanvallay and Le Vieux-Bourg. Very bad for about 10 kil., then better but hilly, rough to St. Jouan, fearful hills from Ploërmel and a loose last 3 kil. to Vannes.
- Paris to Lamballe (387 kil., given as continuing to Brest by Route 33) by Le Mans, Coulans, Vaiges, Laval, Vitré, Rennes, Broon and Langouëdre. Hilly and loose until the last 10 kil. into Laval, then good but hilly from Laval to Vitré and fair to Rennes.
- Brest to Rennes by Landerneau, Commana, Huelgoat, Carhaix, Rostrenen, Gouarec, Loudéac, Merdrignac, St. Méen and Montfort-sur-Meu. A climb to Commana then rough road, a charming run to Carhaix, a steep dip into Gouarec, two long hills between Loudéac and Merdrignac, then fairly level.
- Morlaix to Nantes or Ancenis by Huelgoat, Carhaix, Rostrenen, Pontivy (Napoléonville), Josselin, Ploërmel, Malestroit, Redon and Nort. Very hilly and tiring but with a good surface and picturesque scenery; Ploërmel to Malestroit is rough.
- Morlaix to Lorient by Le Squiriou, Carhaix, Plouay and Hennebont. Good, hilly and picturesque.
- Vannes to Lamballe by Locminé, Pontivy (Napoléonville), Loudéac, Moncontour and Lamballe. Good but hilly with picturesque scenery.
- St. Brieuc to Port-Louis by Quintin, Uzel, St. Caradec, Pontivy (Napoléonville), Baud and Hennebont, with branches by Landévant, Locminé and Josselin. Pretty road through the Forest of Lorges.
- Lannion to Rennes (195 kil.) by Guingamp, Plésidy, Corlay, Pontivy (Napoléonville), Josselin, Ploërmel, Beignon, Plélan-le-Grand and Mordelles. Good road and picturesque scenery but very hilly, with a zigzag ascent between Beignon and Plélan.
- St. Brieuc to Landivisiau (160 kil.) by Lanvollon, Paimpol, Lézardrieux, Tréguier, Lannion, Plestin, Morlaix, St. Pol-de-Léon and Roscoff. Paimpol to Tréguier is undulating with a capital surface, with wild scenery and a steep descent into Lannion with pavé at the bottom.
- Brest to Nantes (269 kil.), taking a boat to Crozon, then Douarnenez, Quimper, Rosporden, Landévant, Auray, Vannes, La Roche-Bernard and Pont-Château. Rough road to Crozon, stony and rough from Kerlas to Douarnenez, then mostly uphill to Plonéis, with a zigzag descent to Quimper and a good hilly road to Vannes.
- Brest to Vannes (256 kil.) by Landerneau, Châteaulin, Quimper, Rosporden, Concarneau, Pont-Aven, Quimperlé, Lorient, Hennebont, Auray and Carnac. Quimper to Pont-Aven is fair and undulating, a steep descent with two awkward turns into Quimperlé, then good and undulating to Lorient.
- Caen to Nantes by Villers-Bocage, Vire, Sourdeval, Mortain, St. Hilaire-du-Harcouët, Fougères, Rennes, Derval and Nort, with branches from Fougères by Vitré to Châteaubriant and by Combourg to Dinan. Good and hilly to Vire, a 4 kil. descent into Mortain with fine scenery, and a descent to Liffré followed by a stiff climb.
- Fougères to Loudun by Laval, Château-Gonthier, Angers, Les Ponts-de-Cé, Doué-la-Fontaine and Montreuil-Bellay, with a branch from Laval by Sablé and La Flèche to Tours (136 kil.). Very pretty to Château-Gonthier and capital to Angers, the first 6 kil. from Angers bad pavé, and Doué hilly but rideable.
- Paris to Vire or Alençon by the Bois de Boulogne, Ville-d'Avray, Versailles, St. Cyr, Le Pontel, Neauphle-le-Vieux, Houdan, Dreux, Nonancourt, Verneuil, L'Aigle, Argentan and Briouze, with a branch from Verneuil by Mortagne and Mesle-sur-Sarthe to Alençon. A long, detailed street-by-street guide through Paris and Versailles; paved through Les Mesnuls and rapid descents beyond Dreux.
- Versailles to Rambouillet by St. Cyr, Les Clayes, Neauphle-le-Château, Le Pontel, Mareil-le-Guyon, Les Mesnuls and Le Perray. Undulating to Les Clayes, a stiff climb up the Côte de la Boissière then level, a long stiff climb out of Les Mesnuls and a road half paved with a rideable side track to Rambouillet.
- Neauphle-le-Vieux to Rambouillet by Mareil-le-Guyon and Les Mesnuls, or by Montfort-l'Amaury and St. Léger-en-Yvelines through the forest. The main road is paved with a good side track as far as Le Perray, then bad into Rambouillet; the St. Léger way has a gradual ascent of 2 kil.
- Trouville to Granville by Pont-l'Evêque, Lisieux, St. Pierre-sur-Dives, Falaise, Pont d'Ouilly, Condé-sur-Noireau, Vire, St. Sever and Villedieu-les-Poêles. Good to Pont-l'Evêque, then hilly and good beyond Vire.
- Laval to Trouville by Mayenne, Ambrières, Domfront, Flers, Condé-sur-Noireau, Thury, Caen and Beuzeval-Houlgate. Hilly to Mayenne, more so to Ambrières and still more to Domfront, with a steep climb out of Beuzeval.
- Honfleur to Laval by Pont-l'Evêque, Lisieux, Livarot, Vimoutiers, Argentan, Ecouché, La Ferté-Macé, Couterne, Lassay, Mayenne and Martigné-sur-Mayenne, with a branch from Vimoutiers by Gacé to Alençon. Fork directions only along the Mayenne to Laval.
- Nantes to Bordeaux (347 kil.) by Montaigu, Napoléon-Vendée, Mareuil-sur-Lay, Luçon, Marans, La Rochelle, Rochefort, Saintes, Blaye and St. André-de-Cubzac, with a branch by Mirambeau, Jonzac, Cognac and Aigre to Ruffec (112 kil.). The road runs through dreary heath land to Mareuil, where a fine corn-producing country begins; Rochefort to Bordeaux is flat.
- La Rochelle to Argentat (322 kil.) by Surgères, St. Jean-d'Angély, Matha, Rouillac, Angoulême, Brantôme, Périgueux and Brive, with Aurillac reached by Route 56. Hilly but practicable without over-exertion, with pretty scenery.
- Poitiers to Aurillac by Lussac-les-Châteaux, Bussière-Poitevine, Bellac, Limoges, Uzerche, Tulle and Argentat, with a branch from Bussière-Poitevine by Le Dorat and La Souterraine to Guéret. Fair to Fleuré, hilly and loose for 15 kil. before Lussac, 14 kil. rough and loose before Le Gros-Dognon, and pretty country to Guéret.
- Rochefort to Clermont-Ferrand by Saintes, Cognac, Jarnac, Angoulême, La Rochefoucauld, Chabanais, St. Junien, Limoges, Bourganeuf, Aubusson and Pont-Gibaud, continuing to Lyons by Route 58. The book warns that the road is excessively hilly and unfit for cycling from Angoulême onward, and that Aubusson is surrounded by mountains.
- Lyons to Clermont-Ferrand by Feurs, Noirétable, Thiers and Pont-du-Château, with the continuation through Le Bourg-Lastic and Brive to Périgueux, Libourne and Bordeaux, and a Thiers to Roanne branch. Pretty country but fatiguing, with 6 kil. along a precipice between La Bergère and Thiers; Brive to Libourne is good with few hills.
- Poitiers to La Rochelle by Lusignan, St. Maixent, Niort, Frontenay, Mauzé and Ferrières. Good road with some stiff but short climbs, a fine run down into Niort, some pretty scenery, and a dusty, poor last 12 kil.
- Nantes to Maisons-Blanches by Les Sorinières, Aizenay, La Mothe-Achard, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Luçon, Fontenay-le-Comte, Niort and Melle. Five kil. of pavé and a long climb out of Nantes, then bumpy; good to Les Sables, hilly to Talmont, bad to Luçon, then good and level to Fontenay.
- Paris to Nantes by Rambouillet (reached by rail, the road being paved), Chartres, Courville, Nogent-le-Rotrou, La Ferté-Bernard, Le Mans, La Flèche, Angers and Ancenis; an alternative runs from Chartres by Illiers, Brou, Montdoubleau, St. Calais, Bouloire, Le Mans and Sablé to Château-Gontier. Fair road from Chartres to Courville, soft and loose before Nogent, very good from Le Mans to St. Georges, and a picturesque stretch from Angers.
- Nantes to Châteauroux or Montluçon by Clisson, Mortagne, Bressuire, Parthenay, Poitiers, Chauvigny, Le Blanc, St. Gaultier and La Châtre. Rough and poor to Clisson and pretty near it, a good road to Parthenay, then a dangerous winding descent followed by a climb into Poitiers.
- Paris to St. Malo by Chartres, Courville, La Loupe, Rémalard, Bellême, Mamers, Alençon, Pré-en-Pail, Mayenne, Ernée, Fougères, Antrain and Dol, with an alternative by Nogent-le-Rotrou and a branch from Fougères to Pontorson. Steep descents near Bellême and Mamers, long hills from Alençon to Pré-en-Pail, hilly from Mayenne to Ernée and very hilly from Ernée to Fougères.
- Dreux to Laval by Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais, Rémalard, Bellême, Mamers, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, Sillé-le-Guillaume and Evron, with a branch from Mamers to Alençon. Hilly and loose from Rémalard to Bellême, and hilly through the forest of Perseigne.
- Laval to Redon by Cossé-le-Vivien, Craon, Pouancé, Derval and Guéméné-Penfao, with two forks to keep right.
- Tours to Napoléon-Vendée by Luynes, Langeais, Chouzé-sur-Loire, Saumur, Doué-la-Fontaine, Cholet and Les Herbiers, with a branch from Tours by Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon and Richelieu to Châtellerault. Bumpy in the middle but better at the sides along the Loire, winding hills at Concourson and Trémont, and the Chinon to Saumur road by Montsoreau is vile.
- Saumur to Rennes by Les Rosiers, Angers, Le Lion-d'Angers, Segré, Pouancé and Châteaubriant, with a branch from Angers by Les Ponts-de-Cé, Chemillé and Cholet. Three stretches of pavé through Les Ponts-de-Cé; mostly good road, with a steep dangerous climb beyond Chemillé and a bumpy section near Cholet.
- Le Mans to Marennes by Arnage, Le Lude, Vernantes, Saumur, Montreuil-Bellay, Thouars, Parthenay, Niort, Surgères and Rochefort. Flat to Pontlieue, three stiff hills to Arnage, pretty to Le Lude and good from Le Mans though loose in hot weather, very hilly from Vernantes, steep descents around Montreuil-Bellay, and a bad winding road from Rochefort.
- Saumur to Royan by Montsoreau, Fontevrault, Loudun, Mirebeau, Poitiers, Lusignan, Melle, St. Jean-d'Angély, Saintes and Saujon. Undulating after a mile of paved tramway out of Saumur, with a stiff climb into Fontevrault, a winding climb and tortuous descent to Loudun, and a very steep hill before Auxances.
- Paris to Tours (226 kil.) by Villeneuve-St.-Georges (15 kil. by rail as the road is paved), Champrosay, St. Vrain, Etampes, Autruy, Orléans, Beaugency, Blois and Amboise, with an alternative from Orléans by Cléry, Blois, Montrichard and Loches. A very long hill from Graviers, a very steep descent into Autruy, bad road for 7 kil. through the forest of Orléans, mostly good but tedious on to Blois, and dusty and uneven after La Frillière.
- Paris to Bordeaux by Chartres, Bonneval, Châteaudun, Vendôme, Tours, Châtellerault, Poitiers, Ruffec, Barbezieux, Montguyon and Libourne, with an alternative from Vendôme by Château-du-Loir, Le Lude and La Flèche and a branch from Ruffec by Angoulême. Splendid undulating but uninteresting road to Bonneval, poor from Châtellerault to Poitiers, very hilly from Poitiers, and advice to avoid 25 kil. of pavé between Montlieu and St. André.
- Châteaudun to Limoges by Blois, Contres, St. Aignan, Châtillon-sur-Indre, Le Blanc, Le Dorat and Bellac, with a branch from Châteaudun to Beaugency. The first 12 kil. are rather rough, then capital.
- Paris to Toulouse by Etampes, Orléans, La Ferté-St.-Aubin, Vierzon, Châteauroux, Argenton, Limoges, Uzerche, Brive, Souillac, Cahors and Montauban, with a branch by Romorantin to Châteauroux. A splendid level road from Orléans to Vatan, monotonous to Vierzon, very hilly and picturesque from Uzerche to Donzenac, very hilly as far as Caussade, and a splendid level road from Montauban to Toulouse.
- Limoges to Irun or Biarritz by Périgueux, Mussidan, Bordeaux, Langon, Mont-de-Marsan, Dax, Bayonne and St. Jean-de-Luz. Hilly to Périgueux; the road from Bordeaux to Dax over the Landes is mostly paved, Bordeaux to Langon is fair and level, and Bayonne to St. Jean-de-Luz is good but hilly, then good to Irun.
- Périgueux to Cauterets by Mussidan, Bergerac, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Agen, Lectoure, Auch, Rabastens, Tarbes, Lourdes, Argelès and Pierrefitte. A pretty valley and level road to Mussidan, many stiff hills to Villeneuve, Agen to Auch good and mostly level with three stiff climbs, bad from Auch with very long steep hills, and level and very good from Tarbes to Lourdes.
- Bordeaux to Gabas by St. Justin, Villeneuve-de-Marsan, Aire, Garlin, Auriac, Pau, Gan, Rébénacq, Louvie-Juzon, Laruns and Eaux-Bonnes. Level and very good to Villeneuve and Aire, a steep ascent from Aire with a fine view of the Pyrenees, three steep hills to descend and two to walk up beyond Auriac, and a stiff climb of 4 kil. from Laruns.
- Aire to Agen by Condom and La Plume. The book calls the road horrible and advises going by Villeneuve-de-Marsan, St. Justin, Houeillès and Port-Ste.-Marie (Route 77) instead.
- Aire to Agen by Villeneuve-de-Marsan, St. Justin, Houeillès, Damazan, St. Léger and Port-Ste.-Marie, with a second way from St. Justin by Gabarret, Lavardac, Mézin and Nérac. Very good and almost level to Villeneuve, good and level to near Damazan, then fair and hilly; the Nérac way is good and hilly, then less hilly toward the Garonne.
- Pau to Lourdes, Pierrefitte, Luz, St. Sauveur, Gavarnie, with a branch to Cauterets and on to Barèges. Level and good to Lourdes, fair from Lourdes to Pierrefitte, a gentle rise then a good rideable climb, and a stiff but good road from St. Sauveur.
- Bayonne to Oloron by Hasparren, Bonloc, Trissary, St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, Larceveau, St. Just, Mauléon, Tardets and Montory, with a bad surface noted from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port onward.
- Pau to the Eaux-Bonnes by Belair, Oloron, Izeste, Louvie-Juzon and Laruns, or to the Eaux-Chaudes by Gan, Rébénacq, Sévignac, Louvie-Juzon, Bielle and Béost. The first 8 kil. level, then 11 kil. hilly and 14 level on the first, and a long stiff climb to Sévignac with more picturesque scenery beyond Gan on the second; a stiff climb from Laruns.
- Bagnères-de-Bigorre to Bagnères-de-Luchon by Capvern, Lannemezan, Montréjeau and Estenos. Good road but very hilly.
- Bordeaux to Vielle by Langon, Casteljaloux, Nérac, Condom, Valence, Auch, Masseube, Castelnau-Magnoac, Lannemezan, Sarrancolin and Arreau. Good and almost level to Casteljaloux, fair and very hilly beyond, Auch to Lannemezan good and almost level, then a continuous rise with some stiff hills; hotels at Arreau and Vielle exorbitant.
- Mont-de-Marsan to Orthez by St. Sever. Capital to St. Sever, then good but very hilly.
- Auch to Montauban by Leboulin, Nougaroulet, St. Antonin, Salomiac and Beaumont-de-Lomagne, with the hotel at Montauban named.
- Dax to Canfranc by Pouillon, Orthez, Oloron, Sarrance, Bédous, Urdos and the Somport. Fair but hilly to Orthez, hilly beyond, then a continuous climb with a good surface from Oloron to Urdos, the last French village.
- Bayonne to Narbonne by Peyrehorade, Orthez, Pau, Tarbes, Lannemezan, Montréjeau, St. Gaudens, Muret, Toulouse, Castelnaudary, Carcassonne and Moux, with a branch from Pau to Lourdes. A good but very hilly road out of Bayonne with steep hills all rideable except St. Esprit, Orthez to Pau level and good, Tarbes to Lannemezan fair, and Toulouse onward flat and dusty.
- St. Gaudens to Carcassonne by Prat, St. Girons, Montesquieu, Le Mas-d'Azil, Pamiers, Mirepoix and Fanjeaux, with a branch from St. Gaudens to Bagnères-de-Luchon by Estenos. Hills steep and numerous.
- Mont-de-Marsan to Carcassonne by Aire, Vic-Fézensac, Auch, Gimont, L'Isle-en-Jourdain, Toulouse, Saverdun, Pamiers, Foix, Lavelanet, Chalabre and Limoux. Aire to Auch is poor and Saverdun to Foix level.
- Perpignan to Montréjeau by Millas, Ille, Prades, Olette, Mont-Louis, Bourg-Madame, the Col de Puymorens, L'Hospitalet, Ax, Tarascon, Foix, St. Girons and St. Gaudens. Fair with stiff climbs to Villefranche, about 4 kil. to walk up the Col de Puymorens then 29 kil. downhill, bad from Ax to Les Cabanes and good from Tarascon.
- Toulouse to Bordeaux by Castelsarrasin, Moissac, Agen, Aiguillon, Tonneins, Marmande, La Réole and Langon, with a branch to Pauillac and one from Port-Ste.-Marie to Nérac. Level and good but uninteresting and dusty to Moissac, hilly beyond, splendid from Aiguillon, poor from Tonneins, long steep hills past La Mothe-Landeron, and good on to Bordeaux.
- Alby to Prats-de-Mollo by Castres, Mazamet, Carcassonne, Limoux, Caudiès, St. Paul-de-Fenouillet, Perpignan, Argelès-sur-Mer, Port-Vendres, Le Boulou and Amélie-les-Bains, with a lesser-hilly alternative from Perpignan by Le Boulou. Good surface and a fine mountainous route from Alby to Castres, level from Perpignan, and a very hilly road from Port-Vendres to Argelès.
- Orléans to Laon by Pithiviers, Malesherbes, Fontainebleau, Melun, Meaux, May-en-Multien, La Ferté-Milon, Soissons and Coucy-le-Château. Good surface from Meaux but fearfully hilly with several dangerous descents between Varreddes and Mareuil, a delightful forest road to Longpont, and a left-hand road out of Soissons because the main road to Laon is paved.
- Pithiviers to Sens by Boynes, Beaumont-en-Gâtinais, Gironville, Nemours and Chéroy; listed as a table of places and distances without remarks.
- Orléans to Brienne by Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, Lorris, Montargis, Courtenay, Sens, Villeneuve-l'Archevêque, Estissac, Troyes and Piney, with a branch from Sens to St. Florentin. Very hilly and rough, the book advising Sens to St. Florentin by Joigny instead.
- Alençon to Briare by Mamers, Bellême, Nogent-le-Rotrou, Châteaudun, Patay, Orléans, Châteauneuf-sur-Loire and Gien, with a branch by Sully to Châtillon-sur-Loire. Mostly fair road, stiff climbs near Mamers and Bellême, Châteaudun to St. Cloud fair, then bad and level, and good and level from Gien.
- Caen to Varennes by Falaise, Argentan, Alençon, Le Mans, Château-du-Loir, Tours, Loches, Châtillon-sur-Indre, Châteauroux, La Châtre, Guéret and Montluçon, with a branch from Châteauroux by Argenton and Eguzon to Guéret. Alençon to Le Mans is good but very hilly, Tours to Châteauroux is good, and the stretch between Guéret and Montluçon should be avoided.
- Châteauroux to Vesoul by Issoudun, Bourges, La Charité, Clamecy, Vézelay, Avallon, Semur, Dijon and Gray. Good to Bourges, hilly and unsatisfactory beyond, a picturesque and good road from Vézelay to Avallon, and good but hilly from Vitteaux.
- Rouen to Orléans by Louviers, Evreux, Nonancourt, Dreux, Chartres, Voves and Patay, with a branch by Pacy-sur-Eure and Ivry-la-Bataille to Dreux. Fair to Louviers then level and good to Evreux, a steep hill out of Evreux, a climb out of Dreux, 3 kil. of pavé between Léves and Chartres, and fair road to Orgères but hard to find.
- Etampes to Joigny by Pithiviers, Montargis, Château-Renard, Charny and Toucy, with a branch to Auxerre. Fork-by-fork directions only; keep right at the first forks and left after Pithiviers.
- Paris to Lyon (by Lieusaint, Melun, Fontainebleau, Nemours, Montargis, Briare, Nevers, Moulins, Roanne and Tarare), with a branch from Nevers to Avallon by Corbigny. Paris to Villeneuve and the Route Nationale to Fontainebleau are paved, Fontainebleau to Nemours is a splendid road, a zigzag climb comes before the pass near Pain-Bouchain, and the street directions through Melun and Fontainebleau are detailed.
- Moulins to Nîmes by Varennes, Vichy, Thiers, Courpière, Ambert, Le Puy, Pradelles, Villefort, Alais and La Calmette, with a long steep descent beyond Pradelles.
- Neuvy-sur-Loire to Clamecy by Arquian, St. Amand-en-Puisaye, Entrains and Oisy. Rough and stony until within 3 kil. of Entrains, then better; very hilly with fine scenery and a nice long run down near Clamecy.
- Lyons to Nevers by Champagne, La Clayette, St. Yan, Digoin and Decize, then on to Fontainebleau and Paris by Route 99. The best and shortest route, with a stiff 3 kil. climb before Champagne and a capital road from Digoin to Nemours.
- Lyons to Joigny (334 kil. to Paris by Route 114) by Anse, Villefranche, Mâcon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, Chagny, La Rochepot, Avallon, Auxerre and Joigny, with a branch from Chagny by Beaune to Dijon. Anse to Mâcon level and good, an uninteresting country around Avallon, and a fine view over Auxerre from the hill.
- Lyons to Strassburg by Miribel, Meximieux, Pont-d'Ain, Bourg, Lons-le-Saunier, Poligny, Besançon, Baume-les-Dames, Belfort, Rouffach, Colmar and Schlettstadt, with a Mülhausen branch. A few hills and an uninteresting road to Lons-le-Saunier, hilly and attractive beyond, good from Belfort and some rideable hills after Rouffach.
- Roanne to Valence by Feurs, Montrond, St. Etienne, Bourg-Argental, Annonay, St. Vallier and Tain. Very stiff hills especially between St. Etienne and Ponchon, a long ascent over the Mont Pilat range after St. Etienne, and an uninteresting stretch with about 8 kil. to be walked.
- Nevers to Mâcon by Decize, Bourbon-Lancy, Digoin, Paray-le-Monial, Charolles and Bergesserin. Nevers to Decize hilly, rough and loose, then sandy and loose to Digoin and rather better to Paray.
- Moulins to Toulouse by St. Pourçain, Gannat, Riom, Clermont-Ferrand, Issoire, Massiac, St. Flour, Rodez, Alby, Gaillac and Toulouse. Very hilly with a fine view from the hill before Espalion.
- St. Flour to Montpellier by St. Chély, Serverette, Mende, Florac, Valleraugue and Ganges, with a branch from St. Chély by Séverac and Milhau to Alby. The branch runs down the valley of the Colagne.
- No. 106. Massiac, Aurillac, Figeac, Villefranche, Caussade, Montauban or Cahors (opens in a new tab)Massiac to Montauban by Murat, Thiézac, Aurillac, Maurs, Figeac, Villefranche and Caussade, with a branch from Figeac by Gramat and Pélacoy to Cahors.
- Rodez to Montpellier by Milhau, La Cavalerie, Le Caylar, Lodève and Gignac, with a branch from Lodève by Clermont to Pézenas. Peacefully hilly with picturesque scenery.
- Beaumont-en-Gâtinais to Riom by Sully-sur-Loire, Henrichemont, Bourges, Levet, St. Amand-Montrond, Montluçon, Montaigut and Combronde, with a branch from Montluçon by Souvigny to Moulins. Take the left at La Chapelle-d'Angillon because the main road has a fearful hill.
- Mâcon to Nantua by Bourg, Jasseron, Col, Thoirette, Matafélon and Izernore. Good and hilly, with a 3 kil. stiff climb and then a steep descent.
- Mâcon to Nantua by Bourg, Pont-d'Ain, Cerdon and Poncin. Capital road, with the climb noted as 8 kil.
- Mâcon to Geneva by Bourg, Col, Thoirette, St. Claude, Septmoncel, the Col de la Faucille and Gex, with a branch to Morez. Good but hilly, a stiff climb to the Col, level and good from Thoirette to Dortan then fair to St. Claude, and 2 kil. stiff climb to the Faucille followed by a 9 kil. steep descent.
- Dieppe to Joigny by Gisors, Mantes, Septeuil, St. Léger-en-Yvelines, Rambouillet, Dourdan, Etampes, Malesherbes, Beaumont-en-Gâtinais, Montargis and Courtenay. Good road to Septeuil, mostly downhill from Richebourg, a good road through the forest from Clairefontaine, pavé into Dourdan, and an unrideable climb to Les Granges-le-Roi.
- Versailles to Malesherbes by Palaiseau, Longjumeau, Epinay-sur-Orge, St. Vrain, St. Aubin, La Ferté-Alais, Maisse and Boigneville. Short steep ascents and descents out of Versailles, a stiff climb before Epinay with a dangerous descent after, 1½ kil. of bad pavé near Liers, and a long winding climb through a wood after the Moulin de la Brière.
- Châtillon-sur-Seine to Chalon-sur-Saône by Montbard, Semur, Précy-sous-Thil, Saulieu, Autun and St. Léger-sur-Dheune, as a table of places, distances and hotels.
- Nevers to Autun through Château-Chinon, as a table of places and hotels.
- Châtillon-sur-Seine to Geneva by Montbard, Semur, Pouilly-en-Auxois, Bligny-sur-Ouche, Beaune, Bletterans, Lons-le-Saunier, Orgelet, Moirans, St. Claude, the Col de la Faucille and Gex. Includes a 2 kil. stiff climb to the Col then a 9 kil. steep descent.
- Dôle to Nantua by Tassenières, Mantry, Lons-le-Saunier, Orgelet and Matafélon, with a 3 kil. stiff climb and a steep descent noted near Nantua.
- Lyons to Fréjus (446 kil.) by Vienne, Condrieu, Andance (crossing the Rhône), Valence, Montélimar, Orange, Avignon, Orgon, Aix, Brignoles, Lorgues and Draguignan, with an alternative from Draguignan to Grasse. The left bank of the Rhône is frightfully hilly to Vienne, the road improves from Montélimar, Avignon to Aix is undulating with a splendid surface.
- Lyons to Le Luc by Salon, Marseille, Aubagne, Roquevaire, Tourves and Brignoles, about 425 kil. Includes a very stiff 3 kil. climb near La Viste, a steep descent and 34 kil. of pavé near Marseille.
- Marseilles to Perpignan by St. Antoine, Salon, St. Martin, Arles, Tarascon, Beaucaire, Nîmes, Lunel, Montpellier, Béziers and Narbonne. Hilly from Langon to Salon, splendid to St. Martin, fair on to Arles, and a street-by-street start out of Marseilles.
- Avignon to Toulouse by the Pont du Gard (well worth visiting), Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers, St. Pons, Puylaurens and Castres. Undulating and good to Nîmes, then very hilly from Montpellier.
- Grenoble to Valence by Voreppe, Moirans, Tullins, Vinay, St. Marcellin and Romans on the right bank. Good scenery, two stiff climbs before Voreppe and a steep descent after.
- Grenoble to Valence on the left bank by Voreppe, St. Quentin, St. Gervais and Bourg-du-Péage. Fewer hills and villages and less picturesque than the right bank.
- Valence to Gap by Crest, Saillans, Die, Luc, the Col de Cabre and Veynes. Long tiring hills but a good surface and grand scenery, with numerous zigzags up the Col de Cabre.
- Avignon to Digne by Châteauneuf, L'Isle-sur-Sorgues, Apt, Forcalquier, Peyruis and Malijay, with hotels given at each stage.
- Lyons to Geneva by Montluel, Meximieux, Ambérieu, Tenay, Culoz, Seyssel and Bellegarde, with an alternative by Pont-de-Chazey. Good road except 5 kil. of loose surface across the Camp de Valbonne, good to Tenay then very hilly with a good surface, and a very steep 3 kil. descent beyond Billiat.
- Nantua to Geneva by Col de Sylans, Châtillon-de-Michaille, Bellegarde, Fort de l'Ecluse, Collonges and Chancy. A very picturesque route with a climb of 2 kil. too steep to ride at the Col, a vile surface beyond Collonges and a very stiff climb after the Rhône.
- Lyons to Susa (275 kil.) by Bron, La Tour-du-Pin, Les Abrets, Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin, Chambéry, Montmélian, Aiguebelle, St. Jean-de-Maurienne, St. Michel, Modane, Termignon, Lans-le-Bourg and the Col du Mont Cenis. Good to St. André-le-Gaz, a steep descent before Pressins and a dangerous hill at Le Pont, rough torrent beds beyond St. Jean, and five very steep winding ascents to the Col then a vile, rather steep descent.
- Chambéry to Geneva by Grésy, Albens, Alby, Cruseilles and St. Julien. A severe climb after Gy, with stones sticking out of the ground and very long steep hills from Alby.
- Geneva to Chambéry by Carouge, St. Julien, Cruseilles, Pont de la Caille, Annecy, Faverges, Albertville, Pont-Royal and Montmélian. Bumpy to St. Julien, good and mostly uphill to Cruseilles with two hills to walk, then a gradual descent to Annecy; duty is levied on machines at Pont de la Caille.
- Grenoble to Chambéry by St. Robert, Voreppe, the Col de la Placette, St. Joseph-de-Rivière, St. Laurent-du-Pont, Les Echelles and St. Thibaud-de-Couz. Level and rough for 2½ kil., a steep descent beyond St. Robert, 6 kil. to walk up beyond Voreppe, a dangerous 4 kil. descent from the Col de la Placette, and a warning to walk the road to the Grande Chartreuse.
- An alternative from Voreppe to Chambéry by Voiron, St. Geoire, St. Béron, Pont-de-Beauvoisin, Yenne and Le Bourget, less hilly and more curious but 11 kil. longer. A very steep descent and ascent, a dangerous 900 metre descent at St. Geoire, a continuous ascent to Le Chevelu with a 4½ kil. climb, and a 7 kil. descent from the Col with dangerous turns for bicycles.
- Les Echelles to Le Chevelu by Attignat-Oncin, Le Gué-des-Planches and Novalaise, and a second line from Les Echelles by Chaille to Pont-de-Beauvoisin. A good surface, but so many long steep hills that the book calls it unsuitable for cyclists; the second line is fair and nearly level.
- Grenoble to Mâcon by Lancey, Froges, Tencin, Goncelin, Pontcharra, Chambéry, Le Bourget, Yenne, Belley, St. Rambert, Pont-d'Ain and Bourg. Better from Grenoble to Chambéry, bumpy to Lancey then good but very hilly, a long stiff climb beyond Villard-Bonnot, and good level road with a fine view from the Isère bridge beyond Pontcharra.
- Chambéry to Grenoble by St. Jeoire, Chapareillan, Le Touvet, Crolles and Bernin. Very good beyond Chapareillan, with a very steep ascent and descent after Le Touvet and a stiff climb beyond Crolles.
- Chambéry to Aosta (196 kil. by Italian route to Turin) by Montmélian, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime, Bourg-St.-Maurice, the Hospice and Col du Petit St. Bernard, La Thuile, Pré-St.-Didier and Morgex. Roads good on the French side but bad on the Italian, most hills not very steep, with uphill from Bourg-St.-Maurice to the Col and the Italian customs house about 5 kil. of good road before Courmayeur.
- Lyons to Grenoble by Brou, St. Laurent-de-Mure, La Verpillière, Bourgoin, St. André-le-Gaz, Les Abrets, Voiron and Voreppe. Several short hills, a gentle continuous rise after La Tour and a frightful ascent beyond St. André.
- Lyons to Grenoble by Vienne, La Détourbe, Cravonay, La Frette, Rives and Voreppe. The book calls the preceding route by Bourgoin far superior, since this one is fearfully rough and hilly, and advises avoiding the Poste hotel at Rives.
- Grenoble to Nice (335 kil.) by Vif, the Col du Fau, Clelles, the Col de Lus-la-Croix-Haute, Aspres-les-Veynes, Serres, Laragne, Sisteron, Digne, Barrême, the Col des Vergons, Entrevaux and Puget-Théniers. Good and level to Vif then a stiff continuous climb, nearly 5 kil. to walk, a steep 5 kil. descent, sandy and stony Laragne to Sisteron, and a steep continuous 11 kil. descent from the Col des Vergons.
- Digne to Brignoles by Estoublon, Riez, Quinson and Barjols, with a table of distances and hotels.
- Barrême to Nice by Taulanne, Castellane, Escragnolles, St. Vallier, Grasse, Cannes, Antibes and Cagnes, with a direct road from Grasse to Nice and a branch from Grasse to Draguignan. Bad inns at Barrême, a road from Castellane to Pont-St.-Julien, and a stiff climb up the Col de Basse.
- Grenoble to Susa by Pont-la-Dame, Veynes, Gap, Chorges, Savines, Embrun, La Roche, La Bessée, Briançon, the Col du Mont Genèvre, Cesana, Oulx and Exilles. Avoid the road by La Mure, take the new road from Gap to Remollon, a very steep climb beyond Les Crottes, 5 kil. to walk up the Col, and a steep descent with good surface to Cesana.
- Grenoble to Turin by Vizille, Séchilienne, Le Bourg-d'Oisans, the Col du Lautaret, Briançon, the Mont Genèvre, Cesana, the Col de Sestrières, Fénestrelles, Pinerolo, Piossasco and Orbassano. The ascent from Bourg-d'Oisans to the Lautaret is nearly continuous (about 15 kil. to walk), a very steep descent of 5 kil. from the Col, and Pinerolo to Piossasco is very good.
- Grenoble to Marseilles by Sisteron, Château-Arnoux, Peyruis, Manosque, Mirabeau, Peyrolles, Aix and St. Antoine. Fair to Manosque with no bad hills, a bad rutty descent after Mirabeau, a 7 kil. climb beyond Peyrolles with a steep descent and a turn (bicyclists beware), then a long run into Aix.
- Marseilles to Nice by Aubagne, Le Beausset, Ollioules, Toulon, Cuers, Pignans, Le Luc, Le Muy, Fréjus, the Col de l'Esterel, Cannes, Antibes and Cagnes, with a branch from Toulon by Hyères and St. Tropez to Brignoles. Hilly and fair to Le Luc, a steep descent before Cuges, and 4 kil. to walk out of Fréjus plus a climb of 5½ kil. to the Esterel.
- Paris to Vitry-le-François by Ozouer-la-Ferrière, Sézanne, Fère-Champenoise and Coole, with the rest to St. Dizier and Bâle by Routes 151 and 21. Capital road, a stiff climb then a long rapid descent into Sézanne.
- Paris to Sézanne by rail to Villiers-sur-Marne, then Croissy, Crécy-en-Brie, Coulommiers, La Ferté-Gaucher and Esternay, with a branch to Epernay. A steep descent to Villiers-sur-Morin, some rough pieces after Crécy, then good and hilly, with no hotel between La Ferté-Gaucher and Sézanne.
- Paris to Crécy-en-Brie by rail to Lagny, then Chessy and St. Germain-les-Couilly, with Coulommiers 17 kil. beyond. Leave Lagny by the Rue St. Denis up a long hill; a fine run down into St. Germain and some patches of pavé between Lagny and Crécy.
- Paris to Bâle (386 kil. from Nogent) by Rosoy, Provins, Nogent-sur-Seine, Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube, Chaumont, Langres, Vesoul, Ronchamp, Belfort, Altkirch and St. Louis, with a hillier but 7½ kil. shorter Nogent to Troyes road and a Route Nationale alternative. Descents dangerous in two places near Chalautre-la-Grande, Troyes to Bar-sur-Aube bad and rough, Langres to Vesoul bumpy, Belfort to Bâle rough and hilly.
- Nogent-sur-Seine to Nancy by Pont-sur-Seine, Méry-sur-Seine, Arcis-sur-Aube, Brienne, Joinville, Vaucouleurs and Toul, as a table of places, distances and hotels.
- Epinal to Dôle by Plombières, Fougerolles, Luxeuil, Vesoul and Besançon, with branches from Luxeuil to Lure and Belfort and from Dôle to Beaune. Bad and hilly from Plombières to Luxeuil, good from Luxeuil.
- Paris to Strassburg by St. Dizier, Toul, Nancy, Dombasle, Lunéville, Blâmont, Saarburg, Zabern and Brumath. Vitry to St. Dizier capital, good to Stainville, bumpy to Ligny and bad to Void, Toul to Nancy splendid, fair and hilly from Saarburg, a very steep hill in Zabern and bad pavé at Brumath.
- Vitry-le-François to Void by Pogny, Bar-le-Duc and Ligny-en-Barrois, with an alternative by St. Dizier and Revigny. A better road than Route 150.
- Nancy to Markolsheim by St. Nicolas-de-Port, Lunéville, Baccarat, Raon-l'Etape, St. Dié, Ste.-Marie-aux-Mines and Schlettstadt, with a branch from St. Dié by Fraize and Kaysersberg to Colmar and Alt-Breisach. Level to Lunéville, picturesque and mountainous beyond Raon, a very long hill into Ste. Marie, and a 4 kil. climb up the Col du Bonhomme with a 12 kil. climb to Kaysersberg.
- Langres to Neuchâtel by Champlitte, Gray, Recologne, Besançon, Ornans, Pontarlier, Les Verrières, Fleurier and Môtiers-Travers, with an alternative by Morteau and La Chaux-de-Fonds. Good but hilly from Langres, a grand view on approaching Neuchâtel.
- Nancy to Sarrelouis by Champenoux, Château-Salins, Baronville, Faulquemont and St. Avold, with a St. Avold link to Saarbrücken by Route 12.
- Paris to Montdidier or Breteuil by rail to Beaumont-sur-Oise, then Neuilly-en-Thelle, Cires-lès-Mello, Mouy, Clermont and St. Just-en-Chaussée. An almost continuous rise to Neuilly, a grand run down into Clermont and a stiff climb after Fitz-James; the book points to Route 157 for another way.
- Montdidier to Arras by Bouchoir, Rosières-en-Santerre, Bray-sur-Somme, Albert, Hédauville and Bucquoy, with a branch from Amiens by Beaucourt to Hédauville and one from Rosières to Roye. Usually bad road for 6 kil. beyond Bouchoir.
- Paris to Maubeuge by St. Germain, Conflans, Pontoise, L'Isle-Adam, Beaumont-sur-Oise, Creil, Pont-Ste.-Maxence, Compiègne, Carlepont, Chauny, Ribemont, Guise and Maroilles. Mostly uphill to Neuilly, a charming ride from Creil, a good towing path from Verberie, 9 kil. of capital road across the forest of Laigue, 14 kil. of pavé at Vendeuil, and a final 8 kil. paved.
- Arras to Sézanne by Bapaume, Péronne, Ham, Chauny, Coucy-le-Château, Soissons, Château-Thierry and Montmirail. The main road to Bapaume being paved, leave it about 4 kil. from Arras; partly paved from Soissons to Château-Thierry.
- Reims to Avesnes by Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne, Montcornet, Vervins and La Capelle-en-Thiérache, with a continuation to Maubeuge and a branch from Laon by Crécy-sur-Serre and Marle to Vervins. Good road to Neufchâtel; Avesnes onward paved, and 1 kil. of pavé out of Laon.
- Two ways from Laon to Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne: by Vendresse, Bourg and Pontavert (the first 7 kil. pavé with a footpath for bicycles), and by Amifontaine, St. Erme and Prouvais. A dangerous descent into Neufchâtel with the pavé beginning at a sharp corner in the middle of the hill.
- Chauny to Le Cateau by Rouvroy, St. Quentin, Morcourt, Essigny-le-Petit, Fontaine-Uterte, Montbrehain, Busigny and Brancourt, with fork directions at Rouvroy and beyond Essigny; 14 kil. of paved at Fontaine-Uterte.
- Alphabetical index of place names (the numerals refer to the pages of the book), beginning Abbeville, Agen, Aix, Alais and Albertville and running on to Voiron and Voreppe, each followed by the page numbers of the routes through it.