Wanderlust World Wanderlust World In mid-August, around 10,000 bikers descend on the small town of Porcaro in Brittany for the festival of the Madonna of the bikers. They travel from across Europe to pay homage and receive a blessing from one of the town's priests and take part in a 45-mile pilgrimage ride. The festival was started in 1979 when a local motorcycling abbot made a pilgrimage to the town with some friends.
Every June, the Avranches motorcycle club stages the Balade du Coeur charity event in northwest France. This consists of a 90-mile ride through the French countryside that ends at the historical Mont St. Michel. Around 4,000 riders take part in the leisurely Sunday drive. The event is well-known within France and the riders are often cheered on by the inhabitants of the villages and towns that they pass through.
The French motorcycle Grand Prix is a component event of the World Motorcycle Racing season. The Grand Prix takes place over a weekend at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit. The venue is situated just over three miles from Le Mans city and around 125 miles southwest of Paris. A typical Grand Prix weekend takes place in May and sees three classes of bike racing: 125cc, Moto2 (250cc) and MotoGP (800cc).