Sylvain Grevedon, a local councillor from Amboise, France, set out on an unusual journey. Retired, but still active in local public life and responsible for sustainable mobility, partnerships and EU affairs, he chose to go on a two-month cycling trip with his wife along part of EuroVelo 3, from Trondheim in Norway back to Amboise.
We asked Sylvain Grevedon what this journey revealed about cycling, Europe and the connections between people and places.
What inspired you to take on this two-month cycling journey?
A few years ago, I had already experienced a long-distance cycling journey, so I knew how rewarding and challenging such an adventure could be. When my partner Marie retired, we saw the perfect opportunity to take on a new challenge together and begin this new stage of life in a meaningful way.
We chose EuroVelo 3, the route linking Trondheim with Santiago de Compostela. By coincidence, it passes close to Marie's birthplace in the French Poitou region and through Amboise, where we ended our journey. That gave the project a very personal dimension. At the same time, I wanted this journey to reflect my local responsibilities and my membership to the EU Local Councillors Network. Travelling by bike across several countries offered a very direct way of seeing how connectivity, territorial links and sustainable mobility can strengthen the European project in everyday life.
What did travelling across Europe by bike reveal to you about mobility, and about Europe itself?
Beyond the beauty of the landscapes and cities, what struck me most was the experience of moving across countries with different languages, cultures, habits and, in some cases, currencies, while still being part of a shared European space. Crossing borders almost without noticing was especially powerful. You sense the differences, of course, but there is also a strong feeling of continuity, safety and belonging. For me, bike mobility is about discovering a country or region at a different rhythm and pace. It is a healthy, sustainable and inclusive way to travel, and meeting people from different cultures and generations becomes much easier.
Who were the people you met along the way, and which encounters stayed with you?
We met many fellow cyclists travelling across several countries. There were fewer in Norway, but many more in Denmark and Germany. Some very good German friends also joined us for a few days along the Rhine Valley.
We were also welcomed by several EUROPE DIRECT centres teams in Germany, Belgium and northern France. For me, that was one of the strongest highlights of the journey: each time, we were received with great enthusiasm and generosity. These moments turned the trip into something more than a cycling challenge. They made it a concrete experience of European connection and participation.
How did this journey connect with your work on Europe and sustainable mobility, and what does EU Mobility Week mean to you?
For me, Europe stands for democracy, freedom of movement and the freedom to exchange ideas and experiences. With dark clouds growing around the world, it is essential to defend what makes our continent unique. In that sense, our bikes became a simple but powerful way of experiencing and promoting this European uniqueness.
Being a member of the EU Local Councillors Network gave me an immediate opportunity to bring Europe closer to our city. Since I am also responsible for partnerships, I want to promote European values even more strongly through our partner cities, using the strength of the Network.
The EU Mobility Week is an excellent platform to encourage citizens to move differently, discover their surroundings, connect with others and reflect on how sustainable mobility can make towns and cities more liveable, more inclusive and better connected.
After travelling from Trondheim to Amboise, what do you bring back with you?
I bring back a pilgrim passport stamped in the key cities and places we visited, but also a wealth of memories: culinary discoveries, everyday habits and cultural differences that enriched us along the way.
I remember the calm spirit of Norway and Sweden, the strong sense of mutual respect in Denmark, the impressive cycling infrastructure in Germany and the unmistakable humour of Belgians.
But above all, I bring back the feeling that Europe can be experienced in a very concrete way: by travelling slowly, crossing borders, meeting people and discovering what we share while appreciating makes each place distinct.
This journey reminded me that European identity is not something distant or abstract. It is built through connections between territories, between citizens and between local experiences and common European ambitions. Routes such as EuroVelo 3 show how sustainable mobility can help make those connections visible, practical and meaningful.
- Publication date
- 18 September 2026
- Authors
- European Committee of the Regions | European Commission