Pannes is a small town on the northern edge of Montargis, in the Gâtinais, about a hundred kilometres south of Paris, and for most riders it is simply a fuel stop on the way south to Sancerre. It lies in a flat, agricultural landscape of wheat fields, small woods and rivers, with the suburban sprawl of Montargis and Châlette-sur-Loing to the south.
Montargis itself is worth a short detour. It is sometimes called the Venice of the Gâtinais, because the Loing river and several canals run through the town, crossed by dozens of small bridges. The canals, lined with old houses and flowers, give the town a charming, peaceful atmosphere. Montargis is also famous for the praline, a sweet of caramelised almonds, said to have been invented in the seventeenth century by the cook of the Duke of Plessis-Praslin, after whom it was named. Confectioners in the town still make them, and a small bag is a good snack for the road.
The Gâtinais is a region of gentle landscapes, with rivers like the Loing and the Ouanne winding through fields and woods, and canals like the Canal de Briare, one of the oldest canals in France, built in the early seventeenth century to link the Loire and the Seine. Further south, at Briare, the canal crosses the Loire on the Pont-Canal de Briare, a long iron aqueduct finished at the end of the nineteenth century, where boats glide across above the river. It is well worth a stop on the way to Sancerre.
The roads around Pannes are flat and straight, with little to excite the rider, but they are quiet and easy, and they cover ground quickly. Watch out for speed cameras, which are common on the main roads. Pannes, Châlette-sur-Loing and Montargis between them supply fuel, groceries and lunch. The weather is typical of the centre of France: warm summers, cool winters, with frequent changes. The light over the flat fields can be beautiful, especially in the early morning and evening.