This week-long bike & barge holiday begins in the beautiful town of Moret-sur-Loing, south of Paris, and ends in Briare on the Loire River. The tour offers a combination of history, culture, nature, and pleasant rides in a diverse landscape. You'll cycle through a historically significant part of France and visit the beautiful gardens (and if possible, the Palace) of Fontainebleau and the vast forest.
The route takes you through famous painters' villages such as Moret-sur-Loing, where Alfred Sisley lived and painted. You'll cycle primarily through gently rolling countryside with occasional steeper climbs.
The average daily distance is 40 to 50 km. Moret-sur-Loing and Briare have good train connections to Paris.
The route from day to day +km
The barge is moored in Moret-sur-Loing, near Paris. Moret-sur-Loing is a small
medieval town famous for the Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, who lived and
painted there at the end of the 19th century.
You will be arriving at our barge on Tuesday between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Upon
arrival, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. This is also a good
opportunity to meet the tour leader, skipper, crew, and, of course, your fellow
passengers.
During dinner on board the boat, the program for the next day, the general weekly
schedule, cycling instructions, and safety procedures will be discussed.
After dinner, the tour leader will take you on a short bike ride through the village.
If you didn't do so yesterday, take some time early this morning to stroll through
the city and explore the impressive city gates, the keep, and the cathedral. Our
first real bike ride of the week takes us through the gardens and Palace of
Fontainebleau to the lively town of Nemours with its 12th-century castle. In
Fontainebleau, we'll allow plenty of time for you to visit these gardens. During
the ride through the Fontainebleau Forest, you'll see many ancient rocks and
stones with surprising shapes.
After Fontainebleau, we'll return to the Loing River and take a leisurely bike ride
to our destination, Nemours, where the Clair de Lune awaits us.
This day takes us along country roads, slightly off the river, from Nemours to the
charming old town of Montargis. Almost halfway, you'll reach the small town of
Château-Landon, perched on a hilltop overlooking the river and the Loing Canal.
A perfect spot for a lunch break. After a stop here, we'll visit the archaeological
site of Aquae Segetae. In Roman times, this was a vast complex of thermal baths
and temples. It was built on an even older Celtic sanctuary. After this fascinating
piece of history, we'll drive back down the hills to Montargis on the Loing River.
Today's bike ride begins with a beautiful route to Château Renard, with its
medieval castle where even Joan of Arc spent two nights. Château Renard boasts
many charming streets and Tudor-style houses and is a lovely stop for coffee or
lunch. After this pleasant stop, we cycle along country lanes to Montcresson on
the Loing River and along the river to our destination for today: Châtillon-Coligny
on the Briare Canal.
Today's bike ride takes you to the village of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its
historic seven locks. Along the way, you'll cycle inland through a diverse landscape
and small villages. Unfortunately, there aren't many places for a coffee or lunch
break, but there are plenty of lovely spots to enjoy your packed lunch.
Before reboarding the Clair de Lune, take plenty of time to admire the fascinating
lock system of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses.
After breakfast, you'll set off on your bike for the stage to Briare on the Loire. First,
you'll cycle through the lake region of Ouzouer-sur-Trézée before arriving at the
17th-century Château de Bussiere. After a visit and lunch, you'll descend to the
slightly larger town of Gien on the Loire. Naturally, this small town also boasts a
castle that dominates the cityscape. Cycling along the Loire, you'll eventually reach
your final destination: Briare. Take time to visit the famous and magnificent
aqueduct over the Loire in Briare. Briare was once home to many ceramics, and
you might want to visit the so-called "Tile Hill" where old, discarded ceramics were
dumped.
To visit the town of Sancerre, home of the famous white wine, we will take our
bikes on the train. In the town you can visit the Maison de Sancerre where you
can learn all about the different types of Sancerre wine. After this fascinating visit
you will cycle back to Briare along a beautiful route on the signposted Loire Vélo
trail. A worthy end to your cycling adventure in the heart of France.
End of tour after breakfast, before 10 AM.
Our motorised passenger vessels, about 35 - 45 metres in length, are former river vessels especially converted for this kind of holiday. The barges all comply with the strict safety regulations laid down by the Dutch Shipping Inspection Authorities. On board you find a cosy dining room, a sun deck/a deck for the bicycles. All cabins are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower and toilet, 220 voltage and central heating. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are
for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability
more than wholesale luxury.
What’s included
Not included
| Cabins | 10 August | 05 Oct | 24 Aug end 21 Sept | 07 Sept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double/Twin cabin | € 1.435,- | € 1.635,- | € 1.795,- | € 1.950,- |
| Twin cabin split level beds | € 1.435,- | € 1.635,- | € 1.795,- | € 1.950,- |
| Single cabin | € 1.495,- | € 1.695,- | € 1.815,- | € 2.035,- |
| Twin for single use | € 2.080,- | € 2.355,- | € 2.590,- | € 2.825,- |
Clair de Lune
17 guests max
17 beds
35 x 5 m
Private charter on request
Interested in this tour? Tell us your preferred dates, cabins, and bikes, and we’ll confirm real availability with the barge.
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