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Route:
Technical Characteristics
Tour Profile: Easy. These holidays are appropriate for anyone with good physical condition and basic cycling skills. On virtually flat terrain, with distances up to 50 kilometers. You spend about 4 hours on your bicycle.
Distance: 219 - 264 km
Travel Season: Departures Saturdays from Paris: July 29, 202
Departures Saturdays from Montargis: August 3; August 17, August 31 and September 14, 2024
Ship Fleur
The Fleur started cruising in 2002. This tasteful passenger barge with its sleek lines was built to fit the smaller locks and canals in France and has been cruising the French waters ever since. The Fleur can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests in the 10 comfortable cabins on the lower deck, each with private facilities, central heating and air conditioning. On the upper deck there is a lounge with large windows, a roomy sitting area and bar, and outside a half covered sun deck. Wonderful for a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine.
This eight day bike and barge tour starts in Paris, where the barge Fleur is docked in the center of the city, not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral. Unlike other river cruise ships, you will follow the Seine upstream, in southern direction. This region has a rich, royal history and the castle of Fontainebleau is a magnificent example of this past. The castle was much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. Just as impressive are the royal gardens, which the French kings had their royal architects lay out for them. You will cycle through the wonderful forests to the painter’s village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters (Barbizon School) have lived and worked. Next stop is Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing River, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings. From there you will follow the Canal du Centre to the beautiful medieval towns of Ferrières with its splendid monastery and Château-Landon with the Abbey of St. Severin. Your final destination is Montargis, a picturesque town with beautiful little canals. The canals are decorated with many flowers and give the town a lot of charm. The bicycle tours go mainly over quiet country roads, off the beaten track.
Itineraries
Day 1
Paris - Evry
Embarkation and check in at 1 p.m. at the mooring in the center of Paris. After a welcome by the captain, crew and tour leader the ship will leave the harbour in Paris and sail along the River Seine to Evry, where you will spend the night.
Day 2
Evry – Melun 30 km
After breakfast, the bicycle tour starts from the lock of Evry. You will stay along the banks of the Seine River for a while. The first stop is the typical French market of Corbeil- Essonnes. Destination of your first bicycle tour is Melun, a town which is known as “le domaine de reines blanches”, because in former years it used to be the domain of the widows of the French kings.
Day 3
Melun – Moret-sur-Loing 40 km
Today you will cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. First destination is the artistic village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters have found inspiration. At the time, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘Barbizon School’. You can visit the local museum. Afterwards, you continue your tour to the palace of Fontainebleau, much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. The castle itself houses a museum of Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. You will find the Fleur again in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.
Day 4
Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours 38 - 49 km
You will stay in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing, where many artists used to live in the early years of the 20th century. In the charming town hall of Bourron-Marlotte you can admire a few magnificent impressionist paintings. You will meet the Fleur again in Nemours. Nemours is supposed to derive its name from the woods (nemora) in the midst of which it formerly stood and relicts of Gallo-Roman remains indicate its early origin. The castle, erected around 1120, now is a prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.
Day 5
Nemours – Néronville 35 - 45 km
Breakfast during sailing. Today you will cycle through a wooded area with rugged rocks. Before lunch we will visit the sculpture garden “Jardin Bourdelle”. In this garden you can admire some 57 bronze monumental sculptures by the artist Antoine Bourdelle. Around lunchtime you will reach Egreville. This village has been an important commercial crossroads for hundreds of years. Its markets and fairs enjoyed great attention. Final destination for today is rural Néronville.
Day 6
Néronville – Montargis 31 - 55 km
Today you will first cycle to Chateau Landon, a beautifully situated town, with the Abbey of St. Severin from the 13th century. Your bicycle tour goes to the mediaeval town of Ferrieres with its old town center, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets we find a splendid monastery. Today’s destination is Montargis, with its 15,000 inhabitants it is the biggest town of the Loiret after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century. But the canals are still there. They are decorated with many flowers and give the town a lot of charm. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants of Montargis.
Day 7
Montargis 45 km
From Montargis you will cycle along Château Renard, where you can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. You will also visit an Apiculture’s Living Museum. There you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and you’ll be able to sample their delicious honey. Along the river Ouanne you will return to Montargis.
Day 8
Montargis
End of your tour. Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:30 a.m.
Prices
Included:
- 7 nights’ accommodation in booked cabin category
- Full board: 7 x breakfast, 6 x packed lunches, 6 x three course dinner, coffee and tea on board
- Use of bed linen and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Climate controlled cabin
- Welcome drink
- Daily briefings
- Fully guided cycling tours (more than 18 guests: 2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
- Some short walking tours
- Entrance Garden Bourdelle
- Entrance Apiculture’s Living Museum
- GPS tracks
- Use of a helmet, waterproof pannier bag and water bottle
- Fees for ferries
- Visit town hall Bourron-Marlotte
- Guided visit Chateau-Landon
- Wi-Fi
Not Included:
- 1 dinner in Montargis
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Drinks and expenses on excursions (not mentioned under included)
- Transfers to/from docking place
- Entrance fees and excursions not mentioned under included
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