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Loire Valley

Cruise and Cycle Cruise and Cycle Guided Grading Level 3
8 days/7 nights Price - £725pp Tour Code FR001
 

Located between the towns of Nevers and Montargis in the beautiful Loire Valley is an area ideally suited for cycling, offering a wonderful variety of history and culture. The many castles and small villages make this tour a unique experience as you cycle on quiet roads through the rolling landscape.

Cycling in the Loire ValleyYou will meet the coach at the Gare du Nord in Paris and then be transferred to your ‘hotelship’ for the week. Places you will cycle to include Apremont where there is a stunning 12th century castle surrounded by beautiful gardens. After savouring the atmosphere of the old Roman city of La Charité sur Loire, you cycle through the vineyards of the Pouilly Fumé wines to Ménétréol. From there it is through the centre of the wine area Sancerre onto Beaulieu. Not far from Chatillon-sur-Loire you will visit the small historical locks before cycling on to the castle of St.Brisson. Another great trip will be by boat across the aquaduct, Pont Canal, to Briare. Passing the Castle at Pont Chevron, situated by a picturesque lake, you cycle to Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, famous for its 7 antique locks. You pay a visit to the pretty market town of Châtillon-Coligny and make the last cycle trip to the fabulous 17th century castle La Bussière, famous for its collection of ‘fish art’ and aquariums, before returning to your ‘hotelship’. On Saturday your coach arrives around noon for your transfer to Gare du Nord Paris.

Every other tour will be in reverse, i.e. starting in Rogny and ending in Plagny.

 

Includes

  • 7 nights on board a Standard barge (based on 2 people sharing)
  • 7 x breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal
  • Bike hire
  • Maps and route information
  • Local tour guide
  • Bus transfer between Paris and barge

Excludes

  • Flights
  • Cycling Helmets

Optional extras

  • Insurance £22pp
  • Single Supplement - none available. It is possible to book a cabin on a shared basis.

How to get there

  • Fly to Paris or Eurostar to Gare du Nord.
 

Departure Dates 2009

April
0
0
18
25
0
May
2
9
0
0
30
June
6
13
20
27
0
July
4
11
18
25
0
August
0
8
15
22
29
September
5
12
19
26
0
 
To book this holiday CLICK HERE
 
Daily Itinerary
 
Anna Marie IVThe Anna Marie IV is 38 x 5 metres and has 9 cabins, allowing for a maximum of 18 guests. All cabins have bunk beds with most having en-suite facilities. For those cabins not having en-suite the facilities are shared with only one other cabin. The price for these cabins without their own shower facilities is reduced to £495 per person. In the saloon, where meals are eaten, there is an "honesty" bar. You help yourself to wine, beer or soft drinks and record what you have taken so that you can pay at the end of the week. We use an operator in Holland for these holidays, and as they sell to other agents in Europe such as ourselves it is likely you will have a mix of different nationalities on this tour adding to the cultural enjoyment.
 

Day 1 Saturday: Paris to Cours-les-Barres.

You will be collected at the Gare du Nord in Paris at approximately 15.00 hrs and transferred by coach to your floating hotel in Cours-les-Barres. There you will be introduced to your crew and guide before enjoying your first evening meal with your fellow guests.

Day 2 Sunday: Cours-les-Barres to Apremont to Cours-les-Barres, 31 miles (50km).

You disembark and cycle to Apremont, where you can visit the 12th century castle and its fabulous gardens. Continue to the town of Nevers, then back to the barge

Day 3 Monday: La Chapelle-Montlinard to Ménétréol, 34 miles (55km).

Sailing to the village of Beffes then a cycling trip to the charming town of La Charité-sur-Loire, an ancient Roman town. Crossing the 16th century stone bridge to the centre, you have a splendid view over the town and its Notre Dame church. Then you enter the region of the Pouilly Fumé wines. The barge will be waiting in Ménétréol, situated under the Sancerre vineyards, where you will be given the opportunity to try some of the fine local wines.

Day 4 Tuesday: Ménétréol to Beaulieu, 31 miles (50km).

You start with a visit to the historic town of Sancerre-sue-Loire. Your cycle ride then follows a picturesque route through the Sancerre vineyards, passing several wine producing villages set in the most idyllic scenery. The trip ends in Beaulieu, the stop for the night.

Day 5 Wednesday: Beaulieu to Briare, 25 miles (40km).

You cycle past the historic locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire and the aquaduct that will take you over the river Loire later. After St. Brisson, where you can see the castle, you start your way back to the barge, while enjoying the fresh forest air in the Forêt de St. Brisson. In the evening you cross the river Loire over the magnificent aquaduct and stop for the night in Briare.

Day 6 Thursday: Briare to Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, 28 miles (45km).

Before the cycling starts you will have some time to explore Briare. The cycle tour leads to the castle ‘Pont Chevron’ which is picturesquely situated by a small lake. Via Ouzouer-sur-Trézée you cycle across a landscape dominated by lakes to the 16th century castle near Bléneau. Your trip ends in the village Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its seven historical locks.

Day 7 Friday: Rogny to Châtillon-Coligny to Rogny, 31 miles (50km).

Today you will cycle to the pretty market in Châtillon-Coligny, and then on to the castle in La Bussière. Via Escrignelles the tour ends in Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses to rejoin the boat.

Day 8 Saturday: Rogny to Paris.

In the morning you may wish to go for a stroll around Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses. At approximately 11.00 hrs your guide & crew will say good-bye when you board your coach for the return journey to Paris, Gare du Nord arriving approximately 14.30.

 

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