Nevers
Paris, Charles de Gaulle 
Start
Finish
Briare
Paris, Charles de Gaulle
The Loire Valley between the cities of Briare and Nevers in the heart of France is a very well suited region for a relaxing bike and barge holiday. Following the flow of the Loire River you gently ride through the green countryside with charming little villages and old castles and palaces. The rich landscape boasts many fruitful vineyards. Especially well known are the Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé wines. Both wines are reckoned to be among the most prestigious in the world. You will also see impressive examples of canal building engineering along the Canal lateral du Loire.
The small city of Briare with its picturesque locks and aqueduct is our starting point. On the first day you will ride to Rogy-les-Sept-Ecluses via the Pont Chevron castle. Through a beautiful region of lakes and past castles you will cycle along the Loire and visit Chatillon-sur-Loire with its impressive locks. Wine-tasting in the region of Sancerrre and the Pouilly Fumé wines can not be missed. In between you will ride to St. Brisson Forest and through seemingly endless vineyards. On the way to the city of Nevers you will also visit the ancient Roman town of La Charité-sur-Loire with a 16th century stone bridge and the Château of Apremont, dating back to the 12th century and lavishly surrounded by gardens. The final destination of this week, the historical town of Nevers, is in itself already worth a visits of a few days.
Saturday: Briare, embarkation at 3 pm, short ride
15KM
Arrival and welcome at the barge on the mooring place. Tryout bike ride in the surrounding countryside.
Sunday: Briare – Rogny-les-sept-Écluses – Briare
50KM
Our first real bike ride this week will lead us to the castle of ‘Pont Chevron,’ situated on a small, picturesque lake. Around lunchtime on this first cycling day you will be in the village Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its historical seven locks. Via the 16th-century castle near Bléneau you will cycle through a region of lakes to Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and eventually back to Briare.
Monday: Briare – Belleville-sur-Loire
45KM
Today we start with a visit to the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire River in Briare. With some luck and good planning you might see the Claire de Lune pass through here, high above the river. Later you ride to St. Brisson, where you will see the impressive medieval castle. Further on you will pass the historical locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire. The bike ride towards Belleville-sur-Loire leads you through typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates and small villages.
Tuesday: Belleville-sur-Loire – Sancerre
50KM
Sancerre wines, and especially the white wines, are famous all over the world. The first mentioning of winegrowing in this region dates back to the 6th century. Until the 19th century the region mostly grew Pinot grapes, but after a disease that devastated the grapes Sauvignon is now mostly grown. And with success! The ride today takes you on a picturesque route right across the Sancerre vineyards and through the surrounding villages. In Ménétréol, situated under the Sancerre vineyards, there will be an opportunity to try some wine before returning to the Claire de Lune.
Wednesday: Sancerre – Cours-les-Barres
45KM
Right after breakfast you will hop on your bikes and begin this days cycling tour through the region of the Pouilly Fumé wines to La Charité-sur-Loire, an ancient Roman town. Crossing the 16th century stone bridge to the center, there is a splendid view overlooking the town and its Notre Dame church. Continue towards the destination of today, Cours-les-Barres.
Thursday: Cours-les-Barres – Grimouille
40KM
Riding south from Cours-les-Barres you pass nice wooded areas with again many nice villages and country estates. Later in the day you will end up in the small town of Apremont, where you will have the opportunity to visit the 12th-century castle and surrounding fabulous gardens. After, you will continue to the sleepy village of Grimouille on the Canal Lateral du Loire. On the way a visit to the aqueduct over the Allier River with its two impressive locks both measuring about 9 meters high is a must do!
Friday: Grimouille – Nevers
25KM
We end this week in the heart of France with a short ride to the town of Nevers where there are many sites to see including the winding streets filled with houses dating back from the 14th to 17th century. The origins of Nevers date back to Roman times. Nevers is since the 5th century the seat of the bishop and has among others a castle and a few interesting churches. To celebrate the end of your cycling week you can of course also take a well-earned rest on the several terraces in town and enjoy the local wine.
Saturday: Nevers, departure
After breakfast: debarkation before 10 AM.
| Date | Availability | Departure | Accomodation | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/15/2020 - 8/22/2020 | Available | Briare | Clair de Lune | Comfort Plus | Book now |
| 8/29/2020 - 9/5/2020 | Available | Briare | Clair de Lune | Comfort Plus | Book now |
| 9/12/2020 - 9/19/2020 | Available | Briare | Clair de Lune | Comfort Plus | Book now |
| 9/26/2020 - 10/3/2020 | Available | Briare | Clair de Lune | Comfort Plus | Book now |
| 10/10/2020 - 10/17/2020 | Available | Briare | Clair de Lune | Comfort Plus | Book now |
| Accommodation | Room | Price | Children 0-2 years | Children 3-11 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prices per room | 0 | 0 | ||
| Clair de Lune | Split level bed cabin on October 10 | € 2058,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Split level bed cabin on August 15, 29 & September 26 | € 2250,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Split level bed cabin on September 12 | € 2450,- | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |||
| Clair de Lune | Double bed cabin on October 10 | € 2058,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Double bed cabin on August 15, 29 & September 26 | € 2250,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Double bed cabin on September 12 | € 2450,- | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |||
| Clair de Lune | Single cabin on October 10 | € 1190,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Single cabin on August 15, 29 & September 26 | € 1275,- | 0 | 0 |
| Clair de Lune | Single cabin on September 12 | € 1430,- | 0 | 0 |
| Image | Name | Type | Price per week |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hybrid bicycle, 24-gears | Batavus Boulevard, incl. bike helmet | €90 |
|
Electric bicycle, unisex | Batavus, step-through bicycle incl. bike helmet | €170 |
|
Cycletours bicycle insurance | No own-risk | €15 |
|
|
Cycletours bicycle insurance E-bike | No own-risk | €40 |
| Image | Name | Type | Price per week |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Hybrid bicycle, 24-gears | Batavus Boulevard, incl. bike helmet | €92.50 |
|
|
Electric bicycle, unisex | Batavus, step-through bicycle incl. bike helmet | €175 |
|
|
Cycletours bicycle insurance | No own-risk | €20 |
|
|
Cycletours bicycle insurance E-bike | No own-risk | €40 |
You are expected at the barge on Saturday afternoon, between 12.00 AM and 14.00 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not
before 11.00 AM. We are busy cleaning the barge, but we can provide you with suggestions to have a nice walk into town.
The mooring place of the barge in Briare: in the Canal Lateral á la Loire, at the Rue du Pont Canal
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) By train it is about 2,5 hours to the railway station in Briare. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 20 minutes. A taxi from the airport in Paris to the mooring place will take about 2,5 hours.
The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Briare railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 20 minutes. A taxi will take about 10 minutes and will cost around 30 euro.
Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage.
The tour ends one week later in Nevers on Saturday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Nevers. The mooring place of the barge in Nevers: Embranchement de Nevers, Chemin de Halage.
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. 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. Free WiFi is (limited and subject to availability of connections) available in lounge and on deck.
Your barge has can hold a maximum of 17 passengers and has 9 cabins. 3 with a 2-persons bed, 5 with a split level bed and 1 with a single bed. All cabins have their own private shower, toilet & sink, 220 voltage, central heating and air-conditioning. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing.
The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English/French, some speak German and/or Spanish).
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
If you have special meal requirements we ask you to mention this when booking, but at the latest until 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 50, – per week.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, France and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays).
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 40/45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Bike maps can be purchased when booking and will be handed over to you on board.
Yes, you may. On most tours this has no bearing on the total cost of the trip, however, please mention this at time of booking. Sometimes an additional charge may be requested for the bicycle when transferring from one place to another.
Cyclists can choose a longer route than the group takes. The guide will gladly advise you on the choice of an alternative route.
Must be notified when booking, but at the latest until 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus.
In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 50, – per week. On some tours there also is an additional charge of € 50, – for lactose-free meals.
On our guided tours a tour guide will accompany the group during their cycling route.
When mentioned ‘self-guided’, the tours are on an individual basis and no guides are provided. We will provide you with a thoroughly detailed and comprehensive description of the routes, enabling you to follow the route correctly without problems. Furthermore, these route descriptions are frequently accompanied with information on the main tourist attractions that you will come across.
The size of the group depends on the barge scheduled on the tour. The capacity of the barges varies between 12 and 26 participants.
History Clair de Lune: The Clair de Lune was originally built in 1936 as a freight ship in Belgium. In 1982 the barge was built into a passenger ship, first named ‘Steile Bank’ and ‘Summerjazz’.
Since May 2014 we named the ship ‘Clair de Lune’. Aboard there is a big and cozy salon with big windows for a perfect view. The barge is 34.15 meters long and 5.05 meters wide, which makes it possible to boat in France with its narrow locks.
Below, the "Clair de lune" has 9 Cabins: 3 with a 2-persons bed, 5 with a split level bed and 1 with a single bed. All Cabins have their own shower, toilet & sink and air-conditioning.
Along the Marne-Rhine Canal
Bike & Barge
8 days
Cycling through the heart of France
Bike & Barge
8
Along the Marne - Rhine Canal
Bike & Barge
8
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