Bike and Barge: the Seine Plus! Castles of the Loire

Highlights: Paris

We meet in the early afternoon at our docking point in the heart of Paris. After we’re settled in on our private barge, we’ll set off cruising through Paris, enjoying views from the river and relaxing on board. We’ll enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board tonight.

Highlights: Cruise the Seine, audio guide visit Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, bicycle along river paths and forest lanes, Melun town

This morning we’ll fit bikes after breakfast. It’s a pleasant ride to the small town of Melun where our boat will dock for the night on the ancient village island. Aside from its varied history as a Gallic town and later a Roman mutatio, a waystation to change horses, Melun also has a culinary specialty, the Brie de Melun. From here, take an extra ride to Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, known as the inspiration for the famous Château de Versailles, where you’ll enjoy an audio guide visit.

Highlights: Artists’ village of Barbizon, Fontainebleau castle (UNESCO site), fortified medieval town.

Start your delightful ride along the river lined by sumptuous villas. Enjoy the quiet bike path before we leave the river to dive into the expansive Fontainebleau forest, centered around the famous Fontainebleau castle which was home to French monarchs for about eight centuries. Our first stop is the small village of Barbizon, formerly home to mid-19th century painters including Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet. Continue through the forest to reach the magnificent Fontainebleau castle, one of France’s most spectacular royal palaces. Continue pedaling to return to our boat, moored tonight in a medieval fortified town along a small tributary of the Seine River.

Highlights: Medieval town of Moret-sur-Loing, Loing River biking, Nemours.

Spend some time this morning wandering the streets of quaint Moret-Sur-Loing, the fortified medieval town that inspired Impressionist painters including Monet and British artist Alfred Sisley. Our ride today takes us along the Loing River to another artist village. From here, you can choose to take a longer ride or continue along the river to reach our boat, docked in tiny medieval Nemours. Visit town and its medieval castle or, for a different take on the region’s (pre)history, enjoy a visit to the interesting prehistorical museum, which houses rich archaeological collections from the Paleolithic period through the end of the Iron Age, excavated in the Île-de-France region.

Highlights: Medieval castles and towns

The Loing River was “improved” in the early 18th Century in an effort to increase visits from merchants. We’ll leapfrog the canal today as we pedal through forested areas and rural countryside to reach a private castle open to us for a visit and lunch. After lunch, we’ll keep pedaling to the impressive fortified medieval town of Chateau Landon. A quick downhill brings us to our boat, docked on the Loing Canal in a tranquil spot for the night. After dinner, we’ll head back to Chateau-Landon to learn more about the historical importance of this town.

Highlights: Bourdelle Sculpture Garden, Ferrières Abbey, Montargis

An optional 13 km ride this morning takes you to a unique art spot in a nearby town. This garden museum honors influential and prolific 19th Century sculptor Antoine Bourdelle by hosting 58 of his bronze statues in a lovely garden. Keep pedaling to the small medieval town of Ferrières with its impressive Benedictine Abbey, tiny alleyways and historic wash houses. Take a break and wander through town before continuing south to arrive in Montargis, the second largest town of the region and a fitting ending destination to our barge trip as its medieval center is crisscrossed with canals and rivers. Our home for the next two nights! Enjoy dinner in town tonight.

Highlights: Ouanne River ride; 10th Century Castle Ruins, Bee-Keeping Museum

A loop ride today takes us to another small town in the countryside to visit a unique, thriving honey making farm and “living museum” where a short visit highlights the peculiar place of bees in the world. Return to Montargis and make sure to visit some of the sights like the gardens and ruins of the central Chateau, the cathedral and several Renaissance palaces and gardens.

Highlights: Guided visit of Chambord Castle, city of Blois

We’ll say farewell to our boat today and shuttle to the Castle of Chambord, one of the most famous chateaux of the Loire Valley. Some say Leonardo da Vinci designed the opulent 400-room Château de Chambord when he lived at the royal court. Opulence is key here: The Château nearly bankrupted the French treasury before its completion in 1685. Enjoy a unique behind-the-scenes tour of the castle late morning and enjoy lunch on your own before heading to Blois, a different and lively feel compared to the tranquil villages we’ve visited on our boat tour. Stroll through town to see its castle, the cathedral and gardens that dot the city.

Highlights: Cycling along the Loire River, Chaumont Castle, Amboise

Leave Blois along the Loire River today, cycling on one of Europe’s most popular bike routes. First stop is at the Chaumont Castle, with its spectacular gardens, park, and castle perched over the Loire river valley. Continue pedaling to reach the vibrant town of Amboise which boasts the manor house of Le Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci came to spend the last three years of his life upon invitation from the French King Francis I. Leonardo is buried in the castle’s chapel.

Highlights: Château de Chenonceau; canoe trip down the Cher River

Head off toward the Cher River this morning where we’ll regroup to canoe to the famous castle of Chenonceau. The castle forms a bridge across the river, one of the tributaries to the Loire. After dropping your canoe and a lunch together, we head off by bike to explore the castle, once occupied by Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henri II. After the king’s death in 1599, Queen Catherine de Medici reclaimed the castle and evicted de Poitiers. You can still explore the two separate gardens created for these two women. We’ll enjoy a wine tasting at hotel before dinner together.

Highlights: Da Vinci Museum, Clos Lucé

Before you head off on your own travels join us this morning for a fascinating guided tour of the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the final years of his life. Walk through his bedroom, discover where he worked, and stroll through the vast gardens where many of his inventions were constructed for the first time. Our visit of Clos Lucé will end at 11:30 so please plan your travels accordingly if you’d like to participate. We hope you’ve enjoyed this relaxing cultural and historic exploration of the Loire!