Bike and Barge: the Seine

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: Montargis

Tour ends this morning after breakfast, return to Paris by easy train connections or continue on your travels in France.

***If this sounds great but you’d like a longer tour, check out our Bike and Barge the Seine Plus! Castles of the Loire tour, which extends this itinerary by 3 days.***