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This 8 day bike & boat 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 painters 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 mediaeval 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.
Day to Day Program Paris – Montargis
Saturday: 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 harbor in Paris and sail along the river Seine to Evry, where you will spend the night. We advise you to come to Paris one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover the city.
Sunday: Evry – Melun (cycling ± 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 des reines blanches”, because in former years it used to be the domain of the widows of the French kings.
Monday: Melun – Moret-sur-Loing (cycling ± 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. After this, 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 river, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.
Tuesday: Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours (cycling ± 38 km or 49 km)
You will stay in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing, where many artist 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.
Wednesday: Nemours – Néronville (cycling ± 35 km or 45 km)
Breakfast during sailing. Today you will cycle through a wooded area with rugged rocks. Before lunch you 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 Egréville. This village has been an important commercial crossroads for hundreds of years. Its markets and fairs enjoyed great renown. Final destination of today is rural Néronville.
Thursday: Néronville – Montargis (cycling ± 31 km or 55 km)
Today you will first cycle to Chateau-Landon, a beautifully situated town, with the Abbey of St. Séverin from the 13th century. Your bicycle tour goes to the medieval town of Ferrières with its old town center, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets you find a splendid monastery. Today’s destination is Montargis, even with 15000 inhabitants the biggest town of the Loiret, after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by a 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.
Friday: Montargis (cycling ± 45 km)
From Montargis you will cycle to 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.
Saturday: Montargis
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
Day to Day Program Montargis – Paris
Saturday: Montargis
Embarkation and check-in at 2 p.m. in Montargis. After a welcome by the captain, crew and tour leader there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test ride.
After dinner your tour leader will take you for a walk through Montargis, the second-largest town of the Loiret region, after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by a big 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.
Sunday: Montargis (cycling ± 45 km)
After breakfast you will cycle from Montargis to 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.
Monday: Montargis – lock of Cepoy – Néronville (cycling ± 39 km or 46 km)
Breakfast while sailing to the lock of Cepoy. Your bicycle tour goes along the river Loing. First stop is the medieval town of Ferrières with its old town center, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets you find a splendid monastery. After this you cycle to Egréville. This village has been an important commercial crossroads for hundreds of years. Its markets and fairs enjoyed great renown. You will also visit the sculpture garden “Jardin Bourdelle”. In this garden you can admire some 57 bronze monumental sculptures by the artist Antoine Bourdelle. Final destination of today is rural Néronville.
Tuesday: Néronville – Nemours (cycling ± 29 km or 43 km)
Our route today is through an area that was already cultivated in the Gallo-Roman era. First stop is the old Gallic stronghold Château-Landon, a beautifully situated fortified town on a rock. Its Abbey of St.-Séverin dates from the 13th century. Later on you find the rocks of Nemours on your way and you 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 discoveries of Gallo-Roman remains indicate its early origin. The castle, erected around 1120, now is a prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.
Wednesday: Nemours – Moret-sur-Loing (cycling ± 32 km or 43 km)
Today you stay in the valley of the Loing river. First you will visit Grez-sur-Loing where many artist used to live in the early years of the 20th century. Then you will continue to Bourron-Marlotte. In the town hall you can admire a few magnificent impressionist paintings. You will stay overnight in Moret-sur-Loing. This is a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.
Thursday: Moret-sur-Loing – Melun (cycling ± 40 km)
Today you will cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. First destination is the city of Fontainebleau, with its magnificent palace, much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. The castle houses a museum dedicated to Napoleon. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. After this, you will continue to the artistic village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters have found inspiration. A group of landscape painters founded the “Barbizon School”. You can visit the local museum. Final destination of your bicycle tour is Melun, a town which is known as “le domaine des reines blanches”, because in former years it used to be the domain of the widows of the French kings. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants in town.
Friday: Melun – lock of Evry – Paris (cycling ± 31 km)
You are getting near to Paris, which means you have to deal with a bit more traffic. In the morning you can enjoy short bicycle ride, following the river banks of the Seine river to the lock of Evry, from where you will join the Fleur, to sail into Paris. Lunch on board. The mooring place of the Fleur is in the center of Paris, not far from the Notre Dame. After dinner you can join the tour leader for a city walk.
Saturday: Paris
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
The Fleur started cruising in 2002. This small, yet very 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. In 2018 Steffie Kranz and Evert Jan Muurling, will take over ownership. Steffie and Evert Jan have been in the business for more than 15 years. These years of experience and commitment are reflected in every detail and guarantee that your vacation will be a pleasant one.
Description of the cabins
On the lower deck, the Fleur has ten comfortable guest cabins (9 m² – 97 sq.ft.) with two separate single beds. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin, central heating and air-conditioning; windows are fixed for safety reasons. Furthermore, in each cabin you will find a mini safe and hair dryer.
Description of the ship
On the upper deck, there is a lounge with large windows, a roomy sitting area, a dining area, a cozy bar, central heating and air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is available. On the upper deck you will also find the half-covered sun deck, which is the ideal place to drink a cup of coffee or an aperitif and to enjoy the scenery while cruising.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 38.7 m
Width: 5 m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 20
Airco in cabins
Internet
Dates/Prices 2023 per person
| Cabin type | |
| Twin cabin |
€ 1569,00 |
| Cabin for single use |
€ 2318,50 |
Dates
Paris – Montargis
Departure on: July 29
Montargis – Paris
Departure on: August 5 and 19; September 2 and 16
Included:
Excluded:
