Enchanting Seine / Sensual Paris by Bike + Boat

Seine Valley / Royal splendor in a wooded surrounding

map Paris + Montargis by Bike + Boat

Route

Tour Profile / Level 1

This is an easy to moderate bike and boat tour with average daily distances between 22 and 34 miles. Participants should be in good physical shape and comfortable with cycling around 25 miles before the tour. Most of the cycling is on relatively flat roads and in river valleys, but to enjoy the tour fully, guests should be able to manage (moderate) slopes of up to about max. 2 kilometers.

Itinerary Paris – Montargis

Day 1: Paris – Evry
This trip starts in Paris, where you will find the Fleur in the middle of the city, not far from Notre Dame. Check-in is at 1 pm, followed by a welcome and introduction of the crew. The boat leaves the port of Paris at 3 pm at the latest and sails along the Seine to Evry, where you will spend the night. We recommend that you arrive in Paris one or more days early so that you have enough time to discover the city.

Day 2: Evry – Melun, approx. 30 km
After breakfast, the cycle tour begins at the Evry lock. You stay on the banks of the Seine for a while. The first stop is the typical French market in Corbeil-Essonnes. The destination of the cycle tour is Melun, a town also known as the domaine des reines blanches ("domain of the white queens"), as it was the residence of the widows of French kings. After dinner, you can take part in a tour of the town.

Day 3: Melun – Moret-sur-Loing, approx. 40 km
Today we bike 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 ‘school of Barbizon’. You can visit the local museum. After this, we continue our tour to the palace of Fontainebleau, much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. In the castle itself there is a museum of Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. We find the Fleur again in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.

Day 4: Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours, approx. 38 - 51 km
We stay in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing. In the townhall of Bourron-Marlotte we can admire a few magnificent impressionist paintings. We meet the Fleur again in Nemours. There we may visit the castle or the prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.

Day 5: Nemours – Néronville, approx. 35 - 45 km
Breakfast during sailing. Today we bike through a wooded area with rugged rocks. Before lunch we will visit the sculpture garden Jardin Bourdelle. Final destination of today is rural Néronville.

Day 6: Néronville – Montargis, approx. 30 - 41 km
Today we start in Chateau-Landon, a beautifully situated town, where we visit the Abbey of St.-Severin which dates from the 13th century. Our bike tour goes to the mediaeval town of Ferrieres with its old town center, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets we find a splendid monastery. Final destination of today is Montargis, with its 15.000 inhabitants the biggest town of the Loiret after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century. But the canals are still there. They are decorated with lots of 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.

Day 7: Round trip Montargis, approx. 45 km
From Montargis we bike along the l’Ouanne by bike to Château-Renard, where we can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. We will also visit a Apiculture’s Living Museum. There you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and you’ll be able to sample their delicious honey.

Day 8: Montargis
After breakfast you will leave the ship. Disembarkation till 9.30 a.m.

Itinerary Montargis –​​​​​​​ Paris

Day 1: Montargis
14.00 h Arrival in Montargis. Montargis is, with its 15.000 inhabitants the biggest town of the Loiret after Orléans.  Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century. But the canals are still there. They are decorated with lots of flowers and give the town a certain charm.

Day 2: round trip Montargis, approx. 39 - 46 km
After breakfast we bike from Montargis along the l’Ouanne to Château- Renard, where we can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. We will also visit a Apiculture’s Living Museum. There you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and you’ll be able to sample their delicious honey.

Day 3: Montargis – Néronville, approx. 39 - 46 km
Breakfast while sailing, we first join the Fleur to the lock of Cepoy. Our bike tour goes through the forests of Montargis, north-east of the town. These forests are old and beautiful. Next stop is the mediaeval town of Ferrieres with its old town center, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets we find a splendid monastery. After this we bike to Egréville where we will visit the sculpture garden Bourdelle. Final destination of today is rural Néronville.

Day 4: Néronville – Nemours, approx. 29 - 43 km
Our route today is through an old area, cultivated already in the Gallo-Roman era. First stop is the old Gallic strongholt Château-Landon, a beautifully situated fortified  town on a rock. Its Abbey of St.-Severin dates from the 13th century. Later on we find the rocks of Nemours on our way and we meet the Fleur again in Nemours. There we may visit the castle or the prehistoric museum of the Ile-de  France region.

Day 5: Nemours – Moret-sur-Loing, approx. 32 - 43 km
Today we stay in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing. In the town hall we can admire a few magnificent impressionist paintings. We stay overnight in Moret-sur-Loing which is a charming mediaeval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings. We can visit the house where he was born.

Day 6: Moret-sur-Loing – Melun, approx. 40 km
Today we bike through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. First destination is the city of Fontainebleau, with its palace, much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. In the castle itself there is a museum of Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. After this, we continue our tour to 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 ‘school of Barbizon’. We can visit the local museum. Final destination of your bike 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´s no dinner on board. You can choose one of the restaurants in town.

Day 7: Melun – Paris, approx. 31 km
We are getting near to Paris which means we have to deal with more traffic. In the morning there is a short bike ride, following the river banks of the Seine to the lock of Evry, from where we will join the Fleur 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 city walk.

Day 8: Paris
After breakfast you will leave the ship. Disembarkation till 9.30 a.m.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program.

Services

  • 7 nights in cabins with shower/WC

  • Full board (breakfast buffet, packed lunch, 6x dinner, coffee & tea on board)

  • Welcome drink

  • Use of bed linen and towels + Daily cabin cleaning

  • Air-conditioned cabin

  • Daily program briefings

  • Fully guided bike tours (for 18 guests or more: 2 guides : 2 guides, 2 groups)

  • Some short tours

  • Fees for ferries

  • GPS tracks

  • Rental helmet

  • Rental pannier

  • Entrance to the garden of Bourdelle

  • Visit to a beekeeping museum

  • Visit to the town hall of Bourron-Marlotte

  • Guided visit of Chateau-Landon

  • Wifi

  • For the environments benefit: use of a biodegradable water bottle and compensation of the CO2 emitted by the NGO Justdiggit.

Dates & Prices

Dates

Merkmale

    Season / Period
    Type

    Extras

    Bicycles & Equipment
    11-speed 100
    E-bike  250
    Own bike NOT permitted

    Best - Price - Guarantee

    If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!
    All prices per person in EUR

    Ship

    Welcome aboard the MV FLEUR!

    Facilities

    The Fleur started cruising in 2002. This 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. Reint Dragt has been the owner for many years now. These years of experience and commitment are reflected in every detail and guarantee that your vacation will be a pleasant one. The Fleur can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests on her trips on the French waterways.

    The Fleur has two decks. On the top deck there is a lounge with large windows, a roomy sitting area, a cozy bar and a half-covered sun deck. The sundeck is the ideal place to drink a cup of coffee or an aperitif. In the lounge the Fleur offers free Wi-Fi. Please note that due to the mobile network connection, the quality is not always stable. The salon has central heating and air-conditioning.


    Catering

    Full board: breakfast, picnic lunch during bike tours, 3-course-dinner, coffee and tea.


    Cabins

    On the lower deck the Fleur has 10 comfortable guest cabins (8 m², single beds). Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. Also the cabins have central heating and air-conditioning. In each cabin you will find a small safe and hair dryer.


    Non-smoking Ship

    The interior of the ship is a non-smoking area: smoking is only allowed on the (outside) sun deck.


    Languages on board

    German, English

    Bicycle

    Rental-Bicycles & equipment

    The bicycles on board are 11-speed or 21-speed touring bicycles with hand brakes. The bikes are equipped with a pannier and a water bottle holder. Helmets can be rented free of charge on board.


    Electric bikes | E-Bikes | Pedelecs

    On some barges we offer modern quality-electrically assisted e-bikes (Pedelecs) with 7 or 8-gear-hub circuit, gradual selectable help of pedaling power and deep UNISEX-comfot-entrance. The bikes are equipped with a powerful Panasonic or Bosch-Pedelec-Engine and a powerful Lithium-Ion-Battery, one battery-charge is sufficient for up to 65 kilometers. The range of the battery is depending on supportlevel, riding manners, body weight and terrain. In a more hilly terrain or with a higher bodyweight there is more batterycapacity used then in flat areas or with a low bodyweight. You can save battery, when you start with most possible low support and increase only if needed. The batteries are supposed to be charged overnight with the provided battery charger.

    IMPORTANT: book E-bikes early, because of limited capacity!


    Bicycle breakdowns

    Breakdowns can happen, also when bikes are well serviced and maintained. Flats can be fixed by yourself. If there’s a difficult repair you may ask your guide on spot.

    Useful

    Arrival - Parking - Departure

    Arrival by plane

    Paris / Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris / Orly (ORY)

    Tour start in Paris
    For this tour, it is best to use Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. From the airport, take an RER (metro) to the ship. You can buy a ticket at the entrance to the metro. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport. >>Shuttle reservation

    Tour start in Montargis
    See tour start in Paris + train journey below.


    Arrival by train

    Train station: There is a continuous train service between Paris (Gare de Lyon) and Montargis. Trains depart regularly and the trip takes approx. 1.5 hours and costs approx. € 20,-. If you wish we can reserve a taxi for you to take you from the station in Montargis to the barge or from the barge to the station in Montargis. For arrivals, please notify us by e-mail; for departures, please inform the skipper of the Fleur.

    Current train connections and prices you will find >>here


    Arrival by car

    Parking in Montargis: unguarded parking space next to the train station free of charge
    Parking in Paris: parking spots at the Gare de Lyon (Quay de Bercy), approx. € 80,- /week

    We can not book or reserve this spaces for you in advance. More details you will find in your travel documents.


    Additional information

    It is not permitted to bring your own bikes/e-bikes on this tour (due to limited space on deck)

    For reasons of space we would like to ask you to refrain from luggage with hard shells, the storage space in the cabin is very limited!

    Helmet mandatory for ALL cyclists!

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