from: € 1569
Paris – Montargis | Seine Valley
Royal splendor of the Seine Valley
- Bike in the Forest of Fontainebleau
- Royal history of Fontainebleau Castle
- Impressionist Barbizon & Moret-sur-Loing
- Barges with max. 20 passengers
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8 days |
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Difficulty level:2 |
Contact
Tel: +31 655 368 075
E-mail: info@bargefleur.com
Tour description Paris Montargis
This 8 day bike & barge 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 medieval 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.
Program Paris Montargis
Day 1 (Sat): Paris
Embarkation and check-in at 2 p.m. at the Quai de Bercy on the Seine river in the center of Paris. After a welcome by the captain, crew and tour leader there is time for a walking tour through Paris. After dinner on board there is a first briefing about the barge, bicycles and tour program.
Day 2 (Sun): Paris – Evry | Evry – Melun (30 km/19 mi.)
Breakfast while sailing. You will spend the morning on board to enjoy Paris from the river. Around 9 a.m. there will be a safety lecture. After lunch, the bicycle tour starts from the lock of Evry. You will stay along the banks of the Seine river for a while. 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.
Day 3 (Mon): Melun – Moret-sur-Loing (40 km/25 mi.)
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.
Day 4 (Tue): Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours (24 km/14 mi. or 51 km/31 mi.)
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.
Day 5 (Wed): Nemours – Néronville (35 km/22 mi.)
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.
Day 6 (Thu): Néronville – Montargis (30 km/18 mi. or 45 km/27 mi.))
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.
Day 7 (Fri): Montargis (45 km/28 mi.)
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.
Day 8 (Sat): Montargis
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
Good to know
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours. The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
With 18 guests or more, the daily cycling tours will be accompanied by two knowledgeable and multi-lingual tour leaders. On most days, the tour leaders will offer a long and a short (or a quicker and a more relaxed) cycling option. The option for a long tour is also depending on weather conditions and wishes of the group.
- When there are less than 18 guests aboard, the tours will be accompanied by one knowledgeable and multi-lingual tour leader. During days when two bicycle options are possible, the tour leader will make a choice to guide the longer or the shorter option after consultation of the group.Not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the short cycling option.
- Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.
- You can also choose to ride individually with the help of a map (available on board). GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour.
- In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
- On the arrival day is it possible to bring your luggage on board from 11 a.m..
Prijzen
| Cabin Type | For | |
| Twin cabin | 2 pers. | €1569 pp |
| Twin cabin single use (max. 1) | 1 pers. | €2318,50 pp |
Departuredates 2023
Paris – Montargis: July 29, August 12 and September 9
Montargis – Paris: August 5 and 19 ; September 2 and 16
Departure place Paris Montargis
How to get on the Fleur? Please click on departures for a map.
Tour map Paris Montargis
Bookingform Paris Montargis
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