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Paris and Bruges are must-visit destinations for any European travellers. On this superb bike and barge tour you'll experience both, along with the diverse scenery and history of northern France and the region of Flanders. Along the way, you'll explore small art-deco towns such as Ham and Ronse, and marvel at the stunning scenery which inspired many painters including Van Gogh, Permeke, Van Eyck and Corot. You'll pass many reminders of the First World War including the Armistic and Peronne museums. Impressive cathedrals, abbeys, chateaus and palaces can be seen and visited during the trip. Cycling along the rivers Seine, Oise and Somme, in the company of your expert guide, through farmland and past small villages, ensures you gain a unique insight into this special region. Returning each evening to your comfortable floating hotel you'll make new friends, relax and enjoy delicious meals onboard.
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99kg of CO2-e PP per day
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Day 1
Embarkation in Paris mid afternoon, cruise to Bougival
Embarkation and check-in is at 2pm in the centre of Paris. After a welcome by the captain, crew and tour guide the barge will cruise right through the city. The mooring place for the night is a suburb of Paris. After the sailing dinner there is time for a short walk. If you arrive early you can leave your luggage on board from 11.00 am. We recommend coming to Paris one or more days earlier, to have time to discover the city.
Meals: D
Day 2
Cycle Bougival to Auvers-sur-Oise (42 or 46km/26 or 28 mi)
After breakfast we will cycle along quiet towpaths along the river Seine and up to St Germain, where the gardens of Le Nôtre provide a magnificent view across Paris. Next we will ride through a forest area to Conflans for a picnic on the pier amongst the terraces. After a short stop at the Pontoise Bridge, we continue cycling across the picturesque Chemin des Monts to the church of Auvers, famous for Van Gogh’s paintings. You can visit Van Gogh’s grave in the local cemetery during a short evening walk.
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3
Cycle Beaumont via Chantilly Chateau to Pont-Ste-Maxence (45km/28.1mi)
During breakfast we will cruise to Beaumont. From here today's cycle begins, following the Oise River upstream, passing the Royaumont abbey, which is one of the best preserved abbeys from the 13th century. During the afternoon we will visit the splendid Chateau of Chantilly, with its horse dressage and impressive art gallery Musee Conde, which has one of the finest collections of paintings in France. We continue cycling via Senlis and through the forests of Halatte to today's destination, Pont-Ste-Maxence.
Day 4
Cycle Pont-Ste-Maxence to Compiegne (52km/32.5mi)
Pont Sainte-Maxence owes its name to the fact that in the Middle Ages it had one of very few bridges over the Oise River, becoming the place to stay overnight for kings and merchants on their way to Flanders. From here we cycle past the abbey of Moncel, founded in 1309 by King Philip le Bel, and through small charming towns. We continue through the "Foret de Compiegne" (forest), where French kings once hunted, to our destination, Compiegne. In the middle of the forest lies the little town of Pierrefonds, where you can admire the exterior of the impressive castle. Compiègne owes its architectural wealth to its proximity to Paris. The gardens of the Chateau de Compiègne are definitely worth a visit. Dinner is not included tonight, you can choose to eat at one of the local restaurants.
Meals: B,L
Day 5
Cycle from Compiègne to Pont l’Évêque (42 or 51km/26 or 31 mi)
Today we will leave the river Oise to continue our cycle via the canal system connecting France and Belgium. In the morning we cycle into the most northern part of the forest of Compiegne, where we visit the “Clairière de l’Armistice" (Glade of the Armistice), where German and French generals signed the treaty to end the First World War. You can visit the small but interesting museum. We then cross the river Aisne and cycle through the forest of Ourscamp. In the afternoon we will spend some time in Noyon, where you can visit its imposing cathedral, one of the oldest in the country. We will then cycle back to the canal at Pont l'Eveque to board the barge.
Day 6
Cruise to Haudival, cycle through Ham to Peronne (45 or 56km/28.1 or 34mi)
The day begins with a cruise along the Canal du Nord. The construction of this canal was planned in 1903, but it took until 1966 to complete the works. It was built to replace the older and smaller Canal de St Quentin, constructed by Napoleon in 1801 to transport coal from the mines to the north. During breakfast the barge will bring us to Haudival. From here the cycling begins through gently rolling, open countryside, to the art deco town of Ham, continuing along the river Somme and through the picturesque surrounding villages to Peronne. We will find the barge moored just outside this charming town, with its compact square and church as well as a castle and the fascinating Grande Guerre museum.
Day 7
Rest day in the charming town of Peronne
The barge will stay moored near Peronne. You are free to spend the day resting, visiting the museum or exploring the area.
Day 8
Cycle to Ytres, by boat through the Ruyaulcourt tunnel (40 or 52m/24 or 33mi)
We will continue cycling through the valley of the Somme river and later through the sparsely populated open and rolling landscape to Ruyaulcourt. At the end of World War I this area was the frontline of the battle around the Somme. We will then join the barge for a cruise through the Canal du Nord, which has two tunnels, the longest of which we'll take - the tunnel of Ruyaulcourt (at 4350 m/2.7 mi). Above the tunnel is the watershed between the rivers Somme and Escaut (Scheldt). From here the barge goes downhill in the direction of Arleux, to our mooring on the highest point of the Canal du Nord next to farmland near Havrincourt.
Day 9
Cycle to Cambrai and Arleux, by boat to Pont Malin (35 or 50km/21 or 31mi)
Today we will cycle to Cambrai, once a Roman provincial capital and an important destination for pilgrims. Worth seeing are the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress, built under King Charles V. It also has a special place in history due to the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, where tanks were used on a massive scale for the first time. We will continue to the rural town of Arleux, from where we cruise to the lock of Pont Malin.
Day 10
Cruise to Denain, cycle into Belgium to Doornik (Tournai) (47 or 51km/29 or 31mi)
We cruise on the Canal du Grand Gabarit for a few hours, passing through a former industrial area of northern France where old coal mines and steel sites border the canal, then our cycling stage starts in Denain. We'll ride through open farmland and former mining towns towards the French-Belgian border. Once in Belgium we will cycle through the so-called "white land". The charming little fortress town Antoing lies at the heart of this region and since the Roman days, white limestone has been mined here. Today's destination is Doornik (Tournai in French), one of the oldest cities of Belgium, and part of Wallonia, the French-speaking area of Belgium, where towns and villages have both a French and Flemish name. Until the beginning of the 17th century Doornik was ruled by the French. Here tapestry weaving gained in importance over the cloth industry, and excellent examples of this can be found in the town's museums. In 1940 the entire city centre was destroyed after a German air-raid, however the town has since been wonderfully renovated. The cathedral of Notre Dame, from the 12th and 13th century, and the Belfort, built around 1200, are well worth visiting. Dinner is not included tonight, you can choose to eat in one of the local restaurants.
Day 11
By bike to Oudenaarde in the Flemish region (41 or 43km/26 or 27mi)
While the barge sails downstream on the river Scheldt, we set off by bike crossing the language barrier to enter Flanders, where Flemish is the spoken language. Our destination for today is Oudenaarde. In former days this small town was situated on the border of the French and German empires and as a result was frequently involved in wars. As Oudenaarde was often in the firing line, there was always someone on the lookout. You can find a statue of the most famous watchman, Hanske de Krijger, in the splendid town hall. The town hall was built in the first half of the 16th century in Brabantine late-Gothic style and is one of the most beautiful town halls of Flanders (and UNESCO World Heritage listed). Oudenaarde is also known as the town of the tapestry weavers, with their tapestry famous around the world. After dinner you might like to enjoy a Belgian beer at the atmospheric Market place.
Day 12
Cycle along the Scheldt river through idyllic scenery to Ghent (45km/27mi)
We cycle from Oudenaarde and shortly after pass the ruins of the old abbey of Ename, located on the river Scheldt. We continue following the river through the idyllic Ooidonk landscape towards Ghent, today's destination. Ghent is a lively university town with a rich history. It arose in Roman days at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie. Its favourable location brought great wealth, peaking in the late 13th and early 14th Centuries when it became a trade and textile city. The cloth industry was a source of great richness in the Middle Ages, and traders gathered in the "Lakenhal" (Cloth Hall) in 1425. Many patrician residences have been preserved in the city. The most important church is Saint Bavo's Cathedral, constructed in different centuries and in different styles. Here you can find several masterpieces of medieval painting, the most famous of which is "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck. In the evenings the city centre is a very atmospheric. You can join a canal tour through the city (included) or visit the castle Gravensteen.
Day 13
Cycle through pleasant flat countryside to Bruges (52km/32.5mi)
Today's cycling stage is through the pleasant flat country side of Western Flanders to Bruges. Known as the "Pearl of Flanders" and the "Venice of the North", and many say Bruges is the most beautiful Flemish city. Its old centre dating from the Middle Ages is almost completely intact. From the 14th to the 16th Century it was renowned as one of Europe’s most important centres of banking and art, and after Paris was the second largest city of Europe.
Day 14
In Bruges (50km/31mi)
Today the barge will stay in Bruges. An optional bicycle ride through the pleasant countryside around Bruges will be offered, or you can choose to spend your time in beautiful Bruges, visiting a museum, shopping, exploring.
Day 15
Trip concludes in Bruges
The trip concludes this morning in Bruges, with disembarkation by 9:30am. Note: the trip operates in the reverse direction, from Bruges to Paris, every alternate departure. See below for details.
Meals: B
Embarkation in Bruges mid afternoon, warm up ride (22km/13mi)
Embarkation in Bruges is at 2:00pm on board the barge. After a welcome briefing, there will be a bike handover and time for a short warm up ride in the surrounding area. After dinner, the tour guide will lead a walk through the centre of town. We recommend coming to Bruges before the trip if possible, so you have plenty of time to explore. Known as the "Pearl of Flanders" and the "Venice of the North", and many say Bruges is the most beautiful Flemish city. Its old centre dating from the Middle Ages is almost completely intact. From the 14th to the 16th Century it was renowned as one of Europe’s most important centres of banking and art, and after Paris was the second largest city of Europe. If you arrive early you can leave your luggage on board from 11.00 am.
Cycle to Aalterbrug, by barge to Ghent (34 or 44km, 21 or 28mi)
After breakfast we will begin cycling, weaving through charming woodlands and pastures of Western Flanders. In Aalterbrug, halfway along the canal between Bruges and Ghent, we will board the barge and cruise to Ghent. Ghent is a lively university town with a rich history, that arose in Roman days on the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie. Its favourable location brought great wealth as it became a trade and textile city, with a peak in the late 13th and early 14th Century. The cloth industry was a source of great wealth in the Middle Ages, and the cloth traders gathered in the "Lakenhal" (Cloth Hall, built 1425). In the city many patrician residences have been preserved. The most important church is St Bavo's cathedral, constructed in different centuries and in different styles. Here you can find several masterpieces of medieval painting, the most famous of which is the "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck. In the evenings the city centre is very atmospheric.
Cycle along the river to Oudenaarde (46 or 53km/28 or 32mi)
Today we'll cycle into downtown Ghent where you can enjoy a tour through the historical centre with a small canal boat. In the late morning we'll cycle towards Oudenaarde. Along the way we'll pass the ruins of the old abbey of Ename, located on the river Scheldt. Oudenaarde is a small town, which was situated on the border of the French-German Empire, so the town was the site of many wars. As Oudenaarde was often in the firing line, there was always someone on the lookout. You can find a statue of the most famous watchman, Hanske de Krijger, in the splendid town hall. The town hall was built in the first half of the 16th century in Brabantine late-Gothic style and is one of the most beautiful town halls of Flanders (and UNESCO World Heritage listed). Oudenaarde is also known as the town of the tapestry weavers, with their tapestry famous around the world. After dinner you can enjoy a Belgian beer at the atmospheric Market place.
Cycle to Doornik/Tournai (42km/26mi)
Before leaving Oudenaarde, there is a guided visit of the beautiful town hall. Afterwards we cycle, following the river Scheldt upstream and cross the linguistic frontier, arriving in the French-speaking Wallonia region. The villages, towns and cities all have a French and a Flemish name. Our destination is Doornik (French: Tournai), one of the oldest towns of Belgium. Doornik was under the French government until early in the 17th century. As in Oudenaarde, after the decline of the cloth industry, tapestry became important here. In 1940 the entire town centre was destroyed in a German air raid but renovation of the town has been very successful. The Notre Dame cathedral (12th and 13th century) is worth seeing, as is the Belfort, built around 1200. Dinner is not included tonight, you can choose to eat in one of the local restaurants.
Cruise towards the French border, then cycle on to Arleux (41 or 53km/26 or 32mi)
During breakfast we cruise towards the French-Belgium border, through the so-called ‘white land’, where (white) limestone has been quarried since Roman times. Around the village of Bleharies at the border, we will start today's cycle. We ride through open farmland and small mining towns towards Lewarde, where you can visit the mining museum, and continue to the rural town of Arleux.
Cycle from Arleux to Cambrai and the top of the Canal du Nord (41 or 51km/25.6 or 31.9mi)
The barge leaves the large canal and will from now on follow the Canal du Nord. The construction of the canal was planned in 1903, but works were not finished until 1966. It replaced the older and smaller Canal de St Quentin, constructed by Napoleon in 1801 to transport coal from the mines in the north. We commence our cycling in Arleux and make our first stop in the city of Cambrai, which was once a Roman provincial capital and an important destination for pilgrims. We recommend exploring the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress, built under Charles V. Later we cycle to the top of the Canal du Nord where the barge is moored next to farmland near Havrincourt.
By boat through the Ruyaulcourt tunnel and Somme valley cycle to Peronne (40 or 53km/25 or 33mi)
The Canal du Nord has two tunnels, the longest of which we'll cruise through - the tunnel of Ruyaulcourt (at 4350 m/2.7 mi). Above the tunnel is the watershed between the rivers Somme and Escaut (Scheldt). From here the barge goes downhill in the direction of Peronne. Today's cycling stage takes us through the valley of the river Somme, a sparsely populated, open and rolling landscape. At the end of WW1 this area was the front line of the battle around the Somme. Soon we will arrive in the quiet, historically rich town of Peronne.
Rest day in Peronne
The barge will stay in Peronne today, moored just outside this charming town with its intimate square and church, a castle and the fascinating Grande Guerre museum. You are free to spend the day resting or exploring the town. Dinner is included this evening.
By barge and bike through rolling countryside to Noyon (39 or 48km/24 or 29mi)
During breakfast the barge will take us to the small village of Epenancourt. From here we get back on the bikes for a ride through gently rolling open countryside, to the art deco town of Ham then along the river Somme and through picturesque villages. Our destination is Noyon with its imposing cathedral.
Cycle to Compiègne, visit the "Glade of the Armistice” enroute (36 or 45km/23 or 27mi)
From Pont l'Eveque we set course for Compiègne. The cycling takes us through the forest of Ourscamp, across the river Aisne and through forest to the “Clairière de l’Armistice” / Glade of the Armistice. This is where the French and German generals signed the treaty at the end of WWI. You can visit the small but interesting museum. We then head to Compiègne, which owes its magnificent buildings to its proximity to Paris. French kings loved to stay here and hunt in its great woods. The gardens of the Chateau de Compiègne are definitely worth a visit. Dinner is not included tonight, you can choose to eat in one of the local restaurants.
Through the forest south of Compiègne to Pont-Ste-Maxence (45 or 55km/27 or 35mi)
Today we cycle first through the forest south of Compiègne, then follow the valley of the Oise further downstream towards Pont-Ste-Maxence. On the longer cycle option, visit the small town of Pierrefonds, where you can admire the exterior of its Disney-like castle with the same name. Before reaching Pont-ste-Maxence we pass by the abbey of Moncel, founded in 1309 by King Philip the Fair. Pont-Ste-Maxence owes its name to the fact that in the Middle Ages this was the location of one of the very few bridges over the Oise river. It became a place to spend the night for merchants and kings travelling between Flanders and Paris.
Cycle towards the castle of Chantilly and Auvers-sur-l’Oise (42 or 57km/27 or 35mi)
After breakfast we start cycling out of busy Creil, heading towards the famous Chateau of Chantilly which is renowned for its horse-racing circuit and royal stables. It is also known for its art gallery, the Musee Conde, which houses one of the finest collections of paintings in France. After the visit we continue cycling through a lovely forest. On today's short cycle option the barge will pick you up at Beaumont. The longer option crosses the river Oise and follows it to Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the last days of his life and where he and his brother Theo are buried in the cemetery. This region was very popular with Impressionist painters. In the evening you can take a short walk to Van Gogh's grave.
Cycle to Conflans en route to Paris (Bougival/Rueil) (42 or 46km/26 or 28 mi)
This morning there is time to explore more of Auvers before we cycle towards the 'Capital of Light'. Along the way we will have time for lunch at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, where the Oise and Seine rivers converge. Conflans has been an important shipping centre in northern France since the 19th century. In the afternoon we will cycle up to the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which has a splendid view over Paris. Afterwards we continue through the suburbs towards Bougival, where we will spend the night.
Final cruise along the Seine to Paris, explore Paris in the afternoon
Today the barge takes us on a final cruise along the Seine, heading upstream into Paris. It is not far in a straight line, but the Seine makes a number of large meanders. The mooring location is in the centre of the city. You can spend the rest of the day as you like, exploring the city by subway, sightseeing bus (own expense) or on foot.
Trip concludes in Paris
The trip concludes this morning in Paris, with disembarkation by 9.30am.
What's included
What's not included
Cabins
On the lower deck the Fleur has 10 comfortable guest cabins with 2 separate 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.
Twin Cabin
The lower deck has 10 twin with two single beds. All cabins have a small ensuite bathroom with toilet, shower and wash basin, a fixed window and individual air conditioning.
Double Cabin
There are two double cabins on the lower deck. These have a French bed, which is slightly smaller then a standard double. The cabins have a small ensuite bathroom with toilet, shower and wash basin, windows that open and individual air conditioning.
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are designed to make cycling easier. The pedalling ‘boost’ provided by an e-bike opens up more options, allowing people of different fitness levels to cycle together or for cyclists to take on routes they may otherwise consider too tough for their current fitness capabilities. Please note that e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes and given the higher speed possible, should only be ridden by confident cyclists.
On Clair d'Etoile the e-bikes have handbrakes, 3 gears and support levels. On Fleur the e-bikes have 8-gears and handbrakes. A helmet, lock and pannier are provided.
GRADE 3 - This is an e-bike trip. The cycling is graded moderate, with 13 days of cycling and distances from approx 35 to 57 km/ 21.9 to 35.6mi along undulating usually well graded low traffic roads. There are some short stretches on some busier roads and off-road bike paths, and some sections with short slopes up to 100m. You will spend approximately 5 hours cycling each day. The accent is on keeping a relaxed pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos. Electric bikes ensure the cycling is comfortable for less physical cyclists - however it is still essential that you are comfortable cycling on roads and in light traffic in variable weather conditions. A good level of fitness and cycling experience is required to fully participate in this trip.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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