A cycling journey to the City of Love
Not too steep and not too long slopes on not very difficult terrain. The daily distances are up to approx. 60 km per day
Distance: 40-60 km average per day; Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day
One of the most famous bike and barge tours in Europe! From the Middle Ages of Bruges to the City of Light in two weeks. Most of our guests from Australia, Canada and New Zealand experience this tour as a journey through their own history because of the memories of the Great War.
This tour starts in famous medieval Bruges and leads you into the heart of Paris. It offers you a two-week bike and boat trip in two countries. History is abundant on this tour. You will visit several historic towns, museums and castles. The first week you will experience riding along rivers and canals and in forests. The landscape is almost flat!
In Péronne, where ANZAC day is commemorated each year, your barge halts for a day to offer you the possibility to make a guided tour along the War Memorials of the First World War, like Villers-Bretonneux, the Victoria School and the 4th Division Memorial of the Australian Army Corps in Bellenglise. From there you will continue along Compiègne, the castle of Chantilly, to Auvers sur Oise (where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted the last months of his life).
After Noyon, in the second week, you will encounter hills but with moderate slopes and in more wooded areas. The ship follows the river Oise downstream to Conflans. Sailing the Seine river with big loops it finds its way to Paris. Only near the capital you will have to climb some serious hills, but that’s after two weeks of daily exercise. The last day you will sail along La Défense, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame while ending your tour in the midst of Paris.
After arrival and welcome at the ship on the mooringplace. Tryout bikeride into the countryside near Bruges. (Guided) walk in town in the evening.
A varied ride in the typical Flanders countryside with small villages, patches of forest, rich fields and pastures into thriving Gent, one of the biggest towns (more than 250.000 inh.) in
Belgium and with a rich history, still visible in layout and buildings in the centre where you will have time to visit some of the highlights (St. Baafs-cathedral with the famous triptych ‘Mystic Lamb’, the castle, museum of fine arts etc. Well lit Gent in the evening is another experience. Option: cover first leg by ship and join later.
Another nice ride in the countryside of Flanders, partly along the river Schelde.Our goal today is Oudenaarde, famous for its town hall, church, beer breweries and the Tour of Flanders centre (cycling). Walk in town.
We can visit the centre this morning while museums are open now. We continue our tour in the Schelde river valley. After crossing the language boundary (Flemish/French) the
river is called Escaut. To the left hills appear on the horizon. Ancient cobblestone roads on some of these are (in)famous because they are part of Tour of Flanders speed cycling
race. Die-hearts can try one or two of them! In a small village we can have our lunch. Goal in the afternoon is Tournai. Watch how big ships sail through the gate of the old watergate.
The town centre is on the UNESCO world heritage list. A visit to the immense cathedral (5 towers) is not to be missed! Walk in town after dinner.
Today we can start our tour with an early sailing. The ship has to cover quite a distance today because the river makes a big loop. Nice riding in forest and visit to St. Amand-les-
Eaux with its abbey-tower. Between the English Channel and the German Ruhr-area in a relatively narrow belt there was a major coalmining industry in the 19th and the first three
quarters of the 20th century. This is still visible in the landscape. Red brick buildings are abundant here. The mooring place will be either Bouchain or Arleux.
Arleux is a village at the confluence of the Canal du Nord and the river Schelde. Following this canal takes a long time because of the shipping traffic and many locks. The captain
might have to moor halfway ‘in the middle of nowhere’ in case of heavy traffic. But a night in the quiet countryside has charm of its own. We are planning to moor near the village of
Hermies. We are entering agricultural Northern France with its large fields. You might encounter some minor slopes today. The town of Cambrai (part of the Netherlands in the
16th century) is nearby. Depending on the starting point today we might visit it.
A short ride to the town of Peronne, following the canal, with at least one serious slope. In the afternoon there is an option of another ride with a nice stay halfway.
The Musee Historial, the war museum in the castle is worth while visiting. There is another small local museum in the centre. Participants who are even more
interested in the history of the Great War ‘14-’18 could use their day off for a visit to one or more places connected with the 1st World War. To the west, direction Amiens, was the
Australian sector. We have a connection with an excellent guide organises excursions around Peronne and who knows almost everything related to the role of Australian,
Canadian and US troops in WW1. This excursion is not included in the tour.
An early sailing or one in the afternoon will be part of the itinerary. Between Peronne and Compiegne there are some hills to be conquered. It’s the typical landscape of Northern
France with undulating fields and small villages. Noyon has a very old interesting cathedral. The ship will be moored near Pont l’Eveque, some 3 km. from Noyon.
Nice ride in the forest, one serious slope, passing through the lovely valley of St. Crépinaux-Bois. Visit to the Clairiere de l’Armistice (armistice place 1918/1940 in the forest) and
continuing along the river Aisne and Oise, into Compiegne. After arrival in Compiegne you have time to spend in town (Palace-museum). You can join a guided walk in this historic
town (Joan of Arc).
A nice ride in the immense forest to the east of town, including a visit to the castle of Pierrefonds, restored and rebuild in the 19th century by the famous architect Violet le Duc.
Nice bike ride in the forest. Visit to the village in the forest St. Jean-aux-Bois and Roman ruins just south of it or a short ride on a new bike path along the river bring us to Béthisy-
St. Pierre. From here we cycle to the river to meet our ship for the last stretch to Creil,mooring on the Oise river.
Today is a ride in a wooded area with nice bike paths. There are a few options for visits: town of Senlis, Chantilly-castle and Royaumont abbey. Part of the distance will be covered
by sailing because of the distance between the moorings today. On our way to Pontoise we will make a stop near the little town of Auvers, where the Dutch painter Vincent van
Gogh spent his last months here, producing a large number of paintings. Guided walk. From Auvers the ship brings us to the town of Pontoise.
Sailing downstream the river Oise and upstream Seine is one of the highlights of the tour but cycling near it too! Many interesting things to visit in a short distance. We can start our
bike ride in Pontoise or Conflans, old river port of the confluence of the rivers Seine and Oise. Between Conflans and Bougival the distance is less than 30 km. Centre of horseriding
is Maisons Lafitte. The next town, St. Germain-en-Laye has a museum with an impressive collection of human artefacts from early manhood until the early Middle Ages.
Not far away from Bougival (4 km. mainly on bike paths), is the chateau-museum of Malmaison with its beautiful park, the dwelling of Napoleon and Joséphine, his first wife.
It’s a very good alternative for the grand but busy chateau at Versailles.
Today we are already in the suburbs op Paris, but with quite some green parts. Some serious hills are part of the day-trip. First goal is the terrain of the Palace of Versailles.
We can visit the park. A visit to the chateau itself will take several hours. A private reservation for this or the next day is an option. Also rides in some nice parks are part of
the itinerary today. We will see highlights of Paris. Of course the traffic will be more intense as you experienced in the two weeks before! An option is to stay on board and see Paris
from the river.
After breakfast your tour comes to an end.
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Gps-tracks can be provided by e-mail.
You are expected at the barge on Thursday afternoon (barge Clair de Lune) or on Monday afternoon (barge Feniks), between 11.00 AM and 13:30 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not before 10.30 AM. We are busy cleaning the barge, but we can provide you with suggestions to have a nice walk into town.
The mooring place of the barge in Bruges: at the ‘Buiten Katelijnevest’ near the Bargeweg (nearly 1 km/ 0.6 miles from the train station).
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Brussels Airport (BRU). By train it is about 1½ hours from the airport to the railway station in Bruges. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the mooring place will take about 1 hour and costs about € 180,-.
The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Bruges railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes. By taxi it takes about 5 minutes to the barge.
Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parkings in Bruges: www.bruges.be.
The tour ends two weeks later in Paris after breakfast at 10 AM.
Mooring location in Paris is Port de l'Arsenal. You can walk to the metro station Bastille (walking distance about 10 minutes) and from there to Gare du Nord.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
The Feniks was built in 1928 as a cargo barge for the Dutch, German, Belgian and French inland waters. On board you will find a comfortable and well-lit lounge, where you can relax on the sofa. As from 2019 the cabins are upgraded. Read more...
The Clair de Lune was originally built in 1936 as a freight ship in Belgium. The barge is 34.15 meters long and 5.05 meters wide, which makes it possible to boat in France with its narrow locks. In 2020 the barge is upgraded. Read more...
Rental bikes on this tour.
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English, some speak German and/or French).
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
If you suffer from food allergies or food intolerance (such as lactose- or gluten- intolerance/-allergy) or if you have special meal requirements (vegetarian; pescetarian; gluten free meals etc.), we ask you to mention this when booking, but at the latest until 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus and special food requirements cannot always be met in all details.
In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; lactose free diet, there is an additional charge.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, France and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays).
Cyclists can choose a longer route than the group takes. The guide will gladly advise you on the choice of an alternative route. GPS tracks are available, on request, for all tours.
The average daily distance on our Bike & Barge tours in the Netherlands is 50 kilometers (32 miles). But don’t forget that Dutch countryside is very flat and the stages, taken at a leisurely pace, take seven to eight hours including a number of breaks and visits.The time spent on your bicycle is about 4 hours per day.
You find the average daily distance on the tour page under 'Summary'.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).
Travel/Cancellation insurance We do not offer a travel and/or cancellation insurance. We recommend that all travelers take out cancellation insurance for their tour with the insurance company of their choice in their home country.
Bike insurance For the tours on the barges Anna Antal; Wending; Liza Marleen; Sailing Home; Zwaan; Clair de Lune and Feniks the bike rental includes a bicycle insurance. This insurance covers the cost of the repair or replacement of bicycle parts in case of an accident. It also protects against theft of the bike while it was locked.
On some tours you can add this insurance to your reservation or buy it on board. This is indicated on the tour page under ‘Rent a bike’.
For more information: Insurances
Yes, free WiFi is limited available in lounge and on deck.
