Cycling holiday Alsace, Nancy - Strasbourg

Alsace, Nancy – Strasbourg

Cycling France along the Marne-Rhine Canal

Starting at € 1.075,-
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Summary
  • 8 Days Saturday to Saturday
  • 40 km average per day
  • Arrival Nancy Paris Charles de Gaulle
  • Departure Strasbourg Paris Charles de Gaulle
Highlights
  • Beautiful Nancy
  • Old Villages with Tudor Style buildings
  • Canal Marne-Rhine
  • Parc Régional de Vosges
Characteristics
  • Guided Tour
  • Group Tour
  • Bike & Barge
  • Cycling level 2

    Distance: 40-60 km average per day. Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day. Not too steep and not too long slopes on not very difficult terrain. The daily distances are sometimes a bit longer, up to approx. 60 km per day
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Alsace, Nancy – Strasbourg

A totally new Bike & Barge tour in a very interesting part of France. You will ride through the Alsace and Lorraine region from the old city of Nancy to the second seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This is a region with a mixed French/German history and culture. The region was fought over heavily in many wars but is now a beacon for European reconciliation and unification. Through a mix of cultures you can enjoy both good wines and good beers along the way during this Bike & Barge tour Alsace Nancy to Strasbourg!

The beautiful city of Nancy in the Lorraine region is our starting point. We follow the impressive Rhine-Marne Canal all the way to Strasbourg. On the first day you pass the old front line of WW1 with many monuments and cemeteries. Between Lagarde and Gondrexange you will ride through an interesting wetland area. Near Niderviller you can see the Shiplift that is used to replace a series of locks. We pass the Parc Regional de Vosges nature reserve, a wooded area with many castles. Bouxwiller has a center with Tudor-style buildings, ancient churches and a synagogue. Wingersheim is the self-proclaimed hop capital. The final destination, Strasbourg on the Rhine river, is a typical border town with a good example of region's mixed heritage.

Daily Program

  • Day 1 Saturday: Nancy short bike ride 15 km

    Arrival and welcome on the barge. A test ride, to get used to your bike, in the surrounding countryside. (Guided) walk in town in the evening. Nancy is located on the left bank of the river Meurthe, about 10 km upstream from the confluence with the Moselle. The Marne-Rhine-Canal runs through the city, parallel to the Meurthe. The oldest part of Nancy is the Vieille Ville – Léopold district. This district contains the 14th century Porte de la Craffe, the Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, the Porte Désilles and the 19th century St-Epvre basilica. Bordering the south is the Charles III - Center Ville district, the 16th–18th century “new town”. This district contains the famous Place Stanislas, the Cathedral of Nancy and the National Opera de Lorraine. Place Stanislas is a large square built between March 1752 and November 1755 by Stanislaus I of Poland to connect the medieval old town of Nancy with the new town. This square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • Day 2 Sunday: Nancy - Lagarde 40 km

    While you enjoy your breakfast, the barge sails to Dombasle-sur-Meurthe where your cycling tour begins. Our first stop is the city of Lunéville with its castle. At Lunéville we pass the front line of the Great War. This city was heavily fought over in 1914  and has an impressive French cemetery and necropolis. We can also visit the local museum on the Battle of Leomont Hill nearby. After this the WW1 is over for us and after a leisurely ride through typical French countryside we arrive in the nice village of Lagarde.

  • Day 3 Monday: Lagarde - Niderviller 42 or 50 km

    You start the day with a ride along the canal on the car-free cycle path to Bataville. Bata is a well-known shoe brand. The industrial complex in Bataville was built in the Bauhaus style of the 1920s. The factory closed in 2001 and is now a historic monument to industrial architecture and can be visited. After Bataville we take a quiet and easy bike ride ride through the nearby wetlands to Niderviller. For those who want to ride more, the guide has a longer route that goes through the nice city of Sarrebourg.

  • Day 4 Tuesday: Niderviller – Lutzelburg 13 and 36 km

    Niderviller was very famous for its porcelain pottery. Although the factory is no longer there, the town still has a Niderviller porcelain shop. We cycle to Arzviller where we board and sail through tunnels and take the Shiplift that transports ships to the next level. A magnificent piece of engineering and an exciting voyage! Before that elevator was there, a huge series of locks was needed. The barge moors at Lutzelburg at the foot o the Vosges. For those who want to ride more, the guide will arrange a 26 km ride to Phalsbourg. You can also take a walk to Château Lutzelbourg.

  • Day 5 Wednesday: Lutzelburg - Saverne 10 or 41 km

    This morning you will first ride mainly through the woods and through the Vallée des Eclusiers on the cycle path along the canal to Savern, a ride of only 10 km. The mooring place is in the middle of town in Saverne. From Saverne you can visit Château du Haut Barr on foot, by bicycle or by taxi.
    Here, too, the tour guide has for the explorers among us, an extra tour of 31 kilometers in the surrounding hills. The height-difference is in total 550 meter, so this is a ride for the climbers. Along the way you will visit some nice villages and castles. Staying in town and enjoying the French life on the terraces with a local wine or craft beer is no punishment either. 

  • Day 6 Thursday: Saverne – Mommenheim 40 km

    Today we cycle through the foothills of Parc Regional Vosges du Nord. On the way up from Saverne we pass Dossenheim-zur-Zinsel with its 13th century castle-church. From here we ride through the rolling countryside to Bouxwiller, one of the nicest villages in Northern Alsace. It boasts a centre with Tudor-style buildings, museums churches and a synagogue. Later we visit the old Jewish cemetery in Ettendorf and then Hochfelden where the famous Meteor brewery (since 1640!) can be found and visited. To top it all off, there is a ride along the canal to the village of Mommenheim where the barge will be waiting for you.

  • Day 7 Friday: Mommenheim – Strasbourg 40 km

    This last ride takes you first along the canal and later through the forests of La Wantzenau en Robertsau. We end the week with a relaxed and flat ride through the Parc Pourtalés and find the mooring place of the Clair de Lune in Strasbourg, the second seat of the European Parliament. In the afternoon there should be enough time to visit this city on the border with Germany. Perhaps you are just crossing the Rhine in Germany. Strasbourg’s historic city center, the Grande Île (Grand Island), was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1988, the first time such an honour has been awarded to an entire city center. Strasbourg is immersed in Franco-German culture and although it has been violently contested throughout history, it has been a cultural bridge between France and Germany for centuries.

  • Day 8 Saturday: Strasbourg end of tour

    The end of the tour is after breakfast, before 10 AM. 

Cycling in France

Cycling in Alsace and Lorraine

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.
Nancy
Canal du Marne au Rhin
Saverne
Maison des Tanneurs
Arzviller
Luneville
Graufthal
cycletours_fietsvakanties_landen_nederland_fietsvakantie-door-de-zwarte-wouden_Lutzelbourg_-_Canal_de_la_Marne_
Lutzelbourg
Bouxwiller
Canal du Marne au Rhin
Battle of Leomont Hill
Haut Barr, panorama
Nancy
Saverne
Strasbourg

Travel Dates

Departure
End
Accommodation
Starting at
Availability

What else do you need to know?

Not available in 2023

Included

  • All nights on board, (Sat.-Sat. 8 days / 7 nights), cabin in the booked category;
  • Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x self-made picnic lunch for bike tours, 7 x three course dinner)
  • Use of bed linen and 2 towels (change of towels possible)
  • Coffee and tea on board
  • Tour guide, cycles with the group
  • Min. 3 city walks with the tourguide
  • Free WiFi is limited available in lounge and on deck
  • Road book, 1x per cabin
  • Ferry fares on the route

Not Included

  • Reservation costs € 20,- per party
  • Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
  • Bicycle rent (optional)
  • Bicycle insurance (optional) € 20,- per bicycle
  • Bicycle insurance electric bike (optional) € 40,- per bicycle
  • Entrance fees to museums; approx. € 45,-
  • Personal insurance/ Cancellation insurance (optional)

Special details

  • Please take good notice of Terms & Conditions.
  • If you have special meal requirements 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. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 50, – per week.
  • Cycletours Holidays reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure.
  • The program is subject to change without notice.

Info

You are expected at the barge on Saturday afternoon, between 12.00 AM and 14.00 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not before 11.00 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 Nancy is on the Marne-Rhin canal near the city center.

Airport

The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). By train and bus it is about 2,5 hours to the railway station in the center of Nancy via high speed train station Lorraine TGV. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 30 minutes. A taxi from the airport of Paris to the mooring place will take about 3,5 to 4 hours.

Train

The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Nancy railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 30 minutes.

Car

Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parking your car in Nancy can be found on www.nancy.fr

End of the tour

The tour ends one week later in Strasbourg on Saturday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Strasbourg. The mooring place of the barge in Strasbourg is to the north of the city center.

Our barge, your hotel

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.

What are the cabins like?

Most cabins are 2-person cabins, but some barges also have triple cabins. There are four categories: Standard Plus (cabins with private shower/toilet; bunk beds), Comfort (cabins as Standard Plus but with twin beds), Comfort Plus (cabins as Comfort, small ship or with air-conditioning) and Comfort DeLuxe (a very comfortable and tastefully furnished 5-star ship; cabins have twin beds and air-conditioning). In all categories the cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 voltage. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.

The team, hospitality comes first

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).

The meals

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; vegan meals; 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 vegan meals, gluten free or lactose diet, there is an additional charge. This charge is € 50,- per diet/ per person/per week when you  order the diet when booking and € 100,- per diet/ per person/per week when ordering on spot.

You and the group,new friends from around the world!

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). Most groups are made up of 12 to 26 people.

 

F.A.Q.

  • Do you accommodate for special diets

    Yes, but you must indicate this when booking. 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.
    On some trips, in case of a gluten-free diet/lactose-free diet/ vegan meals, a surcharge applies. This is stated per tour. 

  • What happens when it rains?

    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).

  • Which countries do the participants come from

    The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.

  • Can I rejoin the barge before the end of a stage

    No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.

  • What packing list do you suggest

    Specialised cycle clothing may be handy but not strictly necessary. What you do need (among other things) is the following:
    •    shorts/ long trousers/ track suit/ legging
    •    shirts/ sweater/ rain clothing
    •    good solid shoes/ sneakers
    •    sunglasses/ cap/ swimming costume​​​​​​
    •    personal care and beauty items
    •    insect repellent
    •    sunscreen
    •    gloves (if you travel in April or October it will be chilly in the morning)

    A  hair dryer is available on all barges.

    Your travel documents include the final packing list we suggest for your booked tour.