Cycling holiday Alsace, Strasbourg - Nancy

Alsace, Strasbourg – Nancy

Along the Marne - Rhine Canal

À partir de € 1.075,-
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Summary
  • 8 Days Saturday to Saturday
  • 42 km average per day
  • Arrival Strasbourg Paris, Charles de Gaulle
  • Departure Nancy Paris, Charles de Gaulle
Highlights
  • European town Strasbourg
  • French and German culture in one region
  • Beautiful Nancy
  • Old villages and Tudor Style buildings
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

Along the Marne - Rhine Canal

A totally new Bike & Barge tour in a very interesting part of France. You will ride through the Alsace and Lorraine region from the second seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to the old city of Nancy. 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.

Strasbourg on the Rhine is a typical border town with a good example of the region's mixed heritage. It is the seat of the European Parliament when not meeting in Brussels. We follow the impressive Rhine-Marne-Canal all the way to Nancy. Bouxwiller has a center with Tudor-style buildings and centuries-old churches and a synagogue. We pass the Parc Regional de Vosges nature reserve, a wooded area with many castles. Near Niderviller you will see the Shiplift that is used to replace a series of locks. Between Gondrexage and Lagarde you will ride through an interesting wetland area. On the last day to Nancy you pass the old frontline of WW1 with many monuments and cemeteries.

Daily Program

  • Journée 1 Saturday: Strasbourg try out bike ride 15 km

    Arrival and welcome at the barge on the mooring place . Short try-out bike ride. Strasbourg’s historic city centre, the Grande Île (Grand Island), was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honour was 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.

  • Journée 2 Sunday: Strasbourg - Mommenheim 40 km

    You start the week with a relaxed and flat ride through the Parc Pourtalés and later villages such as La Wantzenau and Robertsau where you can already see the first Tudor-style buildings. Later we ride at our leisure along the Rhine-Marne Canal. The mooring place of the barge is near the village of Mommenheim.

  • Journée 3 Monday: Mommenheim – Saverne 40 km

    First a ride along the canal to Hochfelden where the famous Meteor brewery (since 1640!) can be found and visited. Later we visit the old Jewish cemetery in Ettendorf. Around lunchtime we are in Bouxwiller, one of the nicest villages in Northern Alsace. It has a center with Tudor-style buildings, museums churches and a synagogue. On the way to Saverne we pass Dossenheim-zur-Zinsel with its impressive 13th-century fortified church. Saverne is a very nice town. You can enjoy the French joie-de-vivre on the many terraces while sipping a local wine or craft beer.

  • Journée 4 Tuesday: Saverne - Lutzelburg 10 or 41 km
     cycletours_fietsvakanties_landen_nederland_fietsvakantie-door-de-zwarte-wouden_Lutzelbourg_-_Canal_de_la_Marne_

    A morning visit to the Haut Barr castle near Saverne is a must. This can be done by bike, on foot (1,5 hours) or you can get a taxi. Those who want can make a nice roundtrip with the tour leader from Saverne through the surrounding hills. You will see some nice villages and castles. The ride is for the climbers among us as it includes 550 vertical meters. Enjoying city life in Saverne for a while is no punishment either. In the afternoon we mainly ride through the forests of Parc Regional Vosges du Nord on the cycle path along the canal and through the Vallée des Eclusiers to Lutzelburg where the barge is moored.

  • Journée 5 Wednesday: Lutzelburg – Niderviller 13 or 36 km

    In the morning you can first join the guide on a nice roundtrip of 26 km to Phalsbourg. Or, if you stay in town, you can take a stroll to Château Lutzelbourg. After lunch 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. You can experience the ride in the Shiplift or take a scenic, short ride along the canal to Niderviller with the guide. The town was very famous for its porcelain pottery. Although the factory is no longer there, the town still has a Niderviller porcelain shop.

  • Journée 6 Thursday: Niderviller - Lagarde 40 or 50 km

    Time for a morning ride along the canal from Niderviller to Gondrexage. The longer route takes you away from the canal to Sarrebourg. Later you will ride through wetlands until you reach Bataville. Bata is a well-known shoe brand. The industrial complex in Bataville is 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. You continue the route along the canal on the traffic free cycle path to Lagarde.

  • Journée 7 Friday: Lagarde - Nancy 40 km

    Another beautiful morning ride through the rolling countryside to the city of Luneville with its cathedral. At Luneville we pass the frontline of WW1. This city was heavily fought over in 1914 and has an impressive French cemetery and necropolis. We can also visit the local museum of the Battle of Leomont Hill nearby. We ride along the river and canal to Dombasle-sur-Meurthe where you will board the Clair de Lune for the last time. Sailing on the Rine-Marne-Canal you will enter Nancy, city of museums, parks and lovely squares.

  • Journée 8 Saturday: Nancy, end of the tour

    Teh tour ends after breakfast: debarkation before 10 AM.

Cycling in France

Cycling through 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.

Strasbourg
Maison des Tanneurs
Graufthal
Bouxwiller
Saverne
Haut Barr, panorama
Saverne
Canal du Marne au Rhin
Lutzelburg
Canal du Marne au Rhin
Lutzelbourg
Alsace
Luneville
Strasbourg
Nancy
Nancy

Travel Dates

Départ
Fin
Hébergement
À partir de
Disponibilité

What else do you need to know?

Prices per person in 2022

Clair de Lune

August 6 + October 15
Double cabin € 1.075,-
Cabin with split-level beds € 1.075,-
Cabin with single bed € 1.205,-

August 27 & September 24
Double cabin € 1.180,-
Cabin with split-level beds € 1.180,-
Cabin with single bed € 1.290,-

Supplements:
Reservation costs € 20,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)

Extra options:
Rental bike per week € 95,-
E-bike per week € 187,50
Insurance for rental bike € 20,-
Insurance for e-bike € 40,-
Special diet (gluten free, vegan) € 50,- per diet (possible on request up to 14 days prior to start of the tour)

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 fee of € 20,- per booking
  • 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
  • (non) alcoholic beverages aboard and ashore
  • Personal and cancellation insurance (optional)
  • Entrance fees

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 Strasbourg is to the north of the city center.

Airport

The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). By direct TGV train and bus it is about 2 hours to the railway station in the center of Strasbourg. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 1 hour. A taxi from the airport of Paris to the mooring place will take about 5 hours.

Train

The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Strasbourg railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 1 hour. A taxi will take about 15 minutes and will cost around 45 euro.

Car

Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parking your car in Strasbourg can be found on Strasbourg.eu

End of the tour

The tour ends one week later in Nancy on Saturday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Nancy. The mooring place of the barge in Nancy is on the Marne – Rhin canal near 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.