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Northern Burgundy by Bike & Barge
Auxerre to Moret-Sur-Loing & v.v.
Guided 8 Days / 7 Nights
Northern Burgundy is known as the land of fine art and living. Cycle gently rolling countryside to ancient medieval villages, imposing castles, ancient monasteries, meandering rivers and of course, some of the best wines, cheeses, honey and ciders you will ever taste!
Highlights:
- Art & culture cities of Auxerre and Joigny
- Sens, one of France’s oldest towns
- Tastings of Burgundy wines!
Your JourneyDay 1 Arrive Auxerre After dinner on board stroll through the beautiful river town of Auxerre with her majestic church spire, streets lined with 16th century timber houses and the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne, a true masterpiece of Gothic art. Day 2 Auxerre Cycle along the Yonne River to Caves de Bailly. This vineyard is famous for its sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne and limestone caves. The nearby vineyards of St Bris and Irancy are also well worth a visit. Day 3 Auxerre – Joigny Cycle through the Yonne River valley. A longer cycling route, is through the charming countryside of Brienon-sur-Armencon. Follow the beautiful Burgundy canal to Migennes where it crosses the Yonne River. Rejoin your barge for a relaxed afternoon cruise to Joigny, a picturesque little town that has a long and storied wine history as well as several historical monuments. Day 4: Joigny – Villeneuve-sur-Yonne Circuit ride through the local vineyards for a tasting of some of Burgundy’s finest wines! After lunch ride to the town of Saint-Julien-du-Sault where you can visit the 13th century Saint-Pierre church with its magnificent stained-glass windows. Dock for the night in the lovely, lesser-known French town of Villeneuve and discover the medieval gate towers. Day 5 Villeneuve-sur-Yonne – Sens Two cycling options today. The short option follows the Yonne River, while the longer option takes you into the hills for a rewarding taste of the fine cider produced at the museum ‘de Pomme et de Cidre’. Next stop is Sens, one of the oldest towns in France where you’ll visit the first of the greater Gothic cathedrals in France. Day 6 Sens – Pont-sur-Yonne The longer cycle route today leads to a local honey producer where you can sample their delicious wild honey. Otherwise you can spend more time in Sens then cycle to Pont-sur-Yonne, a charming riverside town. Day 7 Pont-sur-Yonne – Montereau – Moret Visit the town of Montereau-fault-Yonne at the confluence of the Yonne and Seine rivers where the thousand-year-old Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Loup collegiate church is found. Rejoin the boat for a dinner cruise to the charming medieval fortified town of Moret-sur-Loing. Day 8 Moret-sur-Loing Disembark after breakfast. OPERATES MORET-SUR-LOING TO AUXERRE ALTERNATE WEEKS. TerrainEasy to moderate with some hills. |
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