Champagne and Paris by Bike and Barge

Embarkation and check-in at 2pm near the Seine river. After a welcome from the captain, crew and tour guide, your tour will begin with a cruise through Paris as we make our way to Lagny-sur-Marne, on the border between the bustling city and the French countryside. During the cruise, the guide will give a briefing about the week ahead. After dinner there will be time to explore Lagny.

In the morning after the bike fitting and once everyone is comfortable, we will set off on our first bike ride along the Marne River. One option follows the river, the other is a little more challenging. You will pass the castles of Champs-sur-Marne and cycle through the surrounding gardens. The Château de Champs-sur-Marne is typical of the residences built in the countryside in the 18th century, which gave rise to a new style of living. It is one of the most magnificently furnished castles in the Ile-de-France.

There are 2 cycling options today. The first km of both options are uphill. If you opt for the shorter ride, the first challenge is the hill near Chalifert. The barge will take the tunnel through the hill, but cyclists will climb and cros the hill by bike. On the longer option, the first part is quite hilly leaving the valley of the Marne. Later we follow the small Canal de l’Ourq that was built by Napoleon to transport wood, grain and fresh water to Paris. Today’s destination is the city of Meaux, famous for its “Brie de Meaux” cheeses and the magnificent Cathedral St-Etienne. Overnight in Meaux.

There are a few cycling options today. The shorter option leads over the hills and slopes of the Marne valley on the south bank of the river and through forests and small villages. The longer option stays in the valley of the river in the morning with a ride through Trilport and Lizy-sur-Ourcq. Later there are a few challenging hills leaving the valley, in the direction of Jouarre. In Jouarre, all cyclists can enjoy a presentation and tasting of the famous Brie de Meaux and Brie noir cheeses at the family-run Fromagerie Ganot. Dinner on board and overnight in La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre or a village nearby.

Today we'll enjoy a somewhat challenging cycling tour from La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre to Château-Thierry. The first part of the cycling is along the Marne river. After a while we will take a side valley and follow country roads through various small villages and hamlets. Continuing uphill we finally reach the plateau above the northern part of the Marne valley. The side valleys are mainly covered with forest, on the plateau agriculture is predominant. We follow the valley of the small river Clignon. En route we can visit the large WW1 American War Cemetery and Monument near Belleau on the D82. From here we descend to Château-Thierry and the boat. Dinner onboard and overnight in Château-Thierry. Château-Thierry owes its name to the castle that once was situated on the slopes above the Marne. You can still see some remnants. The town was the site of two important battles: the Battle of 1814 in the Napoleonic Wars between France and Prussia and the Battle of 1918 at the end of World War I. It is also known as the native town of the famous writer of fables, Jean de la Fontaine.

During breakfast we cruise to the lock of Mont St Pierre, or a little further upstream to Dormans. Today we will enter the official Champagne area. Dormans is a quiet village on the Marne with a castle and chapel in memory of the battle of the Marne. During World War I this area was the scene of intense battles. A ride up the northern valley slope to the village of Châtillon-sur-Marne rewards the cyclist with a stunning panoramic view over the Marne valley and the Champagne vineyards. During the cycling tour you will see the Château de Boursault, built in the mid 1800s by Mme Clicquot Ponsardin, the famed champagne producer. There is no dinner on board this evening, you can select one of the local restaurants in town.

The last half-day’s cycle is a loop along the quiet canal parallel to the Marne river to Ay and Mareuil-sur-Ay, returning via Dizy to visit Hautvillers. After an ascent we will reach this picturesque village of Champagne wine growers, on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims. A highlight is a visit to the chapel with the tomb of the monk Dom Pérignon (1638-1715). In charge of the wine cellars of a Benedictine abbey, Dom Pérignon pioneered a number of winemaking techniques, being the first to blend grapes in such a way as to improve regional wines into a wine of superb quality. Double fermentation, characteristic for the making of champagne, was introduced also by him. We cycle back to Epernay, and after lunch we'll visit the centre of Epernay. Together with Reims, Epernay is the major wine centre of the Champagne region, where three extensive wine regions meet: the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne. Epernay has many town houses in neo-Renaissance or classical style dating from the 19th century, especially around the beautiful Avenue de Champagne where prestigious champagne houses such as Moët & Chandon and Mercier are situated. Enjoy a Champagne tasting and take a tour in one of the major Champagne houses.

The tour concludes after breakfast. Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.00 a.m.