Leisurely itineraries along beautiful, historic cities through one of the world's most famous wine regions, Burgundy. Along the way, rolling wine hills, wild-rich deciduous forests, striking castles, charming wine villages and idyllic river banks. At the end of such a sporty cycling day find a nice little restaurant, what a party!
Highlights
Explore France's wine regions by bike:
APP
The route descriptions we have made for this trip will be supplied via a travel app, for “GPS” navigation with visual/audio guidance (reading of the track on your smartphone). When you book this self-guided cycling holiday, we will send you explanations on how to use this app and send you an access code. The app contains routes and practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary.
Arrival in Beaune, the unmistakable wine capital of Burgundy. Have you got some time left after your check-in then visit the artistic and historic heritage of the town, such as the impressive “Hospices de Beaune”. Be sure to pay a visit to the wine museum.
This route crosses the well-known wine region 'Côte de Nuits'. Here the dominant grape in the vineyards is the Pinot Noir, from which the splendid red Burgundy is made. You pass the world-famous Chateau Clos du Vougeot and will overlook the rolling vineyards producing one of the most expensive wines of the world: Romanée Conti.
Challenge : 57.7 km, 466m ascent, 467m descent
A nice and relaxed trip through the “Côte de Beaune” where prestigious, white wines like Meursault and Montrachet are made from the white Chardonnay grape. First you will visit the historic Château Savigny-les-Beaune. Then you cycle along famous wine villages like Pommard, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet an easy route to Santenay before reaching Chassey-le-Camp on the cycling path “Canal du Centre”.
Challenge : 43.6 km, 573m ascent, 479m descent
Today on the “Voie Verte” – a former railtrack - you cycle among undulating vineyards of the considerably less prestigious wine region “Côte Chalonnaise”. Visit, on you way, the castles of Rully. Also take break at a local winegrower to taste some red Mercury. Before the end of your cycling day, pedal through the vineyards via Buxy, a typical medieval town.
Challenge : 42.7 km, 389m ascent, 467m descent
Today, continue along the “Voie Verte” today you can admire the beautiful landscapes of southern Burgundy. The treasures you will find along the route include the Chateau de Cormatin and its gardens, unique in France for its exceptionally well-preserved interiors from the reign of Louis 13th (1628).
You end in the beautiful town of Cluny, known for its prominent town ramparts and Roman Abbey founded in the 10th century.
Challenge : 27.4 km, 201m ascent, 193m descent
Rather fast the terrain becomes somewhat hillier and you reach Europe’s longest underpass. On the other site is the majestic fortress Berzé-le-Châtel, surrounded by “Mâconnai”’ vineyards. In Mâcon you cross the beautiful bridge Saint Laurent and you follow the route on the “Voie Bleue” along the banks of the Sâone. You pass charming villages built around the typically Roman churches and eventually you reach medieval Tournus.
Challenge : 59.5 km, 331m ascent, 393m descent
After breakfast, end of your cycling trip. Some time left? Walk through the historic centre of Tournus before taking the train back to Beaune.
All accomodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 3/4* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathroom and every morning breakfast are included.
The bike rental includes the drop-off fee for the bike’s return
SCOTT Sub Cross, 24 Speed
SCOTT Sub Active eRIDE Bosch 400WH
6 nights included
3/4 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
Luggage transport to your next accommodations. Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum)
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.
If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking information on request
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
From Paris, you can take the TGV (high speed train) to Dijon (approx. 1h35). From Dijon, you take the local train (TER) to Beaune (approx. 18 min). At the end of your trip, you can take a local train from Tournus to Dijon, from where you can connect to Paris.
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Beaune (approx. 3h15 - 340 km/210 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
Hard to pick just one experience - great views, Chateau de Colmartin, riding through the longest cycling tunnel in Europe, but mostly the great hospitality (often totally unexpected gestures), & the delicious local foods & wines. We were amazed that 2 grapes (Pinot Noir & Chardonnay), could produce such great variety in both regions. Lastly, we loved Cassis with Cremmant & had these as apéritifs many nights before dinners.
We liked most of the hotels, all breakfasts & we loved the dinner in Chassey Le Camp (amazing!). Chassey Le Camp had a beautiful indoor pool and whirlpool (so appreciated after a day cycling in the rain). The dinner at Chassey Le Camp was AMAZING! The beautiful country estate in Saint-Boil was so amazing and the owners were wonderful. We enjoyed another beautiful dinner at their restaurant across the street (you should consider doing half-board here as well as nothing else was open in Saint-Boil, and the service and food here is also AMAZING!!!). The morning after, the proprietor told us all about their locally sourced foods & even let us try their fresh mushrooms!
Hotel in Beaune (Central Boutique Hotel), put us into the farthest possible room that was very small with a cramped bathroom (door even hit the toilet! Toilet didnt even fit in the bathroom!). Considering we were staying 3 nights here, we felt they could have given us a better room.
The 2 replacement hotels in Cluny & Tournus were wonderful!! Cathy at Hotel Port D’Honneur baked us a homemade Cassis gateau the morning of our breakfast(!!), & what we didnt eat for breakfast, she packaged up and sent with us on our journey. She is amazing and so is her cake!! Stephane at the hotel in Tournus (Jardin de Saone), was so wonderful, he brought us 2 free Belgium beers right to our room after he saw us all sweaty on our bikes after 60km cycle that day. His hotel was also wonderful with a logely sitting area outside the room and free Netflix. His breakfast was also wonderful. He gave us a drive to the train station in the morning to catch our train to Lyon.
Ian & Dan
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0) 5 53 73 08 61
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