info@french-biketours.com
Leisurely itineraries along beautiful routes, via historic cities through one of the world's most famous wine regions, Burgundy. Along the way pass rolling hills covered with vineyards, wildlife-rich deciduous forests, striking castles, charming wine villages and idyllic river banks. At the end of each sporty cycling day find a nice little restaurant, what a party!
Highlights
Arrival in Beaune, the unmistakable wine capital of Burgundy. If you have 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 overlook the rolling vineyards producing one of the most expensive wines of the world: Romanée Conti.
At the end of your day, before returning to Beaune, you can take advantage of a detour to discover the historic castle of Château Savigny-les-Beaune.
Challenge : 57.6 km, 382m ascent, 383m descent
A nice relaxed trip through the “Côte de Beaune” where prestigious, white wines like Meursault and Montrachet are made from the white Chardonnay grapes.
Today we propose an itinerary which traverses the famous wine villages of Pommard, Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet on an easy route with many changes of scenery, to the small town of Nolay, and its impressive market building next to church. From Nolay, you will follow a pleasant cycling path using a former railway. Arrival at Chassey-le-Camp at the heart of the small valley.
Challenge : 43.6 km, 489m ascent, 395m descent
Today on the “Voie Verte” – a former railway track - you cycle among undulating vineyards of the considerably less prestigious wine region “Côte Chalonnaise”. Visit, on you way, the castle of Rully, and maybe take a break at a local winegrower to taste some red Mercurey. Before the end of your cycling day, pedal through the vineyards via Buxy, a typical medieval town.
Challenge : 42.7 km, 290m ascent, 367m descent
Continuing 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 the day in the beautiful town of Cluny, known for its prominent town ramparts and Roman Abbey founded in the 10th century.
Challenge : 27.4 km, 102m ascent, 94m descent
Rather quickly the terrain becomes somewhat hillier and you reach Europe’s longest underpass(disused railway tunnel). On the other side is the majestic fortress Berzé-le-Châtel, surrounded by “Mâconnais” 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 typical Roman churches and eventually you reach medieval Tournus.
Challenge : 59.5 km, 169m ascent, 231m 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 accommodations are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 3/4* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included.
If you would like to find out more about the star rating system in France, please check out this page.
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks. The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Please note: Depending on the trip, different models apply
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric motor.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking too.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
6 nights included
3/4 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included. Dinner is included on day 3.
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 24 22 10
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