Guided From
€2249
Price From
€
  • UNESCO World Heritage citycenter of Bruges
  • town of Péronne and the fascinating “Grande Guerre” museum
  • World War I battlefields of Somme Valley
  • Musée Condé: one of the finest collections of paintings in France
  • luxurious barge with a maximum of 24 passengers
15 Days
14 Nights
447 Total kms
37.25 km/day (avg)
mini-map
This tour is characterized by a wide variation in landscapes and has all the ingredients a good bike and barge tour needs to explore these interesting regions. Highlights of the first stage in France are – obviously – beautiful Paris, the “City of Lights” as unbeatable start of a beautiful discovery tour, the Chateau de Chantilly and its art gallery the Musée Condé that houses one of the finest collections of paintings in France, and World War I battle fields and memorials in the Somme valley. The second stage in Belgium features highlights like Vincent van Gogh’s heritage, tapestry in Oudenaarde, history in medieval Ghent, a nice Belgium beer at end of your daily cycling tour and magnificent Bruges, “Pearl of Flanders” and destination of this two-week discovery tour. The cycling tours go over gently forested undulations and across open farm land, along the rivers Seine, Oise, Somme and Scheldt; and the French-Belgian border which is the watershed between the river basins of Seine and Scheldt.

Tour Route

Day
1
Arrival
to
Paris

Embarkation and check-in at 2 p.m. in the center of Paris. After a welcome by the captain, crew and tour leader the barge will sail right through the city. Mooring place for the night is in a suburb of Paris. After a sailing dinner there is time for a short walk. We advise you to come to Paris one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover this interesting city.
Day
2
Paris
to
Auvers-sur-Oise

From the starting point Bougival you cycle alongside the Seine to St. Germain-en-Laye, where you will climb the plateau on top of which you will find a palace and gardens. Here you have a splendid view over Paris. Later you pass Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, where the Oise and the Seine merge. From the 19th century Conflans has been an important center of navigation in Northern France. Your destination is Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the last days of his life and where he and his brother are buried in the local cemetery. This region was loved by many impressionist painters. After dinner an evening walk to the van Gogh cemetery.
38km
Day
3
Auvers-sur-Oise
to
Creil

Sailing breakfast to Beaumont. Starting in Beaumont, you follow the Oise upstream. On your bicycles you pass the abbey of Royaumont and soon thereafter you arrive in Chantilly, with its famous castle. The castle is also well known for the horse-racing circuit and royal stables. Today’s destination is Creil, a country town, which in the 19th century was famous for its fine pottery.
42km
Day
4
Creil
to
Compiègne

During breakfast you sail to Pont-St-Maxence. This town owes its name to the fact that in very olden times there already was a bridge over the Oise and so Pont-St-Maxence became the place to stay the night for kings and merchants who were on their way to Flanders. From here your biking tour starts. Not far from here you pass the abbey of Moncel, which in 1309 was founded by King Philips le Bel. Before you reach your destination Compiègne, you cycle through the forest named after this town “Forêt de Compiègne”. French kings loved to hunt here. The longer route ads some more miles of forest and also the little town of Pierrefond, where you can admire the exterior of the impressive castle. Compiègne owes its architectural wealth to the proximity of Paris. The gardens of the Chateau de Compiègne are definitely worth a visit.
33km
48km
Day
5
Compiègne
to
Chauny

Today you and the barge will leave the Oise River, to continue the trip by using the canal system that connects France and Belgium. In the morning you cycle into the most northern part of the forest of Compiègne. Here you will visit the “Clairière de l’Armistice”, the place where the French and German generals signed the Treaty to end World War I. You can have a look into the small but interesting museum. Thereafter you will cross the river Aisne and cycle through the forest of Ourscamp. In the afternoon you will spend some time in Noyon, where you can visit one of the oldest Cathedrals of the country. After your visit you will cycle back to the canal at Pont l’Eveque, where the ship will be waiting for you. Time to relax on the front deck while cruising to Chauny.
41km
Day
6
Chauny
to
St. Quentin

Today the barge will continue the cruise on the old Canal of St.-Quentin, a beautiful old canal with many locks. The canal still breathes peace and quietness and reminds of a rich shipping history. Coals from the mines needed to be transported to the south, so Napoleon decided to construct the canal in 1801. Here the Fleur is in her natural environment and for the first time during this tour the sizes of the locks are just right for her. The cycling leads you through the Somme-region, quiet countryside with small villages. Today’s destination is St. Quentin. St. Quentin arose in the 2nd century on a junction of Roman roads. The lively provincial capital of the Aisne flourished as a destination for pilgrims around the grave of St.-Quentin. The gothic basilica was built between 1230 and the 15th century and has a unique double transept. The Town Hall is a jewel from the 16th century, with a splendid façade in flamboyant Gothic style.
41km
54km
Day
7
St. Quentin

Today the Fleur will stay in St.-Quentin. If there is enough interest you can participate in a day excursion by bus to the battlefields of World War I in the Somme valley. But it is also possible to use the day for exploring the city of St. Quentin and for shopping. Today there will be no dinner on board: you can select one of the many restaurants of St. Quentin.
Day
8
St. Quentin
to
Honnecourt

The Canal de St. Quentin traverses an area with large differences in height; therefore it was necessary to build some tunnels. The longest one is the tunnel of Riqueval, which is 5,670 meters (3.5 miles) long. Today the Fleur will sail through this tunnel. Like in former years, ships are still pulled through the tunnel in two hours by an electrically driven towboat. At The northern end of the tunnel is the watershed between rivers Somme and Escaut (French name of the Scheldt). At the tunnel is a little museum. You will spend the night in a little village called Honnecourt.
36km
66km
Day
9
Honnecourt
to
Pont Malin

Today you will continue your trip along the old Canal de St. Quentin. In the morning you will pass the ancient abbey of Vaucelles. Your first stop will be in Cambrai, once a roman provincial capital and an important destination for pilgrims. First in 1677 Cambrai became French. Worth seeing are the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress, built under Charles V, the old city gate that dates from 1300, the so called “Spanish House” and the cathedral next to it. In the afternoon we will leave the old Canal de St. Quentin to continue on the Canal du Grand Gabarit to Pont Malin, where we will spend the night. The Canal du Nord has 2 tunnels, where the barge has to sail through. The longest one is the tunnel of Ruyalcourt, which is 4,350 meters (2.7 miles) long. As soon as are all back on board, the Zwaantje will pass this tunnel. Above the tunnel is the watershed between the rivers Somme and Escaut (Scheldt). From there the barge therefore goes downhill into the direction of Arleux. Mooring is in Moeuvres, an outskirt of this town.
39km
58km
Day
10
Pont Malin
to
Doornik (Tournai)

Today the Fleur follows the Canal du Grand Gabarit for a few hours, passing through a former industrial area of northern France. Ancient coal mines and steel sites border the canal. You will start your ride in Denain and will cross the border soon. Once in Belgium you cycle through the so-called “white land”. The charming little fortress town Antoing lies at the heart of this region and since the Roman times (white) limestone has been mined here. Today’s destination is Doornik (in French: Tournai), one of the oldest cities of Belgium. Now you are in Wallonia, French speaking Belgium, where all towns and villages have both a French and a Flemish name. Up till the beginning of the 17th century Doornik was ruled by the French. Here, tapestry weaving gained in importance, while the cloth industry became less important. In the various museums of the town, excellent examples can be seen. In 1940 the entire city center was destroyed after a German air-raid. However, the town has been renovated splendidly. Especially the Cathedral de Notre Dame (12th and 13th century) is worth seeing, as well as the Belfort, which was built at about 1200.
43km
57km
Day
11
Doornik (Tournai)
to
Oudenaarde

Now the barge sails downstream the river Scheldt and after crossing the language barrier you enter the Flemish region. From here onwards Flemish is the spoken language. Your target today is Oudenaarde. In former days this little town was situated on the border of the French and German Empires and as a result it was involved in wars frequently. Since Oudenaarde was right in the firing-line, there was always someone on the look-out. The statue of the most famous watchman, “Hanske de Krijger”, is on the splendid city hall. In the first half of the 16th century this city hall was built of sandstone in Brabantine late Gothic style and it is one of the most beautiful city halls of Flanders. Oudenaarde is also known as the town of the tapestry weavers. Their tapestry is famous all over the world.
41km
47km
Day
12
Oudenaarde
to
Ghent

Shortly after starting your cycling tour at Oudenaarde you briefly stop at the ruins of the old abbey of Ename, located at the river Scheldt. You keep on following the river towards Ghent, your destination. Ghent is a lively university town with a rich history. The town arose in Roman days on the confluence of the rivers Leie and Schelde. This favorable location brought on quite some wealth with a peak in the late 13th and early 14th century. The cloth industry was a source of great richness in the late Middle Ages. In the city many patrician residences have been preserved. In the “Lakenhal” – Cloth Hall – (1425) the cloth traders gathered. The most important church is St. Baafs cathedral, which was constructed in different centuries and in different styles. In the cathedral several masterpieces of medieval painting are to be found. “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by Jan van Eyck is the most famous of all. You may wish to take a city tour by boat or visit the old castle Gravensteen.
41km
Day
13
Ghent
to
Bruges

While enjoying breakfast you will cruise the Canal Ghent – Bruges to Aalterbrug. Here you will start your cycling tour. Today your cycling tour goes through the pleasant flat country side of Western Flanders to Bruges. Bruges, also called “Venice of the North”, is said to be the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old center, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. In past ages, Bruges was a metropole, center of trade and art, which you can still fully enjoy.
30km
40km
Day
14
Bruges

Today the Fleur will stay in Bruges. An optional bicycle ride through the pleasant countryside around Bruges will be offered, but you can also choose to spend your time in beautiful Bruges and visit a museum or do some shopping.
22km
40km
Day
15
Bruges
to
Departure

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

FAQs

    • 15 days/14 nights
    • 14 x breakfast
    • Packed lunches
    • 13 x 3-course dinner
    • Coffee and tea on board
    • Welcome drink
    • Use of bed linen and towels
    • Daily cleaning of the cabin, 1x change of bed sheets
    • Climate-controlled cabin
    • Daily briefings
    • Fully guided cycling tours (from 18 guest: 2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
    • Some short walking tours
    • Maps for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
    • GPS tracks
    • Use of a helmet
    • Use of a waterproof pannier bag
    • Water bottle
    • Fees for ferriesVisit museum Glade of the Armistice
    • Entrance castle of Chantilly
    • Visit town hall Oudenaarde
    • 2019: Canal trip through Ghent
    • Wi-Fi
    • 1 x dinner (Zwaantje: in Péronne / Fleur: in St. Quentin)
    • Drinks
    • Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
    • Personal insurances
    • Gratuities (at your discretion)
    • Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under included)
    • Transfers to/from the docking place
    • Parking fees

  • About this ship: Fleur

    The Fleur started cruising in 2002. This small, yet very tasteful passenger barge with its sleek lines was built to fit the smaller locks and canals in France and has been cruising the French waters ever since. In 2018 Steffie Kranz and Evert Jan Muurling, will take over ownership. Steffie and Evert Jan have been in the business for more than 15 years. These years of experience and commitment are reflected in every detail and guarantee that your vacation will be a pleasant one.

    Description of the cabins
    On the lower deck, the Fleur has ten comfortable guest cabins (9 m² – 97 sq.ft.) with two separate single beds. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin, central heating and air-conditioning; windows are fixed for safety reasons. Furthermore, in each cabin you will find a mini safe and hair dryer.

    Description of the ship
    On the upper deck, there is a lounge with large windows, a roomy sitting area, a dining area, a cozy bar, central heating and air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is available. On the upper deck you will also find the half-covered sun deck, which is the ideal place to drink a cup of coffee or an aperitif and to enjoy the scenery while cruising.

    Facts about the ship
    Length:     38.7 m (126 ft.)
    Width:       5 m (17 ft.)
    Crew:        4
    Cabins:     10
    Pass.:        20 (max.)

Prices

We are in the process of confirming pricing for this tour, please let us know if you are interested using the form below.

Or call us directly: (+34) 942 58 10 92
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