FRANCE MEETS BELGIUM PARIS - BRUGES or v.v. by Bike & Barge 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS Guided Cycling 2019

Transcription

1 FRANCE MEETS BELGIUM PARIS - BRUGES or v.v. by Bike & Barge 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS Guided Cycling 2019 Two of the most beautiful cities in the world and all the wonder and beauty that lies between. On this remarkable15 day voyage from Paris to Bruges (or vice versa) you avoid mass tourism and explore northern France and Flanders by barge, pedal power and evening walks. You ll enjoy a wide variety of landscapes and experiences, culture and history the parks of Paris, small art-deco towns such as Ham and Ronse, the famous tapestries of Oudenaarde and Ghent, the palaces of Chantiilly, Compiegne and Blérancourt, Vincent van Gogh s heritage, castles cathedrals and of course, World War 1battlefields and memorials in the Somme valley. And let s not forget how well a good Belgium beer goes down at the end of bike ride! Maximum number of guests: MS Fleur 20 & MS Zwaantje- 24 Grade: Relaxed. Suitable for anyone in good physical condition and basic cycling skills. Distances up to 50kms per day; short slopes up to 100m There may be slight differences in the day-to-day programme, depending on the ship.

2 ITINERARY: Fleur: Paris Auvers Compiegne St. Quentin Cambrai Oudenaarde Ghent Bruges. Zwaantje Paris Auvers Compiegne Noyon Péronne Oudenaarde Ghent Bruges PARIS BRUGES ABOARD MS FLEUR Day 1 (Sat): Embarkation in Paris - Bougival Embarking takes place from 2pm on board the barge MS Fleur in Paris at the Port d Arsenal right in the heart of Paris. At 3 pm cruise with the barge through the centre of Paris with wonderful views of the Louvre, Musée d Orsay and the Eiffel tower followed by a sailing dinner to Bougival. Day 2 (Sun): Paris (Bougival) Auverssur-Oise The biking starts shortly after breakfast to St.Germain-en-Laye where you climb to the palace and from the palace gardens gaze in awe at the splendid view of Paris. Then it s on to Conflans- Sainte-Honorine, where the Oise and the Seine merge. Since the 19th century Conflans has been an important centre of navigation in Northern France. Our final 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. Cycling: 38km Day 3 (Mon): Auvers-sur-Oise Beaumont Beaumont - Creil During breakfast cruise to Beaumont. On our bikes we follow the Oise upstream passing the abbey of Royaumont before arriving 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. Cycling: 42km

3 Day 4 (Tue): Creil Pont-St-Maxence Pont-St-Maxence - Compiegne During breakfast we 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 on their way to Flanders. Here our biking tour starts past the abbey of Moncel, which in 1309 was founded by King Philips de Schone. Before we reach Compiegne, where we will spend the night, we cycle through the forest south of the city. Compiegne owes its architectural wealth to the proximity of Paris and the enormous woods in which the French kings loved to wander. The gardens of the Chateau de Compiègne are well worth visiting..cycling: km Day 5 (Wed): Compiegne - Chauny Today we leave the river Oise to continue our trip by way of the canal system connecting France and Belgium. The cycling goes through the forest of Compiegne where we visit l Armistice de la Clairière -the forest clearing and the carriage where the First World War armistice was signed. Visit the small but interesting museum before crossing the River Aisne and cycling through the forest of Ourscamp. There will be time to visit Noyon (historic cathedral) and cycle back to the canal at Pont l Eveque where we will meet the Fleur again to cruise to Chauny. Cycling: 41 km Day 6 (Thu): Chauny St Quentin Today we continue the cruise on the beautiful old canal of St. Quentin with its many locks. The canal still exudes peace and quiet and reminds us of its rich shipping history. Napoleon decided to dig the canal in 1801 when coal from the mines needed to be transported to the south. The cycling goes through the Somme region; quiet country side with small villages. Our destination today is St Quentin which arose in the 2nd century at 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 15 th century and has a unique double transept. The Town Hall is a jewel from the 16 th century, with a splendid façade in flamboyant Gothic style. Cycling: 41-54km

4 Day 7 (Fri): St Quentin Today the Fleur stays 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. Alternatively, you may use the day for exploring the city of St. Quentin further. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the French restaurants of St. Quentin (not included). Day 8 (Sat): St. Quentin tunnel of Riqueval Honnecourt When the Canal de St Quentin was dug under the government of Napoleon, the height differences meant it was necessary to dig tunnels. The longest one is the tunnel of Riqueval, which is 5670 meters long. Today we go through this tunnel with the Fleur. As in former years, ships are still pulled through the tunnel in two hours by an electrically driven towboat. Above the tunnel there is the watershed between the rivers Escaut (Schelde) and Somme. There is also a little museum. We spend the night in the quaint village of Honnecourt. Cycling: 36 or 66km Day 9 (Sun): Honnecourt- Cambrai-Pont Malin We continue our trip along the old canal of St Quentin to the ancient abbey of Vaucelles and later to the city of Cambrai, once a Roman provincial capital and an important destination for pilgrims. Worth seeing are the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress, built under Charles V. The old city gate dates from 1300, the so-called Spanish house and the cathedral next to it. In the afternoon we leave the old canal of St Quentin and continue on the Canal du Grand Gabarit to Pont Malin. Cycling: 39 or 58 km Day 10 (Mon): Pont Malan Doornik (Tournai) Today we follow the canal du Grand Gabarit for a few hours by barge passing through a former industrial area of France. Old mines and steel sites border the canal. Today s bike ride follows a section of the old pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela. The Fleur crosses the French frontier in Mortagne and a little later, in Bleharies, we cross the Belgium frontier. We cruise through the socalled white land. The charming little fortress town of Antoing lies at the heart of this region. Limestone has been mined here since the Roman days. Today s destination is Doornik (in French: Tournai), one of the oldest cities of Belgium. Here we are in Wallonia, 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 held high importance and

5 excellent examples can be seen in the various museums of the town. In 1940 the entire city centre was destroyed by a German air-raid. However, the town has been restored splendidly. The Notre Dame cathedral (12th and 13th century) is worth seeing, as is the Belfort, built around Cycling: 43 or 57km Day 11 (Tue): Doornik (Tournai) - Oudenaarde This morning we cruise down the River Schelde and cross the language barrier to enter the Flemish region. From here onwards, Flemish is the spoken language. Our target 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 frequently involved in wars. 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. Cycling: 41 or 47 km Day 12 (Wed): Oudenaarde -Ghent Today we continue sailing on the Schelde in the direction of Ghent maybe visiting the interesting archaeological site of the old Abbey, Ename. Ghent itself is a lively university town with a rich history. The town arose on the spot where in Roman days the rivers Leie and Schelde merged. This favourable location brought considerable wealth to the city peaking in the late 13th and early 14 th century. The cloth industry was a source of great riches. In the city many patrician residences have been preserved. Lakenhalle (1425) is where 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

6 found. The worship of the Lamb of God by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. You might want to take a city tour by boat or visit the old castle Gravensteen. Cycling: 41km Day 13 (Thu): Ghent - Bruges Today our bike tour goes through the pleasant country side of Western Flanders all the way to Bruges - the Venice of the North and perhaps the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. At this time Bruges was a centre of trade and art, which we can still fully enjoy today. Cycling: 30 or 40 km Day 14 (Fri): Bruges Today the Fleur stays moored in Bruges giving you time to explore this beautiful city. Optional cycle 22 or 40 km Day 15 (Sat): Tour ends in Bruges After breakfast disembark by 9 am. PARIS BRUGES ABOARD MS ZWAANTJE Day 1 (Sat): Embarkation in Paris Embarking takes place from 4pm on board the barge MS Zwaantje in Paris at the Port d Austerlitz near d Austerlitz train station. This evening enjoy a walk to Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral. Overnight in Paris. Day 2 (Sun): Paris: City Centre - Bougival During breakfast we cruise on the River Seine through the centre of Paris. At around10.30am you have the option of going ashore for an interesting bike ride. You can choose to stay on board and enjoy the view as the barge cruises and moors close to the outer area of the city. Cycling: 35 km Day 3 (Mon): Saint Germain and Laye, Conflans and Auvers sur Oise After breakfast cycle along quiet towpaths along the River Seine to the higher situated St. Germain where the gardens of Le Nôtre provide a magnificent view over Paris. Next pedal through the woods to Conflans for a picnic on the pier. After a short stop at the Pontoise Bridge, you cycle further across the picturesque Chemin des Monts to the church of Auvers, famous for Van Gogh s paintings. We will visit his grave during the evening walk. Cycling 38 km

7 Day 4 (Tue): Beaumont sur Oise, Royaumont, Chantilly, Creil After a short stop in Beaumont we will have a picnic at the Royaumont Abbey; one of the best preserved abbeys from the 13th century. During the afternoon we will visit the splendid Chantilly; a luxurious castle with an impressive art collection and horse dressage. After dinner there will be a stroll through the lively provincial town of Creil. Cycling: 42 km Day 5 (Wed): Pont St.Maxence, Pierrefond, Compiegne During breakfast the MS Zwaantje will take us to Pont Saint Maxence. From thereyou will cycle through little towns, enjoying a short stop in Verberie and then through the forest to Castle Pierrefonds; the leading restoration project by Violletle Duc. In the evening we will be exploring the historical centre with its medieval market and many alleyways. Cycling: 33 or 48km Day 6 (Thu): La Clairière, Tracy, Ourschamps, Noyon Pont l Eveque First up today is l Armistice de la Clairière -the forest clearing and the carriage where the First World War armistice was signed. Continue through Tracy and the Ourchamps Abbey with its charming ruin, then on through rolling woodlands to Noyon and its imposing cathedral. Cycle back to the canal at Pont L Eveque where the barge will be waiting for you. Cycling: 41km Day 7 (Fri): Pont l Eveque Haudival by barge, Haudival to Péronne Cruise along the Canal du Nord which was built to replace the older Canal de St Quentin, constructed by Napoleon in 1801 to transport coal from the mines to the north. Cycle through gently rolling, open countryside to the art deco town of Ham and along the River Somme with its picturesque villages. Cycling: 44 or 54 km Day 8 (Sat): Day in Péronne The MS Zwaantje will be moored just outside the charming town of Péronne with its intimate square and church as well as a castle and the fascinating Grande Guerre museum. Dinner tonight is in town at a restaurant of your choice (not included, recommendations available on board). Day 9 (Sun): Péronne Ytres by barge, Ytres Moeuvres by bike We will continue cycling along the River Somme and then through the sparsely populated, open and rolling landscape to Ruyaulcourt. At the end of WW1 this area was the frontline of the battle around the Somme. The barge will pass through the long (4.3km) tunnel dividing the watershed beween the Somme and the Scheldt

8 rivers; the original border between Flanders and France. Mooring is in Moeuvres. Cycling: 19 km or 45km Day 10 (Mon): Cambrai and Arleux Today we visit Cambrai, a lively provincial town with splendid historic monuments and a beautiful park to picnic in; then onto the marshlands of Chantraine and rural Arleux. Cycling: 35 or 51 km Day 11 (Tue): Lewarde, Montigny, Marchiennes, Saint Amand les Eaux, Tournai A long and lovely day of cycling through former mining towns with beautifully preserved heritage from around 1900, and past the Scarpe river through Marchiennes and St.Amand where there are monumental remains of Baroque abbeys. Just across the border from Belgium lies Tournai / Doornik discover its historic centre on this evening s walk. Cycling: 57km Day 12 (Wed): Kluisbergen, Ronse, Oudenaarde North of Tournai we head across flat farmland punctuated with a few hills to the wooded Kluisberg, known for its cycling trails. The church in Ronse has a beautiful crypt from the 13th century. In Oudenaarde you will find the splendid town hall with a magnificent collection from the 16th and 17th centuries as well as the Tour of Flanders Centre. After dinner enjoy a Belgian beer in the atmospheric Market place. Cycling: km Day 13 (Thu): Through Nazareth, Ooidonk, Sint-Martens-Lathem or directly to Ghent Cycle directly along the River Scheldt to Ghent to spend an afternoon in this lively university town. Of Roman origin and situated at the merging point of the rivers Scheldt and Leie, Ghent was, a wealthy trade and textile city between the 14th and 16th centuries, evidence of which lies in the cloth hall, cathedral and town hall. In the evenings the town centre is a very atmospheric place to be. There is the option of joining a canal tour to the centre and returning to the ship by taxi (not included), or to visit the old Gravensteen castle. Cycling: 41 km Day 14 (Fri): Bellem, Hertsberge, Moerbrugge, Bruges During breakfast cruise with the barge to Aalterbrug then onto our bikes and cycle through the pleasant flay countryside of Western Flanders to Bruges, the most picturesque city in Flanders and from the 14th to the 16th centuries, renowned as one of Europe s most important centres of banking and art. Cycling: 30 or 40 km Day 15 (Sat): Tour ends in Bruges

9 BRUGES - PARIS ABOARD MS FLEUR Day 1: Embarkation in Bruges Boarding from 1pm- 2pm. Bruges, the Venice of the North and perhaps the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. At that time Bruges was a centre of trade and art, which we can still fully enjoy today. Enjoy a guided walk through town after dinner. Day 2: Bruges Ghent Enjoy breakfast as we sail out of Bruges. In Beernem, start biking across the pleasant countryside of Western Flanders to Ghent where we arrive around noon. Ghent is a lively university town with a rich history. The town arose on the spot where in Roman days the rivers Leie and Schelde merged. This favourable location brought considerable wealth to the city with a peak in the late 13th and early 14 th century. The cloth industry was a source of great riches. In the city many patrician residences have been preserved. Lakenhalle (1425) is where 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 worship of the Lamb of God by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. You might want to take a city tour by boat or visit the old castle Gravensteen. Cycling: 37-45km Day 3: Ghent - Oudenaarde, This morning cruise from Ghent on the River Bovenschelde to Oudenaarde. In former days this little town was situated on the border of the French and German Empires and as a result, it was frequently involved in wars. 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. Before reaching Oudenaarde we will visit the interesting archaeological site of Ename (an old abbey). From there coming into Oudenaarde we might have to quench our thirst at one of Belgium s famous beer breweries called Liefmans. Cycling: 41km Day 4: Oudenaarde - Doornik (Tournai) Before leaving Oudenaarde we visit the beautiful town hall then follow the River Scheldt upstream and cross the linguistic frontier, thus arriving in the Walloon region. From now on people speak French and villages, towns and cities have a French name. Final destination today is Doornik or Tournai, one of the oldest towns of Belgium. Doornik fell under French government

10 early in the 17 th century. Just as in Oudenaarde, after the decline of the textile industry, tapestry became important here. In 1940, the entire town centre was destroyed in a German air raid but renovation of the town has been very successful. The Notre Dame cathedral (12th and 13th century) is especially worth seeing along with the Belfort, built around Cycling: 41-47km Day 5: Doornik (Tournai) - Pont Malin (Bouchain) During breakfast cruise in the direction of the French Belgium border, through the so called white land, where limestone had been quarried since Roman times. Around the friendly fortified town of Antoing we start our bike ride which follows the old pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela. Passing border villages we end up in Bouchain. Spend the night at the great lock of Pont Malin. The barge is no longer cruising the River Scheldt but a large canal, which eventually leads to Dunkirk. Cycling: 38-53km Day 6: Pont Malin - Cambrai - Honnecourt, We leave the large canal during breakfast and veer left into the beautiful canal of St Quentin. The canal breathes peace and quiet and reminds us of its rich shipping history. In 1801 Napoleon ordered the creation of St Quentin canal to transport coals to the north. At Thun l Evèque, we start cycling to the city of Cambrai, once a Roman provincial capital and an important destination for pilgrims. Worth seeing are the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress, built under Charles V. Then it s on to Marcoing and from there we will follow the valley of the Scheldt (l Escaut in French). Pass the ancient abbey of Vaucelles (which can be visited) before reaching our final destination of Honnecourt. Cycling: 31-59km Day 7: Honnecourt tunnel of Riqueval - St. Quentin When the Canal de St Quentin was dug under the government of Napoleon, the height differences meant it was necessary to dig tunnels. The longest one is the tunnel of Riqueval, which is 5670 meters long. Today we go through this tunnel with the Fleur. As in former years, ships are still pulled through the tunnel in two hours by an electrically driven towboat. Above the tunnel there is the watershed between rivers Escaut (Schelde) and Somme. From there the barge goes downhill again in the direction of St Quentin, today s final destination. St Quentin which

11 dates from 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 and windows from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Town Hall is a jewel from the 16th century, with a splendid façade in flamboyant Gothic style. Cycling: 30-66km Day 8: St. Quentin Today the Fleur stays 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. Alternatively, you may use the day for exploring the city of St Quentin further. This evening, dinner is your own arrangements. You can select one of the French restaurants of St Quentin (not included). Day 9: St. Quentin Chauny During breakfast cruise through the valley of the Somme. The cycling will take you through the quiet countryside and tiny villages of the Somme Region to Ham. The Fleur continues over the old canal of St Quentin to Chauny. Cycling: 34-48km Day 10: Chauny Compiègne From Chauny we set course for Compiègne and its magnificent buildings resulting from its proximity to Paris and the great woods where the French kings loved to stay. A visit of the beautiful gardens of the Château are a must. The cycling route goes through the forest of Ourscamp, crosses the River Aisne and in the forest of Compiegne at the other side is the Clairière de l Armistice - which is where the French and German generals signed for the end of WWI. Visit the small but interesting museum there. Then head for Compiègne or make an extra loop and pass by the castle of Pierrefonds. Cycling: 48-52km

12 Day 11: Compiègne Creil Today we cycle through the forest south of Compiègne then follow the valley of the Oise downstream towards Creil. Right before Pont St Maxence we pass by the abbey of Moncel, founded in 1309 by King Philip the Fair. Pont St Maxence owes its name to the fact that very early on there was a bridge across the Oise. It became a place to spend the night for merchants and kings on their way to Flanders. Our final destination today is Creil known for its fine pottery. Cycling: 45-60km Day 12: Creil Auvers sur Oise Cycling out of bustling Creil we head for the famous castle of Chantilly, its horse racing circuit and royal stables. After our visit we continue through lush forest to the abbey of Royaumont before crossing and following the River Oise to Auver sur Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the last days of his life and where he and his brother are buried in the cemetery. This region was very popular with many impressionist painters. Dinner and evening walk to the van Gogh cemetery. Cycling: 42-57km Day 13: Auvers Conflans Paris (Bougival) During breakfast we will cruise to Conflans Sainte Honorine, where the Oise and the Seine converge. Conflans has been an important shipping centre in North France since the 19th century. This afternoon cycle to the castle at St.Germain-en-Laye from where you will have a magnificent view out over Paris. Then it s to Bougival to spend the night. Cycling: 39km Day 14: Paris Today the barge finally cruises the Seine upstream to Paris. It is not far in a straight line, but the Seine makes the journey interesting with a number of large curves. We cruise past the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, the Musée d Orsay, the Ile de la Cité and the Nôtre Dame. The mooring place of the Fleur is in the Port d Arsenal, close to the Place de la Bastille. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the city of love. Day 15: Paris Disembark after breakfast by 9.30am. BRUGES - PARIS ABOARD MS ZWAANTJE Day 1: Embarkation in Bruges (18 km) Boarding from 1pm- 2pm followed by a short test-ride. Bruges, the Venice of the North and perhaps the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. At that time Bruges was a centre of trade and art, which we can still fully enjoy today. Enjoy a guided walk through town after dinner. Day 2: Bruges Ghent Enjoy breakfast as we sail out of Bruges. In Beernem, start biking across the pleasant countryside of Western Flanders to Ghent where we arrive around noon. Ghent is a lively university town with a rich history. The town arose on the spot where in Roman days the rivers Leie and Schelde merged. This favourable location brought considerable wealth to the city with a peak in the late 13th and early 14 th century. The cloth industry was a source of great riches. In the city many patrician residences have been preserved. Lakenhalle (1425) is where 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

13 painting are to be found. The worship of the Lamb of God by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. You might want to take a city tour by boat or visit the old castle Gravensteen. Cycling: 37-45km Day 3: Ghent - Oudenaarde, This morning cruise from Ghent on the River Bovenschelde to Oudenaarde. In former days this little town was situated on the border of the French and German Empires and as a result, it was frequently involved in wars. 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. Before reaching Oudenaarde we will visit the interesting archaeological site of Ename (an old abbey). From there coming into Oudenaarde we might have to quench our thirst at one of Belgium s famous beer breweries called Liefmans. Cycling: 41km Day 4: Oudenaarde - Doornik (Tournai) Before leaving Oudenaarde we visit the beautiful town hall then follow the River Scheldt upstream and cross the linguistic frontier, thus arriving in the Walloon region. From now on people speak French and villages, towns and cities have a French name. Final destination today is Doornik or Tournai, one of the oldest towns of Belgium. Doornik fell under French government early in the 17 th century. Just as in Oudenaarde, after the decline of the textile industry, tapestry became important here. In 1940, the entire town centre was destroyed in a German air raid but renovation of the town has been very successful. The Notre Dame cathedral (12th and 13th century) is especially worth seeing along with the Belfort, built around Cycling: 41-47km Day 5: Doornik (Tournai) - Arleux During breakfast cruise in the direction of the French Belgium border, through the so called white land, where limestone had been quarried since Roman times. Around the border town village of Bleharies start our bike ride. Cycle through open farm land, little mining towns and visit a museum at Lewarde. Overnight in Arleux. Cycling: 47km

14 Day 6: Arleux-Ruyalcourt We leave the large canal during breakfast and veer into the Canal du Nord. This canal was planned in 1903 but wasn t finished until It was constructed to replace the older and smaller Canal de St Quentin constructed in 1801 by Napolean to transport coal from the mines to the north. Cycle on to the pilgrim city of Cambrai and see the impressive restored buildings of the city fortress built under King Charles V. On through the marshlands of Chantrine to rural Ruyaulcourt for overnight. Cycling: 35-51km Day 7: Ruyalcourt-Péronne When the Canal de St Quentin was dug under the government of Napoleon, the height differences meant it was necessary to dig tunnels. The longest one is the tunnel of Tuyalcourtl, which is 4350 meters long. Today we go through this tunnel with the Zwaantje. As in former years, ships are still pulled through the tunnel in two hours by an electrically driven towboat. Above the tunnel there is the watershed between rivers Escaut (Schelde) and Somme. From there the barge goes downhill again in the direction of Péronne. Cycle on through the valley of the River Somme through open landscape and the former frontline in the Battle of the Somme in World War 1. Cycling: 19-45km Day 8: Péronne Today the Zwaantje stays in Péronne. Vist the fascinating Grande Guerre Museum. This evening, dinner is your own arrangements. You can select one of the French restaurants in Péronne (not included). Day 9: Péronne-Noyon-Pont l Eveque During breakfast cruise to the little village of Epénancourt. Enjoy your day s cycle through gentle open countryside to the art deco town of Ham, along the River Somme and other picturesque villages. Cycling: 40-50km Day 10: Pont l Eveque Compiègne From Chauny we set course for Compiègne and its magnificent buildings resulting from its proximity to Paris and the great woods where the French kings loved to stay. A visit of the beautiful gardens of the Château are a must. The cycling route goes through the forest of Ourscamp, crosses the River Aisne and in the forest of Compiegne at the other side is the Clairière de l Armistice - which is where the French and German generals signed for the end of WWI. Visit the small but interesting museum there. Then head for Compiègne. Cycling: 33-57km Day 11: Compiègne Creil Today we cycle through the forest south of Compiègne then follow the valley of the Oise downstream towards Creil. The longer tour adds a loop to include the little town of Pierrefonds, where you can see the exterior of the Disney-like Castle. Right before Pont St Maxence we pass by the abbey of Moncel, founded in 1309 by King Philip the Fair. Pont St Maxence owes its name to the fact that very early on there was a bridge across the Oise. It became a place to spend the night for merchants and kings on their way to Flanders. Our final destination today is Creil known for its fine pottery. Cycling: 45-60km Day 12: Creil Auvers sur Oise Cycling out of bustling Creil we head for the famous castle of Chantilly, its horse racing circuit and royal stables. After our visit we continue through lush forest to the abbey of Royaumont before crossing and following the River Oise to Auver sur Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the last days of his life and where he and his brother are buried in the cemetery. This region was

15 very popular with many impressionist painters. Dinner and evening walk to the van Gogh cemetery. Cycling: 42-57km Day 13: Auvers Conflans Paris (Bougival) During breakfast we will cruise to Conflans Sainte Honorine, where the Oise and the Seine converge. Conflans has been an important shipping centre in North France since the 19th century. This afternoon cycle to the castle at St.Germain-en-Laye from where you will have a magnificent view out over Paris. Then it s to Bougival to spend the night. Cycling: 39km Day 14: Paris Today the barge finally cruises the Seine upstream to Paris. It is not far in a straight line, but the Seine makes the journey interesting with a number of large curves. We cruise past the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, the Musée d Orsay, the Ile de la Cité and the Nôtre Dame. The mooring place of the Fleur is in the Port d Arsenal, close to the Place de la Bastille. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the city of love. Day 15: Paris Disembark after breakfast by 9.30am TOUR DATES MS FLEUR Paris to Bruges: September 28 MS ZWAANTJE Paris to Bruges: June 29, August 24 Bruges to Paris: May 18, July TOUR COST - EUROS PER PERSON FLEUR/ZWAANTJE May August September Twin Cabin Single use of Cabin price on request Bike Hire Fleur (11gears) 170 Bike Hire Zwaantje (21-speed) 160 E-Bike hire 350 (limited number available) Helmets: Included - must be requested at time of booking. It is not compulsory to wear a helmet. WHATS INCLUDED Accommodations for 15 day/14 nights in air conditioned cabin 14 x breakfasts, 13 x picnic lunches on bike tours, 13 x three course dinners (1x dinner in Péronne (Zwaantje) or St. Quentin (Fleur) excluded) Note: Vegetarian meals are possible with no charge however gluten free or lactose intolerant are possible at a fee Bed linen and towels (1 x change of bed linen) and daily cleaning service Welcome briefing and complimentary drink Tour leader (multilingual) for fully guided cycling tours (18 guests = 2 guides) Detailed route notes & maps for individual daily bike tours 1 set per cabin) Helmet (please request when booking), pannier bag, water bottle Entrance to Clairière de l Armistice (museum) Entrance to Chateau Chantilly Entrance to City hall Oudenaarde GPS Tracks

16 Fees for ferries Canal tour through Ghent Wi Fi WHAT S NOT INCLUDED Transfers to and from the port in Paris/Bruges Dinner in Péronne or St. Quenton Drinks on board Gratuities Excursions not mentioned in itinerary Ticket public transport in Paris (Zwaantje) Bicycle protection Trip insurance PREMIUM BARGE: MS FLEUR Fleur started cruising in This 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. Fleur can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests. On the top deck there is a lounge, a roomy sitting area, welcoming bar and sun deck. The whole barge has central heating, air conditioning and WiFi. On the lower deck Fleur has 10 comfortable guest cabins for two (no bunk beds) - each cabin has twin beds and a private bathroom. PREMIUM BARGE: MS ZWANNTJE

17 MS Zwaantje (Little Swan) is a fully converted, 40 metre passenger barge under Dutch flag and management that can accommodate 24 passengers. On the lower deck the barge has 12 sleeping cabins: 10 twin cabins with two single beds each and 2 cabins with a double (French) bed. All cabins have a small en-suite bathroom with toilet, shower and wash basin, a fixed window (double cabins have larger windows that open) and individual air conditioning. On the main deck you will find the salon with air conditioning and large panoramic windows, a restaurant area, lounge corner and a small bar. Depending on the quality of the network connection (mobile internet, limited data amount) the salon offers free Wi-Fi. The barge has a very spacious sun deck (90 square metres) with chairs and tables and a beautiful view, where you can relax or join the skipper in the wheel house. Bicycles will be stored in a separate area on the sun deck. BOOK THROUGH: Don t just see the world. Experience it. Ph Fax info@walkworld.co.nz