Guided bike tour on the Way of St. James On this 8-day biking tour, you will follow the the routes of St. James on his trek to Santiago de Compostela. The different biking stages cross the legendary pilgrimage route between Villefranche de Rouergue, Cransac-les- Thermes and Najac at regular intervals and are between 6 and 44 kilometres in length. Travel through the Vallée du Lot and visit Conques, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Be charmed by the diverse and neverending bredth of landscape under the shade of the chestnut trees. The region is renowned for being rich in architectural and gastronomical heritage. Your holiday at a glance 8-day guided bike tour without baggage On the routes taken by the St. James' pilgrims Medieval towns Picnics and half board Accommodation at 2-4-star hotels Arrival: Departure: Saturday, Office de Tourisme in Villefranche de Rouergue The following Saturday, Villefranche de Rouergue (after breakfast) * Please be sure to make timely reservations or bookings if you decide to stay in the area for a few days before/after your trip.
Inhaltsverzeichnis Itinerary... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Important information on your trip... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Rates & travel dates... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Prices include... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. The guide... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Difficulty level: medium... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Number of participants... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Things to bring on the stages... 5 Accommodation... 5 Weather updates... 6 On the Way of St. James... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. The bastides of Rouergue... 7 Bike rentals... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. How to get there... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Checklist for the tour... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. The French experience... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Nature escape... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. French cuisine... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. French language... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. French population... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Before your trip... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Phone calls... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Immigration documents... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Health insurance... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Travel insurance... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Our certification... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert.
Itinerary *In case of meteorological troubles, the programme can be subject to changes. Day 1: Arrival and overnight stay in Villefranche-de-Rouergue You will spend the night in a comfy, air-conditioned three-star hotel on the Place de Saint-Jacques close to the city centre. Before enjoying a night's rest, you will dine in one the city's best restaurants. Day 2: Villefranche-de-Rouergue St Julien d Empare After breakfast, participants set off on their bikes on the the region's limestone plateau at a laid-back pace to enjoy the sight of sheep, gazelles and dolmen. They will travel upriver along the green banks of the Diège, past the castle Marinesque built in the 14th and 15th Century, and through the marshlands of Montaris. Dinner and overnight stay in a **-hotel in St Julien d Empare, contains swimming pool Biking stage length: 35 km Day 3: St Julien d Empare Conques The next stage stretches along the Lot river, used for the transport of the regions cheese, coal, and wine from Cahors. Cyclists will pass through Vallée du Dourdou on their way to Conques. In Conques, participants may choose to visit the village's galleries. There is a light show and music in the summer months (May to September). Dinner and overnight stay in a **-hotel and restaurant in the city center Biking stage length: 44 km Day 4: Conques Cransac-les-Thermes The day starts off with a visit to the romanesque abbey of Conques (10th to 12th century). A picnic at noon can either be enjoyed at Bancarel, a great vantage point looking down toward the village and le Ségala, or in the village itself. Cyclists will then follow the route uphill till St-Cyprien sur Dourdou before reaching Cransac-les- Thermes, the only thermal town in the Aveyron region. There, participants may opt to visit the Museum La Mémoire de Cransac, Mine et Thermalisme. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel with swimming pool in Cransac-les-Thermes Biking stage length: 24 km Day 5: Cransac-les-Thermes St-Rémy Cyclists will go to Peyrusse le Roc, a medieval village rich in historical landmarks. You may want to visit the house that had accommodated many of the pilgrims passing through. You can either have lunch at an inn or have a picnic and enjoy the splendid view of the cliffs of Roc del Taluc. In the afternoon, participants will set off to Villeneuve d Aveyron to see a bastide and a church from romanesque and gothic times (13th century). Dinner and overnight stay in a ****-hotel and restaurant with swimming pool und hammam Biking stage length: 42 km Day 6: St-Rémy Villefranche-de-Rouergue Cyclists continue to Villefranche-de-Rouergue along the Alzou river on the tour's shortest leg. You will have some time to visit the city's attractions including the king's bastide from the 13th century, the baroque chapel from the 17th century, the monastery from the 15th century, St. James' chapel and more. Dinner in another great restaurant. Hotel for the night will be the same from Day 1. Biking stage length: 6 km
Day 7: Villefranche de Rouergue Najac Villefranche-de-Rouergue Najac is the next stop. Participants will visit the impressive medieval bastide that looks down on the village. Then they will cross the same bridge that the pilgrims used to cross the Aveyron river in the 12th century, the Saint Blaise bridge. Finally, participants will take the train back to Villefranche-de-Rouergue and return rented bikes at the tourist office. Hotel will be the same from the night before. Dinner will be served at yet another fine restaurant. Biking stage length: 26 km Day 8: End of the tour Participants will enjoy one final breakfast in Villefranche-de-Rouergue before departing. *Your guide, a local who speaks some English, will accompany you through all stages. He will leave you on your own during the evenings.
Important information on your trip Rates & travel dates All trips take place in April, July and August, starting on Saturday and ending the following Saturday. It is possible to arrive the day before (additional charges). Whether those travelling will all be obliged to use e-bikes or touring bikes will depend on the month. Current rates and availability can be found on our website or upon request. Terms of payment: 20% of the total price within 7 days after receipt of the invoice Full payment 21 days prior to departure without further request to pay Only by SEPA bank transfer. Price includes: 7 nights in twin rooms, all breakfasts & dinners (full board), lunchtime picnics incl. water, train transfer on Day 7, luggage transfer service (max. 25 kg per person), a professional english-speaking guide, entrance fees for attractions. Price excludes: Train/plane fare to/from Villefranche de Rouergue, additional charges for single rooms (+ 225), processing fee ( 25), bike rentals, drinks during luncheons, personal spending, travel cancellation expenses insurance. Optional: Touring bike: 110, E-bike: starting from 150 * All bike rentals are payable on site. Price includes helmets, repair kits and bicycle locks. The guide We assure participants that the guide is professionally trained for bike tours. The tour will take place in English. Difficulty level: medium This sightseeing bike tour is suited for those who cycle regularly. The daily biking stages are between 6 and 44 kilometres in length. Short breaks during the stages are always possible. Number of participants Minimum number of participants: 5 (max. 12) The tour operator reserves the right to cancel this trip up until 21 days prior to departure. Things to bring on the stages There is no need to bring anything along for the day apart from your personal belongings and picnicking stuff. Momentan und bis auf weiteres erlaubt es der französische Plan Vigipirate nicht immer, die Gepäckaufbewahrungsfächer (automatisch oder manuell) in den Bahnhöfen, Fähr- oder Flughäfen zu benutzen. Es ist aus diesem Grund nicht immer möglich, dort Ihr Gepäck aufzubewahren. Bitte informieren Sie sich bei Bedarf vor Reiseantritt! Accommodation 7 nights in 2 or 4-star-hotels in twin rooms. Single rooms with additional charge.
Weather updates Weather updates for the pilgrim routes can be found on www.weatheronline.co.uk/france or www.meteofrance.com (in French). On the Way of St. James There is no single route on the Way of St. James. One should think of the Way as a network of routes that all lead to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. That is where the grave of St. James is said to lie. If we talk of the Way of St. James today, we think of the Camino Francés (see dotted red line on map below) that has existed since the first half of the 11 th century and leads straight through Spain. The history behind individual parts of the Camino Francés can even be traced back to the early 10 th century. Today, it is one of the most popular parts of the way. 2016 saw over 278,000 people finishing the last 100 km of the way on foot, and the last 200 km on bicycles, thereby reaching Compostela. Even back then, two-thirds of all pilgrims used it. The Camino Francés experienced a boom in popularity in the 1970s. You will pass through one of the lesser-known routes, the Via Podiensis. This stage of the Way leads through Puy-en-Velay in Auvergne to Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees via Conques. The route itself has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The long-distance path GR65 runs congruent to the Via Podiensis for the most part.
The Bastide of Rouergue Political unrest and the rapidly growing population at the beginning of the 13 th century made it quite necessary to unite the scattered population in one place and restructure the region s economy. Raymond VII, the last earl of Toulose after the Cathar Crusade, implemented completely new regional policies, establishing high-lying village layouts consisting of right-angled housing blocks around a central market place. These layouts were called bastides. Kings in France and England grew a liking to such village layouts and bastides were thus frequently implemented up until the mid-14 th century; some 300 of them have lasted in southern France till the present day. Most of them are located on a trading street, which is why the received many visits from pilgrims passing through on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Villefranche-de-Rouergue, founded in 1252, is one example of such a layout. Notre Dame is surrounded by arcades. Four streets lead away from the court to form the grid structure of the village. The different architecture of houses reflect the different architectural periods the village withstood over the centuries. Visitors can note how the mighty clock tower, towers, so to speak, over the court in a typically gothic fashion. Bike rentals Participants can rent either an e-bike or a touring bike on site with additional charge (price can be requested). The price includes a helmet, a repair kit and a bike lock. An important note concerning theft: We kindly ask you to always make sure that you have secured your bicycle with a lock while visiting attractions if you choose to leave them elsewhere. Moreover, bicycles should be stowed at a secure bike stand before you retire for the night do not leave them in the streets! Some bike rentals do not offer insurance against theft in which case you will have to pay the rental owner back if your rented bicycle is stolen. It may be useful to look into getting household content insurance in your home country prior to your departure. Sample Bike
How to get there General information on getting in and around France can be found here. By train (3 options): Take the from Paris to Toulouse then take a regional train to Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Alternatively, take the the TGV from Paris to Montauban, then 912 bus to Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Yet another option is taking the night train from Paris to Figeac followed by a bus to Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The French train system is centralized, connecting Paris with all other regions in France. High speed trains (TGVs) run on all major lines, thus making national train travel very fast. Secondary lines, however, may be less developed, offering fewer connections and often relying on busses to complement the offer. Train tickets can be purchased at counters and vending machines at train stations. Reduced rates such as early bird and/or family discounts may be available. A so-called Ticket Prem may be available for domestic connections (e.g. Paris Montpellier via the TGV for 22). More information can be found at www.tgveurope.com or www.voyages.sncf.com (in French). By car: From the North: Drive down the E9/A20 towards Toulouse and take Exit 56 to Rodez/Figeac/Decazeville/Gourdon. Follow the D802 and take the D822/D922 south just before Figeac, drive past Les Encastrades, Villeneuve und Saint-Remy until Villefranche-de-Rouergue. From Toulouse: Drive up the A62 and A20 until Caussade and follow the D926 to Villefranche-de-Rouergue Details to renting a car can be found on our website. You may also consider using France s car-pooling platform: www.blablacar.com. By plane: we do not recommend this means of transportation. Closest airport: Toulouse. Please visit atmosfair to see what you can do to help the environment whilst flying. You can learn more about travelling by plane on our website. Offsetting carbon emissions Air traffic accounts for an important share of global carbon emissions thus affecting our climate and contributing to global warming. Yet, in some cases, flying may be the only realistic option to reach your holiday destination. In this case, you may want to offset the carbon emissions caused by your trip. France écotours is a founding member of atmosfair, a German climate initiative launched by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, the NGO Germanwatch and the sustainable operators association forum anders reisen e.v., aimed at making air travel climate neutral by offsetting carbon emissions. Passengers may volunteer to pay an additional charge based on the amount of carbon emissions caused by their trip which is used to finance climate projects in developing countries. For more information, please visit www.atmosfair.de/en. While initiatives such as atmosfair may not be able to solve all air traffic related problems, offsetting carbon emissions may be an effective approach when air travel cannot be avoided.
Checklist for the tour Your remaining baggage/belongings will be transported by a car. Please wear clothing suited to the weather and time of year. Essential facets to bring along while cycling are listed in bold. 1 rucksack (ca. 20 litres) for daily transport (eg: cameras, food for lunch and picnic stuff, cutlery, etc.) Appropriate bike wear: Trousers, t-shirt, socks, trainers (plus at least an extra pair of each) 1 sturdy, hooded outdoor jacket made from breathable fabric (e.g. Goretex) T-shirts and sweaters (depending on the season) made from breathable fabric 1 cap 1 Rain cape (e.g. Goretex) Trainers should come up to at least the heels, socks should not be very thick 1 tracksuit or other cozy clothing for the evenings swimwear 1 good pair of sunglasses Sunscreen (incl. lip balm protecting against sunlight) A 1.5-litre water bottle or flask (it is recommended to drink 2L per day) 1 tupperware with an airtight seal and holding capacity of about 0.8 litres for the picnic stuff toiletry bag Personal home remedy-kit (bandages and double-layered band-aids, painkillers, medicine for sore throats, disinfectant, q-tips) A pair of light sandals 1 vacuum flask for coffee or tea A waterproof case for your belongings A beanie and gloves in case it gets chilly
The French experience As a local tour operator, we strive to present our country in an authentic way, allowing you to experience its many facets without clichés. However, certain preconceptions are difficult to overcome and some traditions may seem strange to first-time visitors. As such, we would like you to consider the following particularities when traveling with France écotours: Escape to Nature Traveling with France écotours often means leaving the beaten path and visiting remote areas rarely frequented by tourists; you may even be alone at times. If you are looking for romantic clichés such as those conveyed by tourism advertising, you may be disappointed. Instead, you will enjoy genuine experiences, meet with locals and discover unspoiled landscapes as you explore the country. Those traveling with an open mind and eagerness to take in new impressions are in for an exciting and inspiring holiday experience! French cuisine Cooking, eating and drinking wine are the three pillars of the French Savoir vivre. Different regions offer a wide array of traditional foods, attracting decorated chefs and food-lovers alike. Yet, you don t need to be a gourmet to enjoy France s excellent cuisine. Extensive meals and wine are part of everyday life in France, offering an opportunity to meet with locals and trade minds. Local dining doesn t mean spending a lot of money on meals quite the opposite: Whether in Paris, other French cities or in rural areas, you will find outstanding brasseries, hostels and organic restaurants at very reasonable prices. It is sometimes worth wandering around to find the right dining facility. As for the wine: Yes, the French love their wines, but most like to enjoy it in moderation and prefer quality over quantity. The French language Historically, the French are very fond of their language. However, while English expressions may be frowned upon by some, there is no doubt that English words and expressions are increasingly integrated into the French vocabulary, shaping and enriching everyday communication. For those looking to improve their French it may be worth noting that many French idioms and expressions have to do with food and eating naturellement! The French population The population of France is very diverse, with slightly more women than men. Thanks to favorable family policies, the national birth rate exceeds that of many other European countries with an average of two children per family. 60% of the working population are employees or laborers. Some 75% live in cities and suburbs; the remaining 25% live in rural areas. Before your trip Phone calls When travelling to France, make sure that your mobile phone is compatible with the French frequency ranges GSM 900/1800. Please check with your provider to find out about current roaming charges. France s international country code is +33. To call France, depending on your country of origin, you may have to dial 0033 (e.g. from other European countries) or 01133 (e.g. from the United States, Canada and Australia), followed by the regional code without the 0, and the 8-digit number. If you are placing a call within France, you do not need to dial the country code; instead add a 0 before the area code. If you would like to call someone in
your home country while you re in France, you will have to dial your own country code. A list of international country codes can be found here. Public phone booths are still very common in France. Cafes and bars often provide pay phones for their customers. These phones are typically operated with prepaid cards called télécarte, available at post offices and tobacco shops. Immigration documents EU nationals will need to show a valid identity card or passport when entering France. Non-EU nationals will require a passport. Depending on your country of origin, you may also require a visa to enter the country. More information on visa requirements can be found here. Health insurance Before travelling to France, please make sure that either your health insurance covers treatments abroad or that you take out additional international health insurance for the duration of your trip. If you are an EU resident, ask your national health insurance provider for a European Health Insurance Card which will give you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. More information on the European Health Insurance Card can be found here. Travel insurance To avoid fees in case of cancellation or early departure due to illness, accidents or other unforeseen circumstances, we recommend that you take out a travel cancellation insurance. Our certification CSR stands for responsible business practices in line with the principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability. Believing in and fully complying with these principles, France écotours has been certified by the European certification organisation TourCert since 2010. Last renewed in April 2015 and valid through 2018, our CSR certification allows us to evaluate our social, economic and ecological commitment based on a variety of quantifiable performance indicators. We're happy to report outstanding results with view to customer satisfaction (94.3 %) and carbon emissions both for our trips and our offices. More information on our CSR certification can be found here.
We re happy to help! We look forward to your enquiry! Our office hours: Monday Friday: 9am 6pm Saturday: 10am 5pm Phone: +49 (0) 69-977 88 677 Fax: +49 (0) 69-977 88 675 Email: info@france-ecotours.com For more information and other travel ideas, please visit our website at www.france-ecotours.com.