Loire Valley Bike & Boat

Briare to Nevers

Day 1: Briare, 9 mi. (15 km) 
Day 2: Briare - Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses - Briare, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Briare - Belleville-sur-Loire, 28 mi. 45 km
Day 4: Belleville- sur-Loire - Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre - Cours-les-Barres, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Cours-le-Barres - Grimouille, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 7: Grimouille - Nevers, 14 mi. (23 km)
Day 8: Nevers

All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.

Day 1: Briare, 9 mi. (15 km) 
The Clair de Lune will be moored and waiting at Canal Lateral á la Loire, at the Rue du Pont Canal. Embarkation is between 12 and 2 pm. You can bring your luggage on board as early as 11 am but your cabin will not be ready for check-in. Once you are settled, you can take a short test ride to check out your rental bike.

Day 2: Briare - Rogny - les - sept - Écluses - Briare, 31 mi. (50 km)
First up on your cycling itinerary is the 19th-century castle of Pont Chevron, situated on a small, picturesque lake, adjacent to the castle park of Pont Chevron.  Around lunchtime, on this first cycling day, you will be in the village of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its historical locks. Via the 16th-century castle near Bléneau, you will cycle through a region of lakes to Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and eventually back to Briare.

Day 3: Briare - Belleville-sur-Loire, 28 mi. 45 km
As the Clair de Lune begins to navigate, you will visit the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire River in Briare. You might even see the boat pass through!  Later you ride to St. Brisson, the site of the impressive medieval castle, Château de Saint Brisson. More than  20 furnished rooms and 4 floors are to be discovered!  Further on you will pass the historic locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire. Continuing on to  Belleville-sur-Loire, the route leads through the typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates, and small villages.

Day 4: Belleville- sur-Loire - Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre, 22 mi. (35 km)
 Sancerre wines, particularly the white ones, enjoy worldwide renown. The origins of wine growing in this area can be traced back to the 6th century. Historically, Pinot grapes dominated the region's vineyards until the 19th century, when a devastating disease prompted a shift to predominantly cultivating Sauvignon grapes. This transition has proven to be highly successful. Today, a scenic journey awaits, leading you through the enchanting Sancerre vineyards and the neighboring villages. In Ménétréol, nestled beneath the Sancerre vineyards, you'll have the opportunity to savor some wine before making your way back to the Clair de Lune.

Day 5: Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre - Cours-les-Barres, 28 mi. (45 km)
Immediately following breakfast, you will mount your bicycle and embark on a cycling excursion through the esteemed Pouilly Fumé wine region, heading towards the ancient Roman town of La Charité-sur-Loire. As you cross the 16th-century stone bridge and arrive at the town center, a magnificent panorama unfolds, revealing the charming Notre Dame church and the town itself. Pressing onward, your journey leads you towards today's final destination, Cours-les-Barres.

Day 6: Cours-le-Barres - Grimouille, 23 mi. (37 km)
You pedal south, through forests, and villages, and pass country estates, ending up in the small and charming village of  Apremont-sur-Allier. Here you can visit the 12th-century castle, surrounded by fabulous gardens. Riding south from Cours-les-Barres you pass nice wooded areas with many nice villages and country estates again. Later in the day, you will end up in the small town of Apremont-sur-Allier which sprung up around the 12th-century early Renaissance castle and once fabulous gardens. The castle itself was dismantled stone by stone in 1733. Standing today are the ramparts, towers, and a one-of-a-kind vaulted passageway for knights. Then it is off to the sleepy village of Grimouille on the Canal Lateral du Loire. On the way, a visit to the aqueduct over the Allier River with its two impressive locks both measuring about 9 meters high is a must-do!

Day 7: Grimouille - Nevers, 14 mi. (23 km)
You end this week in the heart of France with a short ride to the town of Nevers where there are many sites to see including the winding streets lined with houses dating back from the 14th to 17th centuries. The origins of Nevers date back to Roman times. To celebrate the end of your cycling week you can take a well-earned rest on the several terraces in town and enjoy the local wine. The boat will moor at Embranchement de Nevers, Chemin de Halage.

Day 8: Nevers
Disembarkation by 10 am.

Nevers to Briare

Day 1: Nevers, embarkation between 1 & 2 pm
Day 2: Nevers - Gimouille, 14 mi. (22 km)
Day 3: Gimouille - Cours-les-Barres, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 4: Cours-les-Barres - Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre, - Belleville-sur-Loire, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Belleville-sur-Loire - Briare, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Briare - Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses - Briare, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 8: Briare, disembarkation by 10 am

Be sure to check out our comprehensive list of tours & trips including biking, hiking, multi-adventure, & more!

• Clair de Lune

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