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 - Sancerre, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Sancerre - Cours-les-Barres, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Cours-le-Barres - Grimouille, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Grimouille - Nevers, 16 mi. (25 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)
The cycling itinerary today leads to the castle of Pont Chevron, situated on a small, picturesque lake. Around lunchtime, on this first cycling day, you will be in the village 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
First on the agenda is a visit to the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire River in Briare while the Clair de Lune begins to motor.  With some luck and good planning, you might see the Claire de Lune pass right through here, high above the river. Later you ride to St. Brisson, where you will see the impressive medieval castle. Further on you will pass the historic locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire. The bike ride towards Belleville-sur-Loire leads you through the typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates, and small villages.

Day 4: Belleville- sur-Loire - Sancerre, 31 mi. (50 km)
Sancerre wines, especially the white wines, are famous all over the world. The first mentioning of winegrowing in this region dates back to the 6th century. Until the 19th century, the region mostly grew Pinot grapes, but after a disease that devastated the grapes, Sauvignon is now mostly grown. And with success! The ride today takes you on a picturesque route right across the Sancerre vineyards and through the surrounding villages. In Ménétréol, situated under the Sancerre vineyards, there will be an opportunity to try some wine before returning to the Claire de Lune.

Day 5: Sancerre - Cours-les-Barres, 28 mi. (45 km)
Right after breakfast you will hop on your bikes and begin this day's cycling tour through the region of the Pouilly Fumé wines to La Charité-sur-Loire, an ancient Roman town. Crossing the 16th century stone bridge to the center, there is a splendid view overlooking the town and its Notre Dame church. Continue towards the destination of today, Cours-les-Barres

Day 6: Cours-le-Barres - Grimouille, 25 mi. (40 km)
Riding south from Cours-les-Barres you pass nice wooded areas with again many nice villages and country estates. Later in the day, you will end up in the small town of Apremont, where you will have the opportunity to visit the 12th-century castle and surrounding fabulous gardens. After, you will continue 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, 16 mi. (25 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 filled with houses dating back from the 14th to 17th century. The origins of Nevers date back to Roman times. Nevers is since the 5th century the seat of the bishop and has among others a castle and a few interesting churches. To celebrate the end of your cycling week you can of course also 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 at 3 pm
Day 2: Nevers - Gimouille, 17 mi. (25 km)
Day 3: Gimouille - Cours-les-Barres, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Cours-les-Barres - Sancerre, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Sancerre - Belleville-sur-Loire, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Belleville-sur-Loire - Briare, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Briare - Rogy-les-sept-Ecluses - Briare, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 8: Briare, disembarkation by 10 am

If France isn't your thing, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of bike and boat tours as well as our featured bike trips!

• Clair de Lune

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  In May 2014, Marco Pouw and his wife Astrid assumed ownership of the ship Clair de Lune. Originally built in 1936 as a freight ship in Belgium, like many of the vessels now used for biking and boating, this vessel was renovated and equipped for a new bike and boat adventure in and around Paris, launching in the spring of 2015. Marco has years of experience as a skipper on freighters in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany and approaches his new venture with great enthusiasm.