Montargis to Paris

Day 1: Individual arrival in Paris | Paris - Evry
Day 2:  Evry – Melun, bike tour, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 3: Melun – Moret-sur-Loing, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours, 23 or 31 mi. (38 or 51 km)
Day 5: Nemours – Néronville, 22 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Day 6:  Néronville – Montargis, 19 or 34 mi.  (31 or 55 km)
Day 7: Montargis, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Individual arrival in Paris
Arrival in Paris at 2 pm. If you would like you can deposit your luggage on board as early as 11 am. The Fleur will be moored in the center of Paris. After a welcome by the captain, crew, and tour leader the ship will leave the harbor in Paris and sail along the Seine River to Evry, where you will spend the night.

We advise you to come to Paris one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover the city!

Day 2: Evry – Melun, bike tour, 19 mi. (30 km)
Your cycling itinerary begins from the lock of Evry. You pedal along the banks of the river with final destination of  Melun. This village was known as ‘le domaine des reines blanches’, because in former years it was the domain of the widows of the French kings. After dinner, you can join the group for a stroll through the town.

Day 3: Melun – Moret-sur-Loing, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today you will bike through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. The first destination is the artistic village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters have found inspiration. At the time, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘school of Barbizon’. You can visit the local museum. After this, you continue your tour to the palace of Fontainebleau, much in favor among the French kings because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. In the castle itself, there is a museum of Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. The ship waits in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.

Day 4: Moret-sur-Loing – Nemours, 23 or 31 mi. (38 or 51 km) 
The itinerary today is concentrated in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing. In the town hall of Bourron-Marlotte you can admire a few magnificent impressionist paintings. The Fleur will be moored in Nemours. Highlight here is the Château de Nemours, built in the 12th century and restored in the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it houses a museum with collections of archaeological finds, earthenware, paintings, and sculptures. There we may visit the castle or the prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.

Day 5: Nemours – Néronville, 22 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
This morning as the barge begins to navigate, you enjoy breakfast on board. The cycling will lead through a wooded area with rugged rocks. Before lunch, you will visit the sculpture garden, Jardin Bourdelle. Final destination of today is rural Néronville.

Day 6:  Néronville – Montargis, 19 or 34 mi. (31 or 55 km)
Today you start in Chateau-Landon, a picturesque village, perched on a rocky promontory.  You can visit the Abbey of St.-Severin which dates from the 13th century. The tour then leads to the medieval town of Ferrieres with its beautifully preserved old town center.  In the middle of the narrow streets, you will find a splendid monastery. The final destination of today is Montargis, with its 15,000 inhabitants the biggest town of the Loiret, after Orléans. Unfortunately, this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century. The canals remain and, decorated with flowers, have an old world charm. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants in Montargis.

Day 7: Montargis, 28 mi. (45 km)
From Montargis, you bike along the l’Ouanne e to Château-Renard, where you can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. You will also visit an Apiculture’s Living Museum and see beekeepers at work, and  sample their delicious honey.

Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Individual arrival in Montargis
Day 2: Montargis, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Montargis - lock of Cepoy | lock of Cepoy - Néronville, 24 or 28 mi. (39 or 46 km)
Day 4: Néronville - Nemours, 18 or 26 mi. (29 or 43 km)
Day 5: Nemours - Moret-sur-Loing, 19 or 26 mi. (32 or 43 km)
Day 6: Moret-sur-Loing - Melun, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Melun - lock of Evry | lock of Evry - Paris, 19 mi. (31 km)
Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Individual arrival in Montargis
You will find the Fleur moored and waiting at the Rue du Port. You can bring your luggage on board as early as 11 am. However, cabins will not be ready for check-in at this time. Official boarding begins at 2 pm. At 3 pm, you will enjoy a tour presentation and crew introduction. At 4 pm, you will be fitted with your bike and instructed on safety. After that, you are free until 6:15 where you will be offered a welcome drink. Dinner will be served at 6:30. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to join the group for a town walk.

Day 2: Montargis, 28 mi. (45 km)
Montargis, with its 15,000 inhabitants, is the biggest town of the Loiret after Orléans. Unfortunately, this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century but the canals are still there. They are decorated with beautiful flowers and give the town a certain charm.  From Montargis, cycle along the l’Ouanne to Château- Renard, where you can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. Also, today is a visit to the Apiculture’s Living Museum. There you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and you will be able to sample their delicious honey. No dinner on board this evening giving you the opportunity to explore on your own.

Day 3: Montargis - lock of Cepoy | lock of Cepoy - Néronville, 24 or 28 mi. (39 or 46 km)
Stay on board this morning as the boat cruises to the lock of Cepoy where you will disembark. Today's cycling tour goes through the forests of Montargis, northeast of the town. These forests are old and beautiful. The next stop is the medieval town of Ferrieres with its old town center, which has been beautifully preserved. In the middle of the narrow streets is a splendid monastery. After this, head west to the archeological site of Sceaux-du Gatinais. Today's final destination is rural Néronville.

Day 4: Néronville - Nemours, 18 or 26 mi. (29 or 43 km)
Today's route is through an old area, cultivated already in the Gallo-Roman era. Your first stop is the old Gallic stronghold, Château-Landon. Perched on a rocky promontory, its old houses, monuments, towers, and pretty terraced gardens form a very scenic picture with the narrow Fusain river flowing past below. The Abbey of St.-Severin dates from the 13th century. Here you will have a guided tour with a local guide.

Later on, you find the rocks of Nemours on your way to meet the Fleur again in Nemours. Here you may visit the castle or the prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.

Day 5: Nemours - Moret-sur-Loing, 19 or 28 mi. (32 or 46 km)
Today offers two possibilities. If you choose the long option, follow the valley of the Lunain with its old farmhouses and castle ruins. On the way, you will pass a fruit and a cheese farm.  You might end up with a homemade jam in your pannier. If you wish to cycle the shorter option, you can remain  in the valley of the Loing River and visit Grez-sur-Loing. In the town hall, a few magnificent impressionist paintings can be admired. You will overnight in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings. You can also visit the house where he was born.

Day 6: Moret-sur-Loing - Melun, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today, you will cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. Your first destination is the city of Fontainebleau, with its palace, much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. In the castle itself, there is a museum of Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop. After this, continue your tour to the artistic village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century, many painters have found inspiration. At the time, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘school of Barbizon’. Here you can visit the local museum.

Today's final destination is Melun, a town which is known as ‘le domaine des reines blanches’, because in former years it used to be the domain of the widows of the French kings.

Day 7: Melun - lock of Evry | lock of Evry - Paris, 19 mi. (31 km)
As you get closer to Paris, there will be more traffic to deal with. In the morning there is a short bike ride following the river banks of the Seine to the lock of Evry, from where you will board the Fleur into Paris. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board. The mooring place of the Fleur is the port d’Arsenal, not far from the Notre Dame. 

Day 8: Departure
Individual departure following breakfast.