Loire Valley – Briare to Nevers

The barge is moored in Briare in the Canal Lateral á la Loire, at the Rue du Pont Canal. You are expected to arrive between 1 PM and 2 PM. When you arrive on board, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the tour leader, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.

Our first real bike ride this week will lead us 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 historic seven 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.

Today we start with a visit to the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire River in Briare. With some luck and good planning you might see our barge the Clair de Lune pass 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 typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates and small villages.

Sancerre wines, and 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 surrounding villages. In Ménétréol, situated under the Sancerre vineyards, there will be an opportunity to try some wine before returning to the Clair de Lune.

Right after breakfast you will hop on your bike and start the day with a 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, you have a splendid view overlooking the town and its Notre Dame church. Continue towards the destination of today, Cours les Barres.

Riding south from Cours les Barres you pass beautiful wooded areas with 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 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!

We 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.

After breakfast, we’ll part ways.