Cycling around the chateaux of Chablis, Burgundy

Burgundy is famous for its warm hospitality and inimitable knack for enjoying life. Even before Julius Caesar fought his decisive battles with the Gauls, people have been lured to this beautiful land of gently rolling landscapes, sleepy villages, rivers and canals. Burgundy is a land of culture, of tradition, beautiful countryside, fine food and excellent wine.

This is a lovely route designed for those who want to take their time to enjoy a land rich in tradition, history, gastronomy and fine wines. There are a few larger hills to climb although it is suitable for families with older children.

During the cycling trip you will visit great abbeys, elegant châteaux, medieval half-timbered villages and fortified towns. The vineyards of Chablis and Auxerrois are amongst the highlights and time will be set aside there for a spot of wine tasting.

You'll stay in carefully selected small 2 and 3 star hotels and guesthouses that provide breakfast and evening meals. Or you can choose our B&B option and decide where to take your evening meal.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival to Auxerre
The tour starts in the town of Auxerre which is located on the banks of the River Yonne, and became part of the French Kingdom under King Louis XI. Once you arrive into Auxerre train station, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your first night’s accommodation, approximately 2kms away. The city has beautifully preserved heritage buildings with exceptional architecture. The gothic Cathedral of St. Etienne renowned for its fine stained glass windows, The Clock Tower situated in the Old Town and the church of St. Pierre en Vallee are places of particular historical interest. Once you have arrived in your hotel, you will be met by our representative on your first night, who will provide bikes (should you be hiring), route guides and notes for your trip in Burgundy.

Day 2 - Auxerre – Montigny La Resle - 31 kms / 19 miles
Following breakfast, we head off to Montigny la Resle. This is a lovely start to your cycling in Burgundy, with the highlight of the day, the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny, the largest and one of the most beautiful Cistercian churches remaining in France. The Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket who was famously murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170 was amongst its 'guests', spending there the years 1164 - 1166 when he was exiled by King Henry II. Our final destination today is the rural village Montigny la Resle. It’s a quaint village where you'll be able to admire its fine houses with their brick doorways and Notre-Dame church dating back to the 12th century. You can also visit two castles, a fortified house and La Resle farm which gives its name to the village.

Day 3 - Montigny – Chablis – Noyers/Saerein - 44 kms / 27.5 miles
The main highlight today is the small town of Ligny-le-Châtel with its Renaissance church that we reach before arriving in Chablis, Burgundy’s largest white wine vineyard, where wine has been made for over a millennium. There time will be set apart for a spot of wine tasting before we cycle through the Serein valley, with its beautiful villages to the picturesque medieval little town of Noyers. Located on the banks of river Serein, this village with narrow cobbled streets and half-timbered houses gives Noyers its medieval appearance.

Day 4 - Noyers-sur-Serein - Avallon - 41 kms / 25.5 miles
Before heading off today, you could visit the places of interest of Noyers: its church, its museum and the Porte Verrotte which is decorated with a Virgin and Child, the traditional protectors of winegrowers. Today we cycle across a superb plateau, a characteristic Burgundy’s landscape. Your journey takes you through the medieval hamlet of Montreal before reaching Avallon, a beautiful ancient town of wide streets and picturesque promenades. There, the church of St Lazare dates back as far as the 12th century.

Day 5 - Avallon - Vézelay - 24 kms / 15 miles
Today, we cycle a short distance through a beautiful landscape of small villages and quiet country roads to make the most of the town of Vézelay. This medieval town with its impressive fortifications is overlooked by the Basilica of Sainte-Madeleine which is a masterpiece of Romanesque art, listed as UNESCO world heritage. Shortly after its foundation in the 9th century, this Benedictine abbey acquired the relics of St Mary Magdalene and since then it has been an important place of pilgrimage and a special stopover on the way to Santiago de Compostella in Spain.

Day 6 - Vézelay – Accolay - 40 kms / 25 miles
After our first hill out of Vézelay we cycle through the Valley Yonne. During today, we visit some lovely sites such as Châtel-Censoir, the Saussois cliffs and Mailly-le-Château. Accolay is located close to the Canal de Nivernais where you will see numerous barges making their way along the canal, and is a very nice small village, with a peacefully atmosphere.

Day 7 - Accolay – Auxerre - 32 kms / 20 miles
Today we cycle the short distance back to Auxerre. Our cycle route takes us along the mightiest rivers interconnected by a marvellous canal system which gives Burgundy the name of “water table of France”. The trip ends with a lovely section through the vineyard villages of Irancy, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and Bailly. In Bailly you will have your second wine tasting of the trip, where your tipple will be the famous Crémant de Bourgogne wine. From here there’s a short distance to Auxerre, where your trip began and where you will stay for your final evening.

Day 8 - Departure
C'est la vie!! - Your cycling tour in Burgundy is finished and after breakfast, it’s time to say au revoir to this charming region of France.

Equipment
We provide everything except a bike (although we are able to hire these), personal equipment and clothing. If you are taking your own bike, it is imperative that it is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service. Details of which spares you should take will be included in the pre-departure dossier sent with your booking confirmation. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike will be suitable.

What the price doesn't include
A) Personal clothing and equipment.
B) Lunch and evening meals (unless on the half board option).
C) Travel insurance (available if required, £26).
D) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.
E) Bike hire (available if required).
F) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions.
G) Travel arrangements to the first nights hotel.