Bicycle tours
through the beautiful Burgundy and Loire regions of France
We offer a
personalized guiding system which allows guides to
accommodate different levels and distances of bicycling on the same
tour. The twenty different tours are marked to
facilitate comfortable riding on small, narrow roads where
vehicle traffic is minimal. Guides accompany the guest
throughout the tour to assure each guest experiences a day of touring
within their capability. Following are descriptions of some
of the more than twenty tours offered from Le Vieux Moulin.
Arrival Tour - After arriving at Le Vieux
Moulin Monday afternoon and unpacking, your bicycle having been set-up
we will begin a short tour to the local village and discover its
centuries-old chateaux, churches and the recently restored 15th Century
Abbaye de Fontmorigny. In the evening we'll have an
orientation to fill you in on what's in store for the week.
Chavignol- This tour in the
region of the Sancerrois will bring us to the charming village of
Chavignol synonymous with "frommage de chevre'" the best known goat
cheese in France. This truly small charming village is the epitome of a
French village. This village also produces some of the finest Sancerre
wine of this region. The journey includes a visit to a local goat
cheese factory and lunch at the family restaurant Bonne Auberge
well-known for its hot goat cheese salad, which must be served with the
owner's private vintage Sancerre Blanc. Total distance 28 miles.
Pouilly-Sur-Loire- We will bicycle to
this famous wine village after a short van trip from the Moulin. Famous
for several small wine communes we will bicycle near the Loire River to
the Chateaux de Tracy where a fine Pouilly Fume' wine is produced. We
will continue our tour through the wine vineyards of Pouilly to arrive
in the enchanting village of Donzy for lunch.Populated by many
half-timbered buildings Donzy is the home of an ancient walnut oil mill
which we will visit. We will return to the village of Pouilly after a
visit to the Chateaux Nozet where one of the finest Pouilly Fume' wines
is produced for the better restaurants of England and America.
Thirty-one miles moderate.
Sancerre - We
will travel North to the village of Sancerre-a Protestant stronghold in
the 16th Century, and the site of many religious wars. It is now famous
for its fine white wine and we'll explore the local vineyards and wine
cellars. On our tour we will travel through some of the small
winemaking communes of the Sancerrois and view their charming churches
and chateaux. The tour to Sancerre can be routed for distance and
difficulty to suit our guest's capabilities. Thirty Miles moderate with
hill climb into the village.
La Charite Sur
Loire - We leave the Vieux Moulin traveling through the village of
Jouet-Sur-L'Aubois on to Les Aubigny a port village on the Canal
Lateral La Loire.Here we will stop to observe the boats passing through
the two canal locks in this village. Traveling on to La
Charite we will visit and lunch in this very historic city,
known for its 1000 A.D. cathedral and its imposing ramparts that
dominate the city. We will return bicycling West through
several small villages and picturesque countryside on small country
roads. Thirty-one miles-Flat Terrain.
Nevers- We cycle to the
village of Le Guetin after a stop in the village Cuffy to visit its
12th Century church. Arriving in Le Guetin we will visit the
Pont Canal whose two locks lift boats forty feet to carry them over the
River Allier on an ancient aqueduct. We will cycle over the
aqueduct with a spectacular view of the River Allier and then continue
along the canal on small country roads before reaching a point with a
panoramic view of the city of Nevers. Here we will lunch and
have an opportunity to visit a number of historical sites including the
Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Returning along the Loire River
through the village of Marzy, looking down on the convergence of the
Loire and Allier rivers. Moderate with some hills. Trip total
is thirty eight miles. One way with van return available.
Apremont-Sur-Allier- This tour includes
a visit to the medieval flower village of the same name, which has
belonged to the same family since 1722. This village features one of
the most beautiful Floral Park's of France and an imposing castle
overlooking the village and the River Allier. Guests may visit both the
castle and Floral Park, and continue bicycling through the Forest of
Apremont. Often we will picnic on the banks of the Allier in this most
beautiful village of France. Total distance is 21 to 36 miles depending
on choice.
Sancoins/Sagonne- We leave the Vieux
Moulin cycling South through the villages of Germigny L'Exempt and
Vereaux to our first destination the village of Sancoins famous for its
outside Wednesday marketplace, one of the largest in France.
After a lunch along the banks of the Canal Berry we continue on to the
fortress Chateaux of Sagonne, once owned by the Count of
Bourges. After a visit to the chateaux we return through the
canopied forest of Apremont, and may choose to stop for a swim in Lake
Robinson. Flat to moderate terrain Total miles forty-two or
less with van support.
Bourges- We will leave the
Vieux Moulin and bicycle through several small villages to reach the
Chateaux Jussy Champagne which we will visit after our tour of Bourges.
This old capital of Aquitaine and the seat of King Charles VII is
steeped in history. Here we find the imposing Cathedral de Saint
Etienne with its renowed stained glass windows, and the Palais Jacques
Coeur built in 1450A.D. Both are famous throughout Europe as examples
of Gothic architecture. We will return to the Chateaux Jussy Champagne
and after a visit here we will bicycle on a new route through small
villages and narrow country roads to arrive at Le Vieux Moulin. Tour
moderate to difficult; forty plus miles.
Vezelay- The tour to this
famous village in Burgundy begins after a van transport East from the
Moulin. Starting in the small village of Guipy we travel to the Canal
Nivernais where we cycle for several miles along this famous and scenic
canal. Traveling through several charming burgundy villages we begin
three ascents before arriving for a panoramic view of the village of
Vezelay, famous for its cathedral and the burial place of Saint Mary
Magdeline of biblical history. We return by a different route
to the West through several small villages and the rolling hills of
Burgundy. This tour is for the more energetic cyclists. Fifty miles
plus.
Please visit our Tours page to see all of
our current tour dates.
Walking tourshave
been discontinued at Le Vieux Moulin,
Le
Vieux Moulin Bicycle Touring Center
18320 Patinges
Jouet Sur L'Aubois, France
