“Bike through Fontainebleau and Versailles”
6 Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour from Vaux le Vicomte to Château de Versailles in France
Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France
France Cycling Tour
Evazio offers you a bike tour in the heart of the Paris region - to the gates of Paris.
Key information
- Trip type: Self-guided
- Lodging: Point to Point
- Terrain: mostly flat terrain, occasionally unpaved or hills
- Starts in: Fontainebleau
- Ends in: Versailles
- Total Distance: 135 Miles / 217 Kilometers
- Type of bike: Touring or gravel bike (not included)
- No e-bike available on this tour
- Minimum 2 participants
Highlights
- 4 days of cycling with luggage transfers
- Cycle through peaceful country roads, yet so close to Paris
- Bike on the Chevreuse Valley, which is very popular with cyclists
- Visits to Vaux le Vicomte, Blandy, and Fontainebleau castles
- Explore the royal forests of Fontainebleau and Rambouillet and their castles
- 5 nights accommodation
- Tasty breakfasts
Skill level
- Beginner
4 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
17:00
Check-out Time:
10:00
During this tour, you will stay at three- and four-star hotels and bed and breakfasts in double or twin rooms.
Program
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Fontainebleau
Arrive at your accommodation in Melun or Fontainebleau. You will be welcomed in a bed and breakfast or charming hotel. You will be given documentation on the region and a route book indicating your itinerary. Just a few kilometers from Paris, Melun and Fontainebleau open the doors to the royal Parisian countryside. Established over 2,000 years ago on one of the meandering banks of the Seine, Melun offers a green heart at the gateway to the famous Fontainebleau forest.
The town offers riverside promenades, a recent river port, and a market rich in regional produce, including the famous Brie de Melun, one of the few Appellations d’Origine Protégée in the Île-de-France region. Overnight in a bed and breakfast or charming hotel.
Day 2: Bicycle tour on the route of the three castles: Vaux le Vicomte, Blandy, and Fontainebleau
- Distance: 57 kilometers / 36 miles
- Elevation: 260 meters / 854 feet
Today, you will start your cycling tour by heading for the unmissable Château de Vaux le Vicomte and its formal gardens, where you can enjoy a lunch break at the château’s restaurant. Passing through Melun, you will discover its river port and the six-kilometer-long banks of the Seine, dotted with gardens and small squares. You will then continue on to the Château Fort de Blandy, a rare example of medieval military architecture in the Paris region.
Your cycling tour then follows the banks of the Seine, with its narrow country roads. You will cycle past the medieval villages of Fontaine le Port and Samois-sur-Seine, and reach the park of the Château de Fontainebleau along a cycle path. You will then finish your day exploring this impressive Château. A palace of 1,500 rooms set in 11 hectares of parks and gardens, Fontainebleau is a royal and imperial château.
The château has enjoyed eight centuries of continuous sovereign presence. Kings and queens, emperors, and empresses have all worked to embellish the château built around the original medieval keep. The château and its grounds have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Night in a bed and breakfast.
Day 3: Imperial forest of Fontainebleau - Charming villages of the Parisian countryside
- Distance: 55 kilometers / 35 miles
- Elevation: 300 meters / 985 feet
Today, you will cycle through the imperial forest of Fontainebleau. With a surface area of 25,000 hectares, it remains a pure delight for nature lovers, with its dense and diverse flora and fauna. You will discover the small village of Barbizon, the cradle of Impressionist painting, and the Château de Courances, and continue your route by exploring other villages, notably Dannemois, made famous by its mill where the popular singer Claude François lived. You will finish your day cycling along a cycle path that will take you directly to your third stopover town.
A royal city, Etampes is the only Ville d’art et d’histoire in Essonne. It boasts a rich heritage of buildings and landscapes that bear witness to the city’s history. Etampes was also one of the centers of the Domaine Royal in the early Middle Ages. From this period, the town has preserved the collegiate church of Notre Dame, whose crypt dates from the 11th century, numerous 12th-century religious buildings, and an exceptional four-lobed keep. Overnight in a bed and breakfast or half-board hotel.
Day 4: Royal towns and the forest of Rambouillet
- Distance: 55 kilometers / 35 miles
- Elevation: 300 meters / 985 feet
Your cycling trip in the Paris region will this time take you to the Rambouillet forest, where wallabies are said to roam free. From Etampes, you will take a cycle path along a charming little river, and continue on small country roads that will let you appreciate the peace and quiet of the surroundings. You will discover the royal town of Dourdan, which is also the “gateway town to the Upper Chevreuse Valley Regional Nature Park”.
There is a château, the Porte de Chartres, 19th-century architecture, ramparts, etc. Your day ends in the heart of the Rambouillet forest, facing its impressive château. Between Versailles and Chartres, in the heart of more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, the Château de Rambouillet and its park have seen great lords and sovereigns, emperors and presidents pass through their hands: François 1er, Louis XVI, Napoléon I, Félix Faure, etc. Night in a bed and breakfast.
Day 5: Chevreuse Valley - Château de Versailles
- Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles
- Elevation: 250 meters / 821 feet
After just a few kilometers, you will enter the heart of the Chevreuse valley, skirt the Vaux de Cernay, and pedal off to discover all its treasures: churches, abbeys, châteaux, manor houses, washhouses, etc. The countryside and woods still dominate around the characterful villages. You will discover picturesque villages and the Château de Dampierre, before heading on to the prestigious Château de Versailles. You will then finish your bike tour just outside Paris to discover Louis XIV’s masterpiece. You will then have the opportunity to cycle through the château grounds.
Listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years, the Château de Versailles is one of the finest achievements of 17th-century French art. It was the residence of the French kings Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. Galerie des Glaces, Grands Appartements du Roi, Musée de l’Histoire de France: over the centuries, the Château de Versailles, seat of power until 1789, has never ceased to expand. Take time to discover its gardens and various estates. Night in a bed and breakfast.
Day 6: Departure
After breakfast, you will depart to your next destination.
About the tour
The itinerary begins in the French gardens of Vaux le Vicomte, veritable jewels of 17th-century classical architecture. Follow the paths through groves and valleys to reach the impressive Château de Fontainebleau. Your bike tour of Ile de France will take you along the banks of the Seine. Then venture into the royal forest of Fontainebleau and the heights of the Apremont gorges. Explore the peaceful villages that cross your path. Visit the village of Barbizon, the cradle of Impressionism.
Pedal on to the royal town of Dourdanand through the Rambouillet forest, before spending the night at the gates of the sumptuous Château de Rambouillet. This cycle tour of the Ile de France will take you along the“Véloscénie” cycle route through the Chevreuse valley, before ending at the Château de Versailles, where the Sun King awaits you. You will be able to admire the Grand Trianon, the Grand Appartement du Roi Louis XIV, and the Galerie des Glaces.
It is a real springboard through the French history of the great kings of the French monarchy. Finally, spend the afternoon wandering freely in the gardens of Versailles. You can enjoy the Grandes eaux musicales - it is like being at the Royal Opera House. You can also visit Queen Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet, a magnificent haven of peace in the heart of the château’s gardens. Ile de France is a magnificent treasure trove that makes this region a privileged destination.
From the Chateau de Fontainebleau to the medieval town of Provins, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and from the Chevreuse Valley to the Gardens of Versailles, centuries of history await you. Paris, the “City of Light”, is the most beautiful museum in the world, yet when you step off the beaten track, it reveals itself to be a jewel box of greenery: Green valleys, imperial forests, unspoiled nature, and national parks all await you. Take advantage of a few extra nights to visit Paris, the city of the arts. You will enjoy:
- Peaceful country roads yet so close to Paris
- The French gardens of “Le Nôtre” at Vaux le Vicomte, gardener to Louis IV
- The royal forests of Fontainebleau and Rambouillet and their castles
- Vallée de Chevreuse popular with cyclists
- An exceptional finale in the gardens of the Château de Versailles
Bikes
- Touring bike (VTC): 135 EUR
- Gravel bike: 235 EUR
On this tour, Evazio can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation: A VTC bike suited to the tour and the route (men’s and women’s models) with equipment:
- One rear bag
- One handlebar bag
- One repair kit
- One helmet (on request)
- One anti-theft device
For younger children, depending on age and size, they can offer:
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follower bike
The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation. At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. They will take care of collecting them.
Luggage
Evazio takes care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking. Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure. At the end of the afternoon, you will meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room. Luggage accepted per person: one suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kilograms) and one carry-on.
Location
At the heart of the countryside of Paris, along cycle tracks, pedal at your own pace and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the surroundings. The Paris cycling tour takes you to the royal city of Dourdan and invites you to cycle in the vast forest of Rambouillet. You will discover impressive castles, fountains, and gardens. From step to step, your biking tours in Paris, going through the valley of Chevreuse. It takes you to the history of France: the Palace of Versailles the king’s state apartments in the 17th century where the Roi Soleil, King Louis XIV, awaits you.
His masterpiece of the French monarchy is fascinating. Île de France is a huge treasure that makes it a destination of choice for tourists. From the castle of Fontainebleau to the medieval city of Provins, both registered in the UNESCO World Heritage and from the valley of Chevreuse to the Gardens of Versailles, the Hunting lodge of Louis XIV. These are centuries of history gathered together. Ile de France is the most beautiful museum in the world. But it also has majestic forests, green valleys, nature protected, national parks, and old royal residences. Paris is waiting for you! Versailles‘s Palace will keep no secrets for you.
Food
Daily breakfast will be provided and included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 4 cycling days
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Route book (with map and directions)
- 1 GPS application
- Luggage transfers between hotels
- 24/7 telephone assistance
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Other meals
- Bike rental
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CDG
Charles de Gaulle Airport (Roissy Airport)
68 km
Transfer not provided
ORY
Orly Airport
42 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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