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2005 "Tour de France" Barge and Bike Itinerary
July 3-9, 2005
 

The 2005 Tour de France cycle race takes place over three weeks in July 2005.

Le Bon Vivant's Upper Loire
2005 TOUR DE FRANCE "BARGE CYCLING" ITINERARY
From Montargis to Chatillon sur Loire

Sunday 7/3
Travel by private motor coach from your hotel in Paris to Montargis where you will board Le Bon Vivant for a welcome reception, followed by a short cruise through the town, called "the Venice of gatinais", before dinner.

Monday 7/4:
Cruise to Montbouy, an old Gallo Roman site, or cycling along the canal.
-- Afternoon visit of Chateau de Fontainebleau, where the French kings used to hunt
-- Artists' village of Barbizon, where Impressionists once lived and realized their paintings.

Tuesday 7/5:
Cruise from Montbouy to Chatillon Coligny.
-- Afternoon cycling tour with a stop at Chateau La Bussieres, where we have a personal and informal visit of the 16th century Chateau. We might meet the owner, Countess de Chasseval, and stroll together through her magnificent 18th century traditional vegetable garden.

Wednesday 7/6:
Morning cruise to Rogny-the-7 locks, in Burgundy, and moor at the foot of a 7 locks staircase, an impressive engineering monument of the past dating from 1604, and replaced by six automatic locks. On the way, beautiful cycling possibilities along the canal.
-- Afternoon visit of LE TOUR DE FRANCE in Montargis. Stroll through the town. (Possible visit to Girodet Museum, or shopping)

Thursday 7/7:
Cruise from Rogny to La Gazonne, along a beautiful lake.
-- Afternoon cycling tour via charming villages to a working Renaissance Farm and magnificent private château of St Fargeau. Stroll through the picturesque streets of the village before returning to the barge by van.

Friday 7/8:
Cruise to lovely Chatillon sur Loire . The cyclists may join us in Briare, visiting the open market, before crossing the splendid aquaduct (built by Eiffel) over the Loire River.
-- Afternoon cycling tour to the town of Gien, featuring hunting and ceramics museums. Shopping available. We can visit a Goat cheese farm before dinner.
-- Or visit of Sancerre, with a wine tasting in a local cellar.

Saturday 7/9:
Breakfast on board, and return to Paris by private van