Nymphea Tour de France 2005
Bicycling cruise itinerary
River Cher, Loire valley, France

luxury barge cruise vacations aboard Nymphea on the river Cher

Sunday - 3rd July You are met at 4.30 pm at the TGV railway station at St Pierre des Corps and transferred to Nymphea where a Champagne Welcome awaits you in the park of the village of Larcay. Champagne welcome and Dinner aboard.
Tour de France Day 2 Challans to Les Essarts. Monday - 4th July After a continental breakfast we follow the Cher River by bike, downstream twenty kilometres, to visit the chateau and amazing gardens of Villandry. Cycling back is optional as the car and trailer meet us there after the visit. After lunch on board we cruise past the hamlets of Azay and Vallet before transferring to Tours to welcome the Tour de France riders. Tours first hosted a stage in 1955 (winner: Brankart) and most recently in 2000 (winner: Van Bon). Prefecture of the Indre-et-Loire and historical capital of the Touraine, Tours sits on the River Loire. Situated in the heart of the “Garden of France”, this Gallo-Roman city was the religious capital of the Gauls and an important abode of the Kings of France in the Middle Ages. Birthplace of Balzac. Paris-Tours is the fastest classic in history (Zabel raced at an average speed of 47,551 km per hour in 2003). Dinner aboard.
Tour de France Day 3 La Chataigneraie to Tours. Tuesday - 5th July After an early breakfast we depart to the best vantage point along the 66km stage, between Tours and Blois, and watch all the riders coming through. Blois first hosted a stage in 1992 (winner: Indurain) and most recently in 1999 (winner: Cipollini). Prefecture of the Loir-et-Cher, Blois also sits on the river Loire, bordering on the Touraine and the Sologne regions. Blois is a Royal town, in the 16th Century, under the reign of Louis XII and François I. The Duke of Guise was assassinated here, upon the order of Henri III, in 1588. Return to the barge and we cruise up the Cher. After a tricky bit of navigation under Civray Bridge, we are safely in to the lock and then shortly after, around the corner, we see Chenonceau Castle hove into site. Ch3nonceau Castle is one of the most visited private chateaux in France and belongs to Mr Meunier of chocolate making fame. We aim under the second arch from the right while being recorded for posterity in about 400 tourists holiday albums. Being the only barge on the Cher has its privileges. We moor at the little village of Chisseaux and pedal back to the castle when the crowds start to die down, and see the amazingly decorated rooms, no expense spared by Thomas Bohier, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis since its conception in 1515. Chateau visiting can be thirsty work so a sip and a swirl of the regional vintages can be had in the Chateau's winery or around the corner at the Caves de Pere Auguste in Civray. Dinner aboard.
Tour de France Day 4 Tours to Blois. Wednesday - 6th July After an early breakfast we make our way to Chambord as the Tour de France depart Chambord for the next leg of the Tour de France as they head for Montargis. We watch the riders depart Chambord and return to the barge for a cruise to the village of Bourré, where we moor under its imposing tuffeau cliffs. In the afternoon we drive to the Chateau of Valencay, once home of Talleyrand and after our tour, take to the bikes again for a return cross country (24KM) via the myriad lanes to Seigy where we taste a plethora of regional wines at Domaine Max Meunier. An optional cycle ride afterwards or trip in the sag wagon returns us to Nymphea. Dinner onshore in a regional hostelry.
Tours de France Day 5 Chambord to Montargis. Thursday - 7th July A morning ride to the regional capital, Blois, to see the impressive 15th C Chateau Royale, then we pick up the bikes and cycle along the banks of the Loire to a picnic spot (15kms) where we enjoy an al fresco lunch. Those that wish can continue back by cycle, (15kms) to the barge moored at Bourré. A short walk from the next lock takes us to one of the more unusual dwellings in the Loire Valley, La Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family have grown up in this hillside troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn wine cellar, quarry for the tuffeau stone, and lastly a silkworm nursery. Returning to the barge we cruise to Montrichard where we moor for the night. Dinner aboard
Tour de France Day 6 Troyes to Nancy. Friday - 8th July Following breakfast, a short stroll takes us to the heart of Montrichard, into the midst of one of the largest weekly street markets in Touraine. There is much to explore at the 12th century Chateau of Foulques Nerra overlooking the mediaeval town square. After an early lunch, there is a choice of transport; bikes or our floating home as Nymphea sets off downstream again, for another passage under Chenonceau and arrives at the hamlet of Nitray in time to visit the Chateau and rose garden of Nitray. Meet up with the cycle party there and enjoy a pre-Captains dinner aperitif from Nitray's vineyards. Captains Dinner aboard.
Tour de France Day 7 Luneville to Karlsruhe. Saturday - 9th July After breakfast guests are transferred to the TGV railway station at St Pierre des Corps for the 9.30 train returning to Paris.
Tour de France Day 8 Pforzheim to Gerardmer

Itineraries are subject to change.

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