South Burgundy
- Length 7 Days
- Difficulty level Easy
- Tour length 150 Km
- Price from 695 € Per person
Tour description
As far as biking in south Burgundy is concerned, it falls at the top of our list. The views are fantastic and the experience unparalleled.
You'll see landmarks in every inch here: chateaux, typical villages, artistic towns, farmhouses, and vineyards galore. From unspoiled nature along canals and rivers, fertile countryside to the massive Morvan mountains the terrain is differently looking and breath-taking.
France in general and Burgundy in particular, is a bike-friendly space with well-marked paths.
Easy to average cyclist ic level. Walking and cycling path on an old railway from Chalon-sur-Saône to Mâcon, following the undulations of the Côte Chalonnaise; on the ‘Voie Bleue’ part, you will usually be on a shared-use lane on peaceful small roads.
Burgundy, known throughout the world for its wines, is one of France's greatest historical regions. Actually, in the Middle Ages, Burgundy was a great dukedom that competed in power and prestige with the kingdom of France itself. It covered a large part of central-eastern France, including half of modern Switzerland earlier.
One of the most prestigious and expensive wines in the world are produced in Burgundy vineyards.
Itinerary
Mâcon
Show dayDescription of the day: Mâcon is a former frontier between the Kingdom of France and Holy Germany
Empire (from 843 to 1600) and has a really beautiful ancient town.
It is located by the River Saône, has a southern style, with colorful facades and roofs of round tiles.
The historical center invites us to the charming Herbes square and its magnificent Renaissance wooden house the Old Saint-Vincent, remains of the former Saint-Vincent cathedral, the religious buildings that are the Saint-Pierre church and the Saint-Vincent cathedral, the pharmacy shop of the Hôtel-Dieu hospice and the Saint-Laurent bridge with its beautiful embankment. Don't miss to visit the Ursulines museum, which houses collections of archaeological objects, paintings and sculptures.
You will leave Mâcon via the ‘Voie Bleue’ path. It follows the Saône river to Fleurville and the castles of Marigny and Marfontaine. The route is well laid out and signposted ‘Voie Bleue’ all the way along the river.
The town of Tournus is perfect for wandering by its streets and traboules and enjoying the ambiance of the Burgundy Region. The hidden passages cross buildings and connect streets to each other.
Paths and small roads will lead you to our destination of the day - the 10th century abbey of St Philibert, a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture. Founded in 616 A.D., it shows by its exterior - the narrow slits - that at one time this was a fortified town. On the ceiling of the Abbey are beautiful frescoes dating to the 10th century. Dedicated to St Valerian and built around his tomb, the 10th century crypt has 12 ft tall ceilings.
The streets around Tournus Abbey offer lots of opportunities to shop for antiques, crafts and chocolates. The sidewalk cafes abound so you have lots of choices to stop for a cool drink in the heat of the day.
You will go along the Saône river, before getting away from it a little bit by crossing Gigny. You’ll go through the flood plain between the Saône and Grosne. Further, you’ll visite St loup de Varennes, where Joseph Nicéphore Niepce, the inventor of photography, lived.
Then, there is St Rémy, where you’ll get back to the Saône banks to Chalon-sur-Saône, which is very close. In the large open square in front of the Town Hall (the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville) you can see various buildings with baroque style facades dating 11-th century.
The walking and cycling path (‘Voie Verte’) starts in the city and goes to the north-west towards Givry. Then continue to the south-west, to the beautiful fortified town of Buxy. The town still has a large cooperative with its historical heritage and garden, and developed wine tourism.
Still through the vineyard, you’ll go through St Bolland St Gengoux le National, a medieval town, to finally arrive in Cormatin and its 17th century castle, its maze, its old vegetable garden and ponds.
The Marquis of Huxelles built it in the early 17th century to demonstrate his power and prestige: wide moat, turrets, stand up to bosses, gunboats and drawbridge… the castle impresses its guests till now.
Further, the ‘Voie Verte’ will lead you to Taizé (a monastic community).Surrounded by rolling pastures and scenic vineyards, the village is home to only about 100 people. But as a contrast, during the height of the summer, there are up to 6,000 people in Taizé at the same time, gathering for worship services held three times a day in its church.
Keep pedaling 13 km further, to the beautiful Benedictine abbey of Cluny, founded in 910. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, Cluny Abbey became the center of a European monastic empire that extended over 1100 priories and more than 10 000 monks. It is a gigantic building that impresses with the harmony of its spaces.
In addition to his abbey, the town has an exceptional heritage as houses of the 12th and 14th centuries and a remarkable Hotel Dieu.
Let's discover its wonderful scenery, not forgetting to stop at the craft bars to taste local cuisine.
After Cluny, you’ll dive in the spiritual world for the friench romanticism.
The French poet and historian Alphonse de Lamartine was born in Macon. The childhood in this landscape combining nature, castles and monuments left a mark on his pieces of art. To go there, you’ll cross the longest cycling tunnel in Europe, secured over 1600m, which leads to the castle of Berzé le Chatel, in full light. If you climb there, you’ll be rewarded with a unforgettable view on the Mâconnais.
Mâcon
Show dayThe adventure is over! Time to enjoy extra nights in fance, or moving for another trip of the season.
Services and prices
Selfuguided tour with luggage transfer included
2 Persons | 740 € |
4 Persons | 720 € |
6 Persons | 695 € |
Extras
Single surcharge | 295 € |
Extra night in Macon DBL / SGL pp | 75-80 € / 125-150 € |
Bike rental | 195 € |
E-Bike rental | 250 € |
Bike damage insurance | 14 € |
E-bike damage insurance | 18 € |
Travel pack paper version | 35 € |
Booking fee | 30 € |
Tour datesAny scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private
No terms available right now
Our rental bikes
At Europe Bike Tour, we understand that a high-quality bicycle is key to an enjoyable vacation. That's why we ensure all our bikes are regularly serviced to maintain their perfect condition. For additional equipment, please refer to the "Bike Equipment" section where you'll find items included in the bike fee or available for rent/purchase at an extra cost.
Our diverse fleet includes bikes for men and women in various sizes, electric bikes, tandem bikes, children's bikes, and even recumbent bikes upon request. If you have any special requirements or wishes, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are dedicated to meeting your needs and ensuring you have the best experience possible!
What is included and what notOn self guided idividual tours
- Individual pre-tour meeting at appointed time at client's hotel on the first day of the tour
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions (city standard/premium)
- Breakfast on all days
- Day by day description with altitude profiles, places to visit and local tips
- Official biking maps with highlighted routing (per room)
- Detailed tailor-made cycling maps (per room)
- Detailed town maps with highlighted routing to/from hotel (per room)
- Step by step route description (per room)
- Train tickets and train timetables (for tours where train transfer is part of a tour schedule)
- Transportation of luggage between hotels between 9-17:00 (for option including luggage transfers only!)
- Practical bike ride and safety information
- 24-hour hotline assistance service
- Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour
- Transportation (air tickets) to/from starting/final point of the tour
- Transfer from Prague Airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival
- Transfer from hotel to the airport on departure day
- Meals (except for breakfasts)
- Entrance fees to museums, castles, and chateaux
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
On fully guided tours
- Specialized Bike Holidays bicycle tour leader during all biking days
- Pick-up from any Prague hotel on the first day of the tour at an appointed time
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions
- Breakfast on all days
- Dinners without drink on specific number of biking days (usually every other day but for more info, please contact your tour coordinator)
- Refreshments in the supporting vehicle (soft drinks, snacks, sweets, fruit)
- Water for bike-flasks
- Welcome briefing on the first day
- Maps of towns of accommodation on the tour (per room)
- Detailed cycling maps (on request)
- Program and detailed day-by-day description (per room)
- Practical bike ride safety training
- Technical service on the route
- First aid service on the route
- Support vehicle
- All transportation of participants and their luggage and bicycles during the tour
- Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour
- Transportation (air-tickets) to/from Prague – starting/final point of the tour
- Transfer from Prague airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival
- Transfer from hotel to the airport on the departure day
- Other meals than mentioned in "What is included"
- Entrance fees to museums, castles, and chateaux
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
Request your holidaysSelf-guided trous it is support and independence
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Full-guided trip
We at Europe Bike Tour do know, that a good bike is the most important part of a nice vacation. So we let all our bikes serviced regulary so they stay in perfect condition. Under "Bike Equipment" you can find other aditional equipment that is either in the bike fee included or you can rent/buy it for adittional funds.
We offer male and female bikes with different sizes, E-bikes, Tandembikes, Bikes for kids and on request the Recumbent bike as well. Should you have a special wish/need, do not hesitate to ask us, we will make our best to fullfill your wish!
Why with us?
With a rich 12-year history, Europe Bike Tours offers more than just cycling trips; we provide immersive "Culture Biking" experiences across the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Our tours blend the thrill of biking with cultural exploration, taking you from charming local eateries to ancient, hidden castles. We handpick the most captivating locations, ensuring each bike, family, or wine holiday is an adventure in itself. Catering to diverse preferences, our tours come in various formats, from self-guided to fully guided, with options for luggage transfer and different accommodation levels. For those seeking something unique, we're always ready to craft a tailor-made tour that perfectly fits your vision of a cycling holiday.
- Self guided, fully guided or supported tours
- City standard or premium accommodation
- Tailor made maps
- More biking options for each day
- 24/7 Hotline with personal approach
- Quality bikes e-Bikes
Who we are
Lukáš SvárovskýManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Vitek ProchazkaManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
Our self-guided tours
Accommodation is one of the most important parts of each trip that strongly influences the final look of it. We make our best to offer you the best possible accommodation in the prefered category. The hotels we offer are either comfortable small hotels or quite guesthouses both in 3* quality, all of it rather small and with personality than big chain. All the tours have accommodation in or near the town/village centres so you can spend the afternoon and evening after biking exploring the town itself or simply enjoy the peace of the place.