The Highlights from the north of Burgundy

Burgundy is a land of great art and good living, pastoral and peaceful. During the cycling trip you discover great abbeys, elegant châteaux, medieval half-timbered villages and fortified towns. The vineyards of Chablis and Auxerrois will accompany you, tastings are programmed and the fine food will round up your days. This itinerary reveals northern Burgundy's main treasures.

8 days / 7 nights

Departure every day 22.03. - 08.11.2010

Category: II

Day 1 Arrival to Auxerre
Auxerre, city of Art and History, has conserved an exceptional architectural heritage over time: the cathedral, a model of gothic style elegance, the St Germain Abbey, a nearly intact monastic complex with the crypts of 9 th Century with one of the oldest mural paintings discovered in France, the clock's works is set against the tower. 

Day 2 Auxerre - Montigny la Resle  32 km
Adjustment of hired bikes. Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny, the largest and one of the most beautiful Cistercian churches remaining in France.

Day 3 Montigny - Chablis - Noyers/Serein    approx. 52 km
Ligny-le-Châtel with the Renaissance church; the Chablis vineyard, Burgundy's largest white wine vineyard is your programme today. After visiting Chablis and a wine tasting, the itinerary follows the Serein valley through the beautiful villages of the southern of Chablis vineyard and the medieval town of Noyers with its naive Art museum. Noyers has preserved fortifications and half-timbered houses.

Day 4 Noyers-sur-Serein - Avallon approx. 42 km
Today you cycle across the superb 'terre plaine' plateau and Avallon landscapes. You will pass by the medieval hamlet of Montréal before reaching Avallon, a beautiful ancient town.

Day 5  Avallon - Vézelay approx. 24 km
Via small villages and on side roads you will reach today's destination - Vézelay. One of Burgundy's finest landscapes, with a stop in Vézelay and its Sainte-Madeleine Basilica, a Romanesque art masterpiece listed as UNESCO world heritage. During the Middle Ages, Vézelay was a major pilgrimage site and a special halt on the ways to Compostella. The mediaeval town with its fortifications is dominated by its Basilica. 

Day 6 Vézelay - Accolay  approx. 41 km
Starting by a hill to reach the Yonne valley, the itinerary follows it all day, as well as the canal du Nivernais. You cross very lovely sites such as Châtel-Censoir, the Saussois cliffs and Mailly-le-Château. Accolay is near the Canal de Nivernais, a very nice small village and a peacefully hotel. 

Day 7 Accolay - Auxerre  approx. 29 km
Water dominates, for here are some of the great rivers of France. In fact, Burgundy has been called the water table of France. All the mighty rivers are interconnected by a marvellous canal system. Your bicycling beside the water in a fantastic nature and then you leave for stage through lovely Auxerre vineyard villages: Irancy, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux, Bailly. In Bailly you will taste the famous Crémant de Bourgogne before leaving to Auxerre.

Day 8 
C'est la vie - your biking tour in Burgundy is finished. After having a last breakfast you have to say goodbye to this charming region in France!

The following 'standard service package individual' is included in the individual bike tours:

- Accommodation in **/***hotels/guest houses
- Breakfast buffet or extended breakfast
- Half board: at least a 4-course evening meal
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
- 1 wine-tasting in Chablis and 1 wine tasting of Crémant de Bourgogne in Bailly
- Detailed route guidance
- Detailed travel material (route or overview maps, route description, important telephone numbers)

Prices per person in Euros

Double room in B&B                       586,00 €
Single room in B&B                        770,00 €

Double room in 1/2 board              770,00 €
Single room in 1/2 board               954,00 €

Extra night in Auxerre in B&B           56,00 €

Bike hire 18 gears                          75,00 €