Days 1-3 : Road Biking: Chablis, Auxerre, The Nivernais Canal
A midday train to the Yonne valley. Meet your bike for a ride to Chablis, her steely white wines among France’s finest (nothing like the Ernest & Julio parody).
Through Auxerre, cathedral city and Nivernais canal port. Then along the poplar-lined tow paths. Race the barges and dust them at the locks. Climb to Vézelay’s basilica, launching point for two crusades. Then launch your own on fortified Avallon. Days 4-5 : Road Biking: Epoisse and the Gaulois
Across the plateau, through fields of grain and pastures of wildflowers. Epoisse is home to great cheese: your picnic is served!
Visit Fontenay Abbey, a 12th century gem of monastic life. Flavigny-sur-Ozerain’s 8th century abbey is now a candy factory, for those who prefer a sweeter host.
On to Mount Auxois, where Caesar beat Vercingétorix to close Gaul’s history and open France’s. Tiny lanes pass isolated farms and medieval villages to bring you to Dijon. One of France’s oldest and prettiest cities is your home for two nights. Days 5-7 : Road Biking: Dijon, the Côte d’Or
Half-timbered houses, tiled roofs, and the Ducal Palace, now a beautiful art museum, vie for your attention. Oh, so does mustard.
Then a day in the world’s greatest vineyards (Blue Marble reveals a prejudice). Vines cover every inch of the Côte d’Or (“Golden Hillside”). Achieving a balance between wine tasting and bicycle mastery is a challenge.
Gevrey-Chambertin, Aloxe-Corton and Beaune are possible destinations. Finally, back to Dijon for a celebratory snail or two. Days 8-10: Road Biking: The Jura
Meet in the evening in the heart of the Jura mountains, on the shores of the lovely Lac de Joux, a center of the famous Swiss clock trade. Monacled guys in tiny workshops surrounded by Holsteins. Seriously.
A loop ride on Sunday carries you into France. The French Jura produces some of France’s best cheeses, and her most unusual wines. The biking is idyllic. Pedal through grand expanses of pine forest, pausing for dips in clear mountain lakes. Befriend trout and betray them at dinner. Back to Switzerland for the night: if the trout left you cold, have a Jura fondue, the local and delicious variant of the famous cheese dish.
Head south (mostly down an Alp), and to lovely Lake Geneva. A steamer across the lake (and back into France) takes you to Evian-les-Bains. Days 10-13: Road Biking: Lake Geneva, the Rhone, and the Alps
Visit Lake Geneva, by bike, boat, and train: Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva, and the pretty Savoie towns that line the water. Sail or swim in the fresh blue of the lake, practice your putt or gulp Evian from a public tap in the eponymous town on the shore. Perch is a regional specialty, as is mushroom-and-cheese-covered toast. Yum! Then follow the Rhône into the Alps, through fruit orchards and camouflaged military installations. Language changes from French to German, wine from red to white. Days 13-15: Road Biking: Zermatt, the Vispa
Finally to Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn: a relaxing place – unless you like nightlife. Alpine walks with a breathtaking view of the mountain (there’s no air up here anyway), hot chocolate and fondues, tennis... the peace of your stay is interrupted only by a vicious mini-golf tournament. Optional. Back to the valley below: 40 kilometers downhill. Wheeeee! Days 16-17: Road Biking: The Ossola Valley
The route begins in Switzerland, at the base of the Simplon pass. Not interested in climbing 4,000 feet over the pass? That’s O.K., some considerate soul built a tunnel. 50+ downhill kilometers into Italian Lombardy start you on your way. Days 18-22: Road Biking: The Lakes, Ticino
The descent brings you to the lakes, and to the Borromean Islands. Lakes Maggiore, Lugano, and Como are the backdrop of your idyll for five days. Bathe, boat, and bike, surrounded by the glory of the Alps’ natural splendor, terraced gardens with their toes in the water, 17th century palaces, and tiny fishing villages. Cable cars climb to five-star views, history abounds. Cross the border to Switzerland to visit a chocolate factory, and collect your free samples. Days 23-24: Venice (Optional Trip Extension)
Two days to explore incomparable Venice’s canals and islands. No city is more affected by light, the same scene unrecognizable at different times of day. Days 25-26: Road Biking: Salzburg
The route begins with time for play in Mozart’s birthplace. The town, dominated by a stunning castle and spread along the banks of a tree-lined river, is almost too storybook. You'll keep thinking you see Julie Andrews on the streets.
Visit the Marionette Theater and the Mozart House. Bike out to Heilbron castle, whose fountains unexpectedly hydrate. Perhaps catch a concert at the castle. Or maybe never escape the tree-shaded, song-filled beer gardens. Cycling on the river bike path is the best way to get around, but trolley-buses are available for those trying to forget that they’re on a bike trip. Days 27-32: Road Biking: The Austrian Alps
They will quickly be reminded: Mount your trusty steed for the ride to Vienna. Words cannot express what Blue Marble feels for this beautiful journey. Bike along picturesque Alpine valleys, snack on wiener schnitzel and currywurst, cable-car up mountains, visit salt mines, monasteries, ice caves, and wine bars.
Bowl nine-pins against the local league. Go boating on wild and undiscovered lakes, so different from Swiss or Italian counterparts. Picnic in flower-filled meadows, sip wheat beers in waterside cafés, watch the crowning of the local nasturtium queen, or listen to an oom-pah band on the village green. All surrounded by the natural pageantry of these favorite mountains.
Austria’s most famous pastry shop is on the route, as are Kaiser Franz Joseph’s villa and Schubert’s trout. The pace is relentless. Rest, relaxation, eating, drinking… oh yeah, and biking. Days 33-35: Road Biking: The Danube to Vienna
From Steyr, a charming city at the confluence of two rivers, cycle down the Danube bike path, surrounded by vineyards and pampered by terraces serving fruity apple juices and fresh white wines. Two nights on the river. Visit Melk, home to a spectacular rococo abbey. Then pedal through the pretty wine towns of the Wachau to Krems, the country’s viticultural capital, and on to Vienna.
Vienna is one of Blue Marble Travel's favorite cities. The music is beautiful, the city’s history is rich; diversions are legion. Tour the town on its trademark red trams. Experience the delightful contrast between Hofburg castle, home to the Holy Roman Empire’s crown jewels, and the festive heurigen, serving up wines of their own fabrication to happily soused patrons. Music, art, beauty, and late nights in trendy bars are all in store. |
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