Bike Tour from Fontainebleau to Milly-la-Forêt

 

 

The château and town of Fontainebleau were traditionally one of the four main places of royal residence for the kings of France. This importance is reflected in the both the style of the town's architecture and the size and grandeur of the château. We'll explore the lively cobbled pedestrian streets, full of cafés, restaurants, food stores and boutiques, and enjoy exterior views of the château.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

After leaving town we ride through the cool green forest to Barbizon, famous as the founding place of the 19th century Realist art movement. Its famous residents Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau, whose works can be found in Paris's Musée d'Orsay, attracted other noted artists of the day (Monet and Sisley among them) and the works of these artists gave birth to the Impressionist art movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                

 

Leaving Barbizon we ride through some lovely country villages and agricultural fields, passing a few impressive but unknown châteaux on the way.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

Our final major destination is Milly-la-Forêt, formerly a walled medieval town. In Milly we'll learn about medieval medicinal herbs and Saint Blaise, whose use of the herbs helped ease the suffering of lepers. We'll also learn a bit about French icon Jean Cocteau and visit the tiny chapel he decorated and transformed into a magnificent work of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

We finish with some more countryside riding before arriving at the train station to return to Paris.

 

 

Starting the Day: We start the day meeting at the bike rental store and then ride through Paris to the train station Gare de Lyon. We take the bikes on the train to Fontainebleau and start the ride. At the end of the ride we take the RER train back to Paris.

 

Tour Cost: €275  This is the price for your group, not a per person cost.

 

Additional Costs: Train Ticket – €16.60 pp (unless you have a transportation pass covering zone 5) + Bike Rental – €30pp

 

Total round trip train time: 2 hours

 

Touring Time: 5 hours

 

Total Tour Time: 7 hours

 

Distance: 40 / 25 miles

 

THIS TOUR DOES NOT RUN ON WEEKENDS AND IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR PARTIES OF TWO PEOPLE MAXIMUM.

MEETING TIME FOR THIS TOUR IS 7 a.m. IN ORDER TO CATCH THE 7:49 TRAIN THERE AND 1:30 TRAIN BACK.

 

Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. There are a few small hills in the forest of Fontainebleau. There is also an ascent of 10+ minutes at the end of the ride that will require some effort. Although the ride is ranked Easy to Moderate due to this hill and the length of the ride it is recommended you be fit and active to do this tour. The majority of the ride, however, is on flat terrain.