On the tracks of Louis XIV: from the castle of Fontainebleau to the Palace of Versailles by bike

Day 1: Fontainebleau
Individual arrival in Fontainebleau and hotel check-in. After settling your luggage, take the opportunity to explore this enchanting city, south of the capital, overlooking the majestic and royal Parisian countryside. Overnight in a hotel or a charming Bed & Breakfast.

Day 2: Fontainebleau – Château Vaux le Vicomte, Blandy – Fontainebleau (57 km)
After a plentiful breakfast, you will start your day trip: the must-see Château Vaux le Vicomte and its French gardens, where you can enjoy a lunch break at the castle’s restaurant. Cross Melun to discover its river port and its 6 km of banks where the Seine meanders through gardens and small squares. Continue to the Château de Blandy, a rare example of medieval military architecture in the Île-de-France region, then cycle along the Seine on small country roads. Cross the medieval villages of Fontaine le Port and Samois-sur-Seine until reaching the park of the Château de Fontainebleau, cycling along a bike path. With over 1500 rooms nestled in 130 hectares of gardens, the royal and imperial palace of Fontainebleau is home to eight centuries of continuous occupation by monarchs. The Castle and its grounds have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

Day 3: Fontainebleau – Étampes (55 km)
Today you will cycle through the Fontainebleau forest, 25,000 hectares rich in flora and fauna, a true delight for nature lovers. You will also discover Barbizon, an important gathering place for artists in the 19th century and the birthplace of the homonymous school, a landscape realism movement. The route continues to explore other picturesque villages, such as Dannemois, where singer Claude François lived. A final stretch on a bike path will take you to Étampes, an ancient royal city now known as a "City of Art and History". It boasts at least 26 state-protected monuments, including the church of Notre-Dame-du-Fort with its royal portal from the 12th century. Overnight in a hotel in Étampes.

Day 4: Étampes – Rambouillet (55 km)
Your journey through the Parisian region continues through the Rambouillet forest where, for about 40 years, about 100 wallabies, small marsupials very similar to kangaroos, escaped from a reserve and settled here. Once you leave Étampes, follow a quiet bike path, then cross the royal city of Dourdan, the gateway to the Chevreuse Valley Regional Natural Park. The route ends in the heart of the Rambouillet forest, facing its magnificent castle: an ancient royal estate that over the centuries has hosted important personalities such as Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette and is currently a representative residence of the President of the French Republic. The reserve, representing one of the most important forests in the Parisian region, hosts oaks and conifers and includes very diverse landscapes, which include waterfalls, small lakes, sandy expanses, and wooded areas. Overnight in a charming Hotel in Rambouillet.

Day 5: Rambouillet – Versailles (50 km)
After a few kilometers, you will enter the heart of the Chevreuse Valley and pedal to discover its treasures: churches, abbeys, castles, houses, and washhouses, where the woods and green countryside still dominate around the small villages. Discover picturesque villages and the castle of Dampierre before reaching the surprising Palace of Versailles, only a few kilometers from Paris. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for over 30 years, it is one of the greatest artistic expressions of the 17th century. The Palace was the residence of the French royals at the time of Louis XIV, the famous Sun King, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. Only after the French Revolution, in 1789, did it cease to be the king's permanent residence. Overnight in a charming Hotel.

Day 6: Versailles
After breakfast, services end and individual departure.