Paris to Frankfurt: the French Ardennes,
Luxembourg,
and Germany's Moselle Valley
7/31/02 - 8/1/02 |
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8/2/02 |
23.6 Miles |
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8/3/02 |
68.7 Miles |
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8/4/02 |
56.5 Miles |
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8/5/02 |
42.9 Miles |
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8/6/02 |
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8/7/02 |
38.3 Miles |
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8/8/02 |
38.7 Miles |
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8/9/02 |
34.0 Miles |
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8/10/02 |
52.0 Miles |
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8/11/02 |
| What a great itinerary! Great biking, great food, great wine, and great
champagne! A perfect combination for a
wonderful route that covers three distinct cultural areas.
Beginning in France, we spent a full day+ in Paris, one of the world's most
exciting cities. From here, we headed to
the Champagne-Ardennes region, a tranquil area ideal for cycling. The midpoint of our trip visits Luxembourg, a
1000-year old fortified town, set amidst dramatic scenery.
Finally, we entered Germany and cycled leisurely along the famed Moselle River, a
lazy waterway leading us past picturesque towns and villages. FRANCE 7/31/02 - 08/1/02: Paris, Layover Day We discovered Paris to be one of the world's most fascinating cities, rich in culture, charm, and beauty. Whether visiting a world-renowned museum, strolling through a tree-lined park, or power-shopping in an ultra-chic fashion district, there's something to appeal to everyone's taste. 8/2/02: Paris to Epernay by Private Bus; Epernay to Reims 23.6 miles We left Paris by private bus as the cycling is unsafe on the crowded Parisian streets. During our ride to Reims (pronounced "Rans"), we cycled along scenic fields of champagne vineyards and forested hills. Both Epernay and Reims reign as France's champagne centers, and you can spend much of your afternoon visiting the many caves that house this bubbly beverage. We also marveled at the spectacular Cathedral of Notre Dame, Reims' majestic 13th-century architectural masterpiece and site of France's coronations from centuries past. 8/3/02: Reims to Donchery 68.7 miles 8/4/02: Donchery to Montmedy 56.5 miles During the last two days, We traveled through the Ardennes, a peaceful, forested region ideal for cycling. Our rides took us through dozens of tiny French villages, following serene country roads that wind through the undisturbed French countryside. While our ride to Donchery is quite long, we fell in love with our evening's destination, a magnificent country estate set in a fairy-tale-like setting. LUXEMBOURG 8/5/02: Montmedy to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 42.9 miles 8/6/02: Luxembourg City Layover Day We cycled through three countries, spending the morning in France, the afternoon in Belgium, and the evening in Luxembourg! We found that Luxembourg City is unlike any city that you have seen, as it harmoniously incorporates several distinct periods. Once one of the most powerful fortresses in the world, it has preserved many of its historic relics of centuries past. You can stroll through the city's many parks, wander through the underground network of solid rock tunnels (called the Casemates), or drift through its bustling central market square. 8/7/02: Luxembourg City to Echternach 38.3 miles We discovered more of Luxembourg's beauty today as we traveled through its "Little Switzerland" region. Appropriately named, we passed lush woods, taking frequent picture stops at the many waterfalls and rocky cliffs. We spent the night in Echternach, a charming, thousand-year old town surrounded in the distance by gentle hills and rich forests. GERMANY 8/8/02: Echternach to Schweich, Germany 38.7 miles We cycled into Germany and met up with the lazy Moselle River, its banks lined with bountiful vineyards. We discovered Trier, Germany's oldest city, which boasts of a rich ancient Roman history. We visited the birthplace of Karl Marx, now a museum near its city center. 8/9/02: Schweich to Bernkastel-Kues 34.0 miles 8/10/02: Bernkastel-Kues to Cochem 52.0 miles These last two bicycling days followed the Moselle River, allowed us to experience first-hand the dozens of charming, quaint towns that line its gentle banks. We saw 500 year old castles. Our evenings were spent in spots where we found diverse attractions, from quaint cafes and wine bars to festive restaurants. 8/11/02: Frankfurt Am Main - Departure Home |
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