Mosel by bike and boat - Princesse Royal

The Moselle Valley by bike and boat 

Come aboard the Princesse Royal and enjoy a bike and boat trip on the Moselle. Here the scenery is beautiful, the wines are delicious and the cycling conditions are excellent. 
The Moselle River runs between France, Luxembourg and Germany, and promises to bring you to know different cultures while contemplating the vineyards. You will discover historic and picturesque villages and enchanting cities such as Cochem, Bernkastel or Trier with its remains of a glorious past. 
The route continues towards Luxembourg and the beautiful city of Metz. 
Enjoy a unique experience and sleep and dine on board a premium comfort floating hotel. 
What's more, this trip is fully guided! A knowledgeable and professional tour guide leads you to the most interesting sites and places to discover. 
 
Highlights of the trip : 

• the exceptional landscapes along the Moselle river
• the cities of Metz, Cochem and Luxembourg
• the Roman history of Trier
• the wines of Riesling and its region
• guided trip 
• the gastronomy

Day 1: Cochem

Boarding and check-in takes place at 2:00 pm in Cochem on board the Princess Royal. After a welcome meeting with the crew, the guide will take you on a tour of the city of Cochem with its steep mountains covered with vineyards, its wooded hills, its impressive castle and its beautiful half-timbered houses. You will have the pleasure of starting your stay with a visit to the majestic Reichsburg Castle in Cochem. First night on board the barge. 

Day 2: Cochem - Zell - 39 km

After breakfast, you will cycle to Beilstein, one of the best preserved historic villages on the Moselle. You can explore the ruins of the Metternich castle that dominate the village. After leaving Beilstein, you will pass the steepest vineyard in Europe with slopes of up to 60 degrees at Bremmer Calmont. Today's stage ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle, well known in the industry for the Zeller Schwarze Katz wine. This is an opportunity to taste the good wines of the Mosel valley.

Day 3: Zell on the Moselle - Bernkastel-Kues - 45 km

Today you drive from Zell to the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach, located on the left bank of the Moselle and famous for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture. Then you drive through the wine town of Kröv, well known for its wine, to Bernkastel-Kues. The large half-timbered houses around the market square of Bernkastel-Kues date back to the Middle Ages. After a tour of the town, you will return to your boat in Kues.

Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues - Neumagen - Schweich - 28 km/18 mi. or 54 km/34 mi. | Schweich - Trier

From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and the vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. Today you pass Brauneberg, Piesport, Trittenheim known for their wine production. Piesport is appreciated by the British for its "little golden drops". Trittenheim is situated in a sharp bend in the Moselle surrounded by mountains covered with vineyards.

Around noon, you will arrive in Neumagen which was an important wine production center already in Roman times. You can join the barge or continue by bike to Schweich. Once on board, you will sail to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. As a trading city and administrative center, Trier flourished in the late imperial era. This Roman golden age has left us with many monuments to discover, including the Porta Nigra city gate built around 18 AD.

Day 5: Trier - Sarrebourg - 28 km/18 mi.

In the morning, your guide will take you to Trier to dive into Roman history. You will then have time to explore the city as you wish. 
After lunch, you will take your bikes and follow the Mosel and Saar rivers to Saarbrücken. Sarrebourg is an old town in the most beautiful part of the Saar Valley. Here the banks of the river are densely wooded. The construction of the castle of Sarrebourg dates from the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of the city, you can admire a 20 meters high waterfall. At the foot of this waterfall is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of the city, most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th centuries are still intact. Today, there is no dinner on board. You can have dinner in a restaurant in Sarrebourg.

Day 6: Sarrebourg - Remich - 45 km/27 mi. or 53 km/32 mi.

Today you have a choice of 2 bike tour options in the Moselle Valley. One is easy, but a bit longer along the rivers. The shorter option is a bit more difficult, through the hills. Whichever way you choose, this tour takes you to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Here, the Moselle forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is a small country, but its capital (also called Luxembourg) is an important financial center and an administrative city of the EU. On the way, you will visit a cooperative cellar, specialized in the so-called "Crémant", the Champagne of the Moselle. Near Remich, you can admire a Roman mosaic floor. The tiled floor was once the centerpiece of a sumptuous Roman villa. 

Day 7: Remich - Schengen - Thionville - 30 km | Thionville-Metz 

While having breakfast, you will sail towards Schengen, where your bike ride will start. The "Schengen agreement" is something that all Europeans have heard of but almost nobody knows that it is named after this small town in Luxembourg at the border of 3 countries.

You will cross the French-Luxembourg border without any border control. You can admire the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The road is beautiful through the French countryside and picturesque villages. Around noon, you reach Thionville, a major steel town until the 1980s. The city may look modern and industrial, but it is ancient. The historic center has medieval ramparts, beautiful gardens, old streets and the Saint-Maximin basilica. Here, the Princesse Royal awaits you for a cruise to Metz, another ancient city strategically located on a Roman trade route. The Cathedral of Saint-Etienne is the 3rd largest Gothic church in France with buttresses and stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. Metz has a breathtaking architecture.

Day 8 : Metz

End of the trip by bike and boat on the Moselle. Disembarkation after breakfast, until 9:30 am.

Day 1: Metz

Boarding and check-in in Metz at 2pm on board the Princesse Royal. After a welcome meeting with the crew, you will be able to test your bike. After dinner, the guide will take you on a walking tour of Metz. Metz is an ancient city, strategically located on a Roman trade route. The Cathedral of Saint-Etienne is the third largest Catholic church in France with its buttresses and its beautiful stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. 
We recommend that you come to Metz one or more days earlier to take the time to discover this beautiful city.

Day 2: Metz to Remich (41 or 49 km)

During your breakfast, you sail to Thionville, the industrial center of steel since the 1980s. Your bike route starts nearby. The historic center is guarded by medieval ramparts and has beautiful gardens and the famous St. Maximin basilica.

You ride through the beautiful French countryside and pass through pretty villages. You can see the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces that was inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. You will soon cross the French-Luxembourg border at Schengen.

The Schengen Agreement is known by all European citizens, nevertheless few people know the small town in Luxembourg, at the border of 3 countries that bears its name. You can enjoy the advantages of this agreement that does not involve border control! Near your destination of the day Remich, you will visit the small village of Nennig, where there is an ancient and sumptuous Roman villa that houses one of the most famous testimonies of mosaic art.

Day 3: Remich to Sarrebourg (40 or 48 km)

The Moselle River forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. You start your cycling tour along the river on the German side before joining the Luxembourg side. You visit a wine cooperative specialized in the famous "Crémant", the Champagne of the Moselle. You then have two choices for the bike tour: one is easy but longer and the second is shorter but more difficult through the hills.

Both routes will lead you to Sarrebourg, an ancient city located on the most beautiful part of the Saar valley where the river banks are entirely wooded. You can admire the castle of Sarrebourg built in the middle of the 10th century. In the center of the city, you can see a 20 meters high waterfall and an old mill, irrigated by a small river. In this part of the city, most of the houses date from the 17th and 18th centuries, which gave Sarrebourg its picturesque look, still intact.

Day 4: Sarrebourg to Trier (32 km)

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you on a short bike ride to Trier. You
You will arrive in the city for lunch. After a guided walking tour, you will enjoy a self-paced tour of the oldest city in Germany.

Trier was founded around 15 BC by Caesar Augustus as Augusta Trevorum and therefore has a unique heritage. The most authentic monument is the famous Black Gate, built in 18 BC.

Day 5: Trier - Schweich / Schweich - Neumagen - Bernkastel-Kues (27 or 53 km)

After breakfast, you start the cycling tour in Schweich. You arrive in the "Romantic Moselle", the nickname of the middle Moselle. You will be surrounded by vineyards on several hectares.
Your Moselle bike tour continues through the most famous vineyards in the world: Trittenheim and Piesport.

Trittenheim is located on the river and offers a panorama of mountains covered with vineyards.

Piesport is appreciated by the British for its "little golden drops".

For lunch, you will go to Neumagen, which was already an important wine production center during the Roman Empire. From here, you can return to the ship, or continue the bike tour to Bernkastel-Kues. This picturesque town is the production center of the best wines in the middle of the Moselle. The half-timbered houses above the market of Bernkastel-Kues date from the Middle Ages. A walk to the castle will offer you a superb panorama.

Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues - Traben-Trarbach - Zell-sur-Moselle (45 km)

Today, you will cycle to the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach, located on the left bank of the Moselle and famous for its Art Nouveau architecture (Jugendstil in German). Your destination for the night will be Zell-sur-Moselle, famous for the wine industry of Zeller Schwarze Katz. In Zell, we recommend tasting the great wines of the Mosel Valley.

Day 7: Zell - Beilstein - Cochem (39 km)

Beilstein, the "Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle", is one of the best preserved historical villages of the
Moselle. You can explore the ruins of Metternich Castle nestled above the village. You arrive in Cochem, a town of character surrounded by beautiful vineyards, wooded hills, an impressive castle and picturesque streets with half-timbered houses. It is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of local wine. A visit to Reichsburg Castle is also on the agenda for this day.

Day 8: Cochem

End of the bike and boat tour along the Moselle. Disembarkation is after breakfast, until 09:30 am.

General information:

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Level of comfort of the boat : Premium comfort
• Languages spoken on board : German and English
• Children's rates : contact us

Dates:

Departure dates 2024 :

Departures from Cochem on Sundays

• Mid season: 14/07,11/08 
• High season: 19/05,30/06,25/08

Departures from Metz on Sundays 

• Mid season: 07/07,21/07,18/08
• High season: 23/06

Included : 

• Full board stay (picnic lunch) except on day 5
• 7 nights on board
• coffee and tea on board
• welcome cocktail
• bed linen and towels
• daily cleaning of the cabins
• air conditioning
• daily briefing on the itinerary
• some guided walking tours
• ferry fees
• waterproof bag
• helmet
• biodegradable water bottle
• port taxes
• entrance to Reichsburg Castle in Cochem
• tasting of local wines
• wifi on board
• Travel book: we will provide you with information about the course of your trip as well as the itinerary with GPS tracks upon validation of your reservation, subject to change.
• Online guided tour (2 guides and 2 groups)

Not included:

• Transportation to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits other than those included

Options :

• Renting of VTC or VAE
• Personal bike space (mandatory if no bikes are rented)
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• Cancellation insurance

What you should know :

• The distances of the bike routes in the program are approximate.
• On some days, you can choose between a longer or shorter route. Please note that you may not be able to see all the highlights of the destination on the shorter routes.
• If you prefer not to cycle for a day, you are welcome to relax on board while the boat sails to the next stop.
• The itinerary can be modified for nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or for any other unforeseen event.
• On the day of your arrival, you can leave your luggage on board from 11am.
• Maps, descriptions, and detailed GPS tracks are available for clients wishing to cycle freely. The guide remains reachable at all times by phone for any questions, incidents, or emergencies.

Levels :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain :

Flat, very rolling roads and paths. 90% of the program is on bike paths.

Climate:

Temperatures in the Moselle Valley are relatively mild. It can be very hot in summer, with dry weather.

Technicality :

- 0 to 50 km of riding per day, or 3 to 5 hours of cycling.
- Itinerary easy to follow. No difficulties, accessible to all.

Bibliography :

- Guides on the Moselle by bike
- Hiking maps on Germany

Participants:

You will meet on board an international community of all ages, men, women, singles and couples with children. We offer a maximum of 65 seats in 2- and 3-person cabins on this boat.

Accompaniment :

Here are the people in charge of your vacation on the bike boat:
On board, the captain and his crew. They are in charge of the good progress of the vacations on the boat, and bring the boat from stage to stage. The cook prepares the meals.
There is a daily briefing on the route. 

The crew speaks German and English. 

Meals :

• Breakfasts: on the boat you will find a hearty, Dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.
• Lunches: After breakfast, you will prepare your own lunch (sandwiches, fruit, snacks, drinks).
• Dinners: at least three dishes of very good quality. After dinner, you will have the choice between coffee and tea.

Other drinks, such as wine, beer, lemonade and mineral water, are not included but can be purchased on board at a reasonable price.

Cycling:

Upon departure on Saturday afternoon, you will be assigned a bike that matches your size. After a test ride, you will sign a receipt.
The bikes will be equipped with panniers, an anti-theft device, a water bottle and a tire repair kit. 
If you take your own bike, it cannot be insured against theft by our company, you will have to make the necessary arrangements with your usual insurance company. Do not forget your anti-theft device. You will be responsible for the return of your bike.

Transportation :

By plane: Metz airport.

Cancellation insurance : 

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of expenses in case of cancellation of your stay, you can take out a cancellation insurance. To know more about it, click here.

Boat description : click here.