Metz and Cochem Premier Version

Day 1: Metz

Make yourself at home in Metz! Check-in and disembarkation begin at 2pm. You’ll be welcomed aboard and provided with an introduction to the crew, a bicycle fitting, and a short test ride to ensure you’re comfortable.

Enjoy a leisurely walk after dinner through the lovely city of Metz, famed for its grand Gothic architecture and picturesque promenades. The star of the show is undoubtedly St. Etienne Cathedral (or Metz Cathedral), whose towering spires cast their grand Gothic shadows over the city. Nicknamed the ‘Lantern of God’, St. Etienne glows wonderfully in the soft sunshine, offering an awe-inspiring vista. Within the incredible interior, sunlight filters through the Marc Chagall stained glass windows in mesmerizing hues.

You may consider arriving a day early to truly maximize your time in Metz. Alongside the cathedral, you’ll be eager to experience the city’s many enchanting cafes and quaint boutiques!

Day 2: Metz - Remich
26 or 31 miles/41 or 49 km

With breakfast served on board, you’ll feast while you float. Once at Thionville, famed for its medieval ramparts and breathtaking St. Maximin Basilica, you’ll take to the bike seat and set off on your first cycling adventure, following your guide through the gorgeous French countryside.

The Mosel Valley makes its verdant beauty known to you immediately on this tour, and you’ll meander through the glowing green hills past the castle at Sierck-les-Bains, once occupied by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine, which perches commandingly on the river’s bright banks.

Before you know it, France has become Luxembourg as you cross the border and ride towards the charming commune of Remich for your overnight stay. Just before you arrive, you’ll explore nearby Nennig, where an ancient Roman mansion still boasts its bedazzling mosaic floor, comprising over three million tiles and displaying fascinating gladiator scenes.

Day 3: Remich - Saarburg
24 or 29 miles/40 or 48 km

Riding from Remich, your guide will show you where the Mosel River actually forms the Germany/Luxembourg border. Passing into Luxembourg, you’ll be won over by a visit to a wine cooperative specializing in ‘Cremant’, the ‘Champagne of the Mosel’. Refreshed and revitalized, you’ll take a moment to assess the day’s cycling options: the shorter but slightly more challenging option (featuring hills), or the longer but easier option (along the river). Both will lead you into sublime Saarburg.

Arriving in Saarburg is a little like journeying back in time - this old city, with its beautiful architecture, wonderful waterway, and quaint character, sits unassumingly in the serene Saar Valley. You’ll find the river banks hooded with dense forest, adding to the magical charm of an area once commanded by a grand castle peering over the treeline. Fill your mind with wonder as you gaze upon the waterfall at the center of the city, which nestles a quaint mill at its base.

Day 4: Saarburg - Trier
19 miles/32 km

Your excellent adventure takes you on to Trier, Germany’s oldest city. Trier is a history lover’s haven, boasting myriad impressive monuments from the Roman Golden Age. Founded around 15 BC by the imperious Caesar Augustus, ‘Augusta Trevorum’, as Trier was known at the time, became a prosperous trading town and proudly stood as one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire. These days, you can still see several remarkable Roman relics, including the Porta Nigra (Black Gate), one of the four gates formerly used to guard this city, and the largest Roman gate north of the Alps. No wonder it’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site! As you relax in the evening following your day’s ride, you’ll have plenty of time to find an establishment fit for feasting like an emperor.

Day 5: Cruise Trier - Schweich | Cycle Schweich - Neumagen - Bernkastel
16 or 32 miles/27 or 53 km

From the charming town of Schweich you’ll ride into ‘The Romantic Mosel’, the worthy nickname of the mid-Mosel region, where verdant vineyards glisten with sun-ripened fruit. If you haven’t heard of the wonderful white wine that put the Mosel Valley on the map, you’ll certainly get your fill of its flavorsome history on this leg, passing by Piesport, renowned for its popular ‘Piesporter Goldtrӧpfchen’. As you make an exciting hairpin turn, you’ll take in views of Trittenheim, where vineyards stretch in the shadows of majestic mountains, nestling the noble Laurantiuskapelle, known for its gothic choir.

Around noon, Neumagen appears on the horizon, an ancient wine center during the Roman period, where the barge will be waiting if you’d like to take a load off. Alternatively, if you’re in the rhythm of the ride, you can continue by bike to Bernkastel-Kues. Here, you’ll discover a postcard-perfect town with plenty of charm and a reputation for having the best wine regions in the Mid-Mosel area. In your downtime, it’s worth taking a walk to Market Square, where timber-framed houses make for a quaint, historic atmosphere.

Day 6: Bernkastel - Traben-Trarbach - Zell
27 miles/45 km

Your brilliant bike tour continues on to a major center of the Mosel wine region - Traben-Trarbach. Lying in the so-called ‘Valley of the Dawn’, Traben-Trarbach is certain to awaken your senses as arresting art nouveau architecture, Jugendstil buildings, and woodland views vie for your attention. You’ll journey on to Zell for tonight’s stay, a town known to be wonderful for wine tastings, especially of the famous ‘Zeller Schwartze Katze’ sparkly.

Day 7: Zell - Beilstein - Cochem
24 miles/39 km

On your penultimate day, you’ll pedal to breathtaking Beilstein, one of the best-preserved historic villages to grace the Mosel River, where you’ll find the magnificent remains of Metternich Castle sitting splendidly atop a steep hill. You’ll have time to explore these atmospheric ruins and capture photos to treasure against the romantic backdrop of the Mosel Valley.

The excitement of your tour culminates in characterful Cochem, where your ride reaches its fabulous finale. This Mosel town sits majestically amongst the mountains, where wooded hills hide historical medieval fortresses, one of which features an intriguing museum you may wish to visit. Your group will explore the remarkable Reichsburg Castle (also called the ‘Imperial Castle’) as part of the program, allowing you an awe-inspiring experience within walls steeped in history and lore.

Day 8: Cochem

Disembarkation will be concluded by 9:30 am.

On the days that two cycling distances are offered, the tour leader, after conferring with the group, will choose to guide either the shorter or longer route. Not all the highlights will be visited during the shorter route.

You can also choose to ride self-guided utilizing maps available on board. GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the tour start date.