Ardennes, Moselle and Champagne self guided motorcycle holiday

The second day of the Ardennes-Moselle-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour is your also your first day off. So, please feel free to create your own entertainment or riding itinerary. However, if you wish, you can follow our suggested ride out. There are two options you might consider. 

The first one will take you to the historic town of Arlon. It is an excellent place to stop for a coffee and walkabout. Like any reputable Belgian town, it has a compulsory little WW2 tank parked in the centre. The tank also comes with several missile holes in it. 

From here you’ll continue to Dinant where perhaps you could have your lunch. On your way back, you can stop at the riverside town of Esch-sur-Sûre. It is a popular biker destination and a perfect place to go for a wander or have a drink. The whole ride is less than 200 miles. It can be done at a leisurely pace. Or, if you wish, you can modify the mileage. 

The second option is to aim for Clervaux to visit Clervaux Castle. Your next destination is Malmedy, where you can stop for a break or visit the Malmedy Massacre Memorial. The whole ride is around 140 miles, and you could easily wrap it up by about early afternoon. 

If you do not fancy riding, there is also an alternative third option. You can stay in Bastogne and visit the War Museum, Mardasson Memorial as well as Bastogne Barracks.

Departing from Belgium, the Ardennes-Moselle-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour continues towards Germany. This is one of those days when RideWithUs, GPS, wife or significant other might receive a reasonable amount of abuse. 

First, after leaving Bastogne, your route will wiggle towards Vianden in Luxembourg. Here you can make your first stop to visit the magnificent castle perched on the hill high above the town. From here, not exactly in a straight line, your ride continues tightly hugging the German border. 

In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the famous winemaking Moselle region. At Wasserbillig, you’ll stop following the river Sûre. After crossing the bridge, you’ll join the road that perfectly contours the shape of the river Moselle. Which, again, is not the straightest of the routes, and navigation might be open to interpretation. 

The Moselle is one of Germany’s most beautiful river valleys. At some places, the meticulously cultivated terraced vineyards rise high up above the valley. Some of the best Riesling is grown here. A myriad of castles and romantic villages line the banks of the river. 

Traben-Trarbach is an impressive riverside town with gothic architecture and a lovely market square. It will also be your base for the next two nights.

Today is about the halfway point of your Ardennes-Moselle-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour.

During your stay in Mosel, you may opt to join one of our suggested ride-outs. You can visit some of the local tourist attractions such as Eltz Castle or a wine-producing house. The castle is located in the heart of the wild natural scenery of the Elzbach valley. A family of the same name has owned the castle for more than 850 years. 

Nearby, Cochem is one of the most attractive places in the Moselle Valley. It presents an excellent opportunity to visit the old part of the town. It includes St Martin’s Church, the historic Town Hall in the Marktplatz and the Burg Cochem. In the cobbled town square, there are numerous bars, cafés and restaurants. It is a perfect place to sit down, relax and watch the world pass by.

On the other hand, if you prefer to park your bike for a day, there is an excellent choice of day trips and mini cruises. The riverboats will take you as far as Boppard, Koblenz or even Switzerland. 

Today’s route can be done entirely off the motorways. However, the navigation might require a bit of patience and a good sense of humour. But this is what makes the Ardennes-Moselle-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour exciting and special.

As you leave your hotel, the most scenic route would be to follow the river up to Konz. Then you can peel off aiming for the French border and head towards the Lorraine Nature Park. Often, on our guided tours, we reset our GPS to avoid motorways as soon as we cross to France. This is the beauty of riding in France. Even the single country lanes are likely to have a good tarmac allowing you to meander and enjoy the countryside. 

Troyes is a fantastic town steeped in history and champagne making tradition. The town has a charming old part with perfectly preserved half-timbered houses. The best examples are found on the Rue Klébert, the Rue Emile Zola, and the Ruelle des Chats. There is also a fantastic cafe, bar and restaurant scene, so early arrival is definitely recommended if possible. It is all within an easy walking distance from your comfortable hotel.  

Today’s suggested ride will take you through the Forêt D’orient Nature Park and to the magnificent Château de Bligny. It was established in 1773 by the Marquis de Dampierre on an existing medieval castle. The Château stands out by its unique medieval architecture. It also is the only Champagne producer to carry the “Château” domain on its label. 

According to many of our clients, the Château offers the best visitor experience. It includes a tour of the Château, champagne making presentation and tasting. Please make sure you have some spare capacity in your top box as you might be tempted to stock up for your next special occasion. 

From here, your ride continues to Colombey. The Memorial Charles de Gaulle site is situated at the foot of the Cross of Lorraine and tells his life story.

The final stop of this excellent day ride will be in Brienne-le-Château. The town became famous as Napoleon’s former residence, who lived and studied here in his youth. It is also an excellent place to sit down and relax for a while. 

Following a delicious French breakfast, it will be time to pack up and head back to the UK. Your route will take you along the backroads, and eventually, you’ll join the motorway to Calais to board the Eurotunnel. 

We hope that you enjoyed this fantastic Ardennes-Moselle-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour as much as us organising it.

Thank you for RidingWithUs, and we also hope to hear from you soon again.

PLEASE NOTE THIS TOUR CAN BE EXTENDED OR COMBINED WITH ANOTHER TOUR.