Let's go touring…

Normandy, Loire and Champagne self guided motorcycle holiday

Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour. On the trail of rustic France.

Our Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour is a relaxing holiday abroad.

France is just a stone’s throw from the British Isles. Therefore it is obvious as well as a perfect motorcycle touring destination. This journey combines three beautiful regions of Normandy, Loire and Champagne, into one great trip.

Riding in Northern France, there is no shortage of traffic-free roads and places to see. The rugged coastline offers dramatic views as well as opportunities to visit WW2 memorial sites and landing beaches.

Romans and Vikings gave a strong historical and cultural prominence to this part of the Seine Valley. In more recent times, the region played a pivotal role as the centre of the resistance during WW2. Which was well re-enacted by Rene and Co in the BBC’s comedy series ‘Allo, Allo’.

Rouen, one of the towns included in our suggested itinerary, may not be as famous as some other French hotspots, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Wander through the town, and you’ll find the oldest working clock in France as well as rows of timber-framed houses. Furthermore, even the very location where Jeanne d’Arc was alleged to have spent her last days.

The Loire Valley is just a half a day comfortable ride from the coast of Normandy. Riding through the Loire Valley in summer is a pure pleasure. Not only are roads nearly empty, but they are also lined with thousands of sunflower fields. The glowing yellow makes the perfect backdrop for a selfie or that special screensaver shot of your bike. This is a land of majestic châteaux as well as medieval towns and bustling markets. And above all, it also produces some of the best wine in the world. Many of the vineyards offer public tours of their estates and cellars as well as tasting.

The Valley of the Kings has been the chosen retreat of the French elite for hundreds of years. The legacy they left behind is the countryside sprinkled with fairy tale châteaux and castles that we can visit. A little bit like Kent in the UK, the Loire Valley is also known as the Garden of France. Therefore, if you are a green-fingered biker, this tour might be ‘right up your garden’. You should make sure you visit some of the meticulously manicured parks, botanical gardens as well as chateaux estates.

This part of this self guided motorcycle holiday adds a touch of bubbly class to your holiday. And if you like the finer things in life, it might just be a ‘thing to pop your cork’! A visit to the Champagne region is quite different from visiting any other wine region globally. It produces what may be considered some of the most renowned as well as recognizable wines in the world.

The three most famous cities in the region are Troyes, Reims and Epernay. This is also where some of the most recognizable champagne houses are located. These include Veuve Clicquot, Mumm, Ruinart, and Möet and Chandon.

While the region may be small, there is plenty to do and see as well as roads to ride. Roaming through this tranquil patchwork of vineyards brings a feeling of contentment and privilege that only a biker can feel.

For more day-to-day information about the Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour, please spend some time studying the tour itinerary below.

PLEASE NOTE: On rare occasions, the itinerary might slightly change depending on hotel availability.

For an alternative to the Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour, please use this link: Ardennes, Moselle and Champagne self guided motorcycle holiday.

If you require a motorcycle rental for Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour please get in touch with our partner, RoadTrip.

Please visit our Facebook page for up-to-date information regarding the Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour.

When to go:

April to October

Price

Includes

6 nights b&b accommodation
Return Eurotunnel crossing
GPX routes
Trip check list
Daily itinerary
Suggested tourist attractions
Emergency services numbers

Excludes

Countries:

France

Motorcycle rental:

Available

Book now:

Tour highlights

Historic town of Rouen
D-Day landing beaches
Pegasus Bridge
Estate of Versailles
Château of Blois
Château de Gien
Old town in Troyes
L'Avenue de Champagne in Épernay
Colombey - The Memorial Charles de Gaulle
Château de Bligny

Day by day tour itinerary

Day 1 – Folkestone to Rouen (Approx. 150 miles)

Your Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour starts as you cross to France via the Eurotunnel. As it is not a huge mileage day, your GPS should be set to avoid motorways.

The first part of the route will take you along the coastal roads towards the seaside town of Le Touquet. This is a lively little fishing town where the river Canche meets the sea. Le Touquet’s main claim to fame is the annual motocross beach race that brings thousands of bikers to the city. This is also an excellent place to stop for a break and stretch your legs a bit.

Keeping the sea to your right, you’ll continue meandering towards another coastal town. In Dieppe, you can visit the medieval Château Musée de Dieppe. The castle is home to a splendid collection of war and naval exhibits as well as paintings, furniture and art. If you are feeling a bit peckish, Dieppe also has many cafes and restaurants to choose from.

You’ll be staying in a comfortable hotel in the historic town of Rouen. The hotel is just a short walk away from the town centre, giving you an excellent base to explore the Old Town’s nooks and crannies, which features some splendid sites dating back to the 13th century. These include Notre-Dame Cathedral, The Grand Horloge, Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc Church and Saint-Ouen Abbey. You can also choose to wander the narrow cobblestoned streets lined with old timbered houses. The Vieux-Marché (the Old Market) and city square host a good choice of traditional eateries serving specialities made from local produce.

“The old town of Rouen has about 2,000 half-timbered houses”

Day 2 – Free Day

Today is a bit of a ride and stop kind of day. The itinerary is dedicated to visiting various D-Day landing beaches and memorial sites.

Your first port of call will be the Pegasus Bridge. It is the site where the British forces seized both Bénouville and the nearby Ranville Bridge. This allowed the Allied troops to pass through and continue.

Only a short ride down the coast is Sword Beach. The beach was heavily fortified, and it was assaulted by the units of the British 3rd Division. These are just the two options we have selected. However, there are many other D-Day sites worth visiting.

Therefore, if you have a particular interest or can relate to some of those places, please feel free to do your own research. This is about a 200-mile day trip, so that it might take most of the day.

“The D-Day was the largest naval, air and land operation in military history”

Day 3 – Rouen to Blois (Approx. 150 miles)

Today you’ll point your front wheel towards the Valley of the Kings. It is another day with relatively low mileage rewarding you with more time to play. There are two obvious routes you could take. The first one would be to head towards Chartres to see the massive cathedral. It is famous amongst pilgrims and art lovers for its dazzling blue stained-glass windows and collection of relics.

The other and the definitely more attractive option would be to visit the magnificent Estate of Versailles. If you’re coming from overseas, it is perhaps already on your hit list. On this tour, it is so easy to swing it that way that it would be almost impolite not to. There is so much to see here. So please make sure that you do your research beforehand and prioritise and personalise your list.

If it helps, here is a short-list of the most popular attractions;

– Hall of Mirrors
– The State Apartments
– The Royal Chapel
– Grand Trianon Estate

When it comes to the gardens and groves, there are quite a few of them. So if you decide to venture in without a plan and map, it could be a long walk. Wearing your biking gear would be much more than you bargained for.

Here is a shortlist of more popular ones.

– Queen’s Grove
– Ballroom Grove
– Girandole Grove
– Obelisk Grove

For the next two nights of the Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour, you’ll be staying in a comfortable hotel in Blois. This wonderful riverside town is one of the most beautiful and visited places in the Loire.

“The first English King of the House of Plantagenet, Henry II, was born in the Loire Valley in 1133”

Day 4 – Free day (Approx. 150 miles)

Today is about the halfway point of your Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour. It’s also your day off, so feel free to organise your own agenda. Or if you prefer, you can follow our suggested itinerary. But please bear in mind that opting to go for a spin might be a more obvious choice. However, it might not necessarily be the best choice.

The Château of Blois is not only one of the most visited but also prestigious monuments in France. It is located in the town centre only a short walk from the banks of the river Loire. There are about 30 furnished rooms to visit. Many are with beautiful floors and ceilings. On display in the rooms, you can see thousands of historical items, including furniture, art as well as paintings.

After overdosing on château, you may continue and visit some other tourist attractions. These might include the Fondation du Doute, Maison de la Magie (Museum of Magic) as well Les Jardins de l’Ancien Évêché (the town hall). The town also has a fantastic restaurant and cafe scene. So you can just pick your spot, and people watch for a while. If you still prefer to go for a ride, then follow the river towards Tours. You might stop there for a drink and head for Vendôme. From here, loop it around and return to Blois.

This is about a 100-mile trip. It should be just enough for a nice little blast through the countryside.

“The wall surrounding the grounds around Château de Chambord, just outside Bolis, is over 20 miles long”

Day 5 – Blois to Troyes (Approx. 180 miles)

Your onward journey now continues by a leisurely morning ride following the river Loire. Once again, it is not a huge mileage, so you’ll have plenty of time to stop and explore. If you have, by now, developed a ‘sweet tooth’ for aristocratic opulence, you might decide to visit another… guess what? Château.

Château de Gien is an impressive and imposing building. It is perched on the banks of the river Loire overlooking the town of Gien. There are nearly 10,000 objects as well as works of art exhibited in the collection. You might also use this opportunity to have a second breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Your comfortable town centre hotel in Troyes will be your base in the Champagne region for the next two nights. The whole ride is a motorway free winding through the lush green countryside. So take your time and enjoy it.

“Marilyn Monroe, at least once, took a bath in champagne. According to her biographer, 350 bottles of Champers were used to fill up her bathtub”

Day 6 – Free day (Approx. 150 miles)

Today is your free day. Therefore, you can rest and do whatever you wish, or you can go for a ride.

Our first suggested ride will take you to L’Avenue de Champagne in Épernay. It is the most famous champagne street in the world. From here, your ride will continue to Château Thierry. It is another historic town where you can spend a few hours strolling around. Here you can also visit the World War I Chateau Thierry American Monument.

The second suggested ride will take you through the Forêt D’orient Nature Park and to the magnificent Château de Bligny. The Château stands out by its unique medieval architecture. It also is the only Champagne producer to carry the “Château” domain on its label. 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.

And finally, a popular ride amongst our clients is to head to Châlons-en-Champagne for a coffee. From here, you can wiggle your way to Château la Motte Tilly. You can stop here to have a look around, or you can return to your hotel.

Any above ride will enable you to explore some of the fantastic biking roads which criss-cross this region.

“Each second a glass of champagne emits about 30 bubbles”

Day 7 – Champagne Region to Folkestone (Approx. 250 miles)

Following one last delicious French breakfast, you’ll head north. The route will take you along some stunning back roads towards Reims. Here you’ll join the motorway to the Eurotunnel and the rest of the journey home.

Thank you for RidingWithUs on this great Normandy-Loire-Champagne self-guided motorcycle-tour.

We hope to hear from you again soon.

“Fall in love with places you have never been to and people you have never met”

What our customers say

“It was a lovely tour and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. All the other people on the tour were extremely nice. We will certainly do another tour with you.”

Nora & Stew

Dudley, UK, 2017

Let's go touring…

Normandy, Loire and Champagne self guided motorcycle holiday

When to go:

Price

Includes

Excludes

Countries:

Motorcycle rental:

Book now:

Tour highlights

Day by day tour itinerary

What our customers say

Normandy, Loire and Champagne self guided motorcycle holiday

Contact Information

Navigation

Like us on Facebook