Backroad cycling France

Leisurely cycling, lakes, forests and the famous Comté cheese!Ref CN08

Welcome to Montbéliarde country ! This red and white pied cattle breed is famous mainly for the cheese made from its milk, the delicious Comté! The Montbéliarde will also be our ever present guide as we make our way through the wonderful Jura countryside. A route that takes us through deep, thick conifer forests, where only a few select sun’s rays manage to pierce through, playing games of light and shade with the branches of the trees. Past numerous small lakes, their surface a perfect mirror for the abundant wild flowers that grow on their waters edge. Alongside impossibly rich green meadows that light up the rolling hills of the Jura. Through unspoilt traditional villages and hamlets. And of course to a “fruitière” (cheese dairy) to sample the famous Comté.

Self-guided tour: from 355€ - Details Duration : 3 or 4 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Book this tour
Physical level :  
This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • Unspoilt countryside and rich heritage waiting to be discovered from the seat of a bicycle!
  • An abundance of water: lakes, rivers, brooks and springs abound…
  • The excellent wines, the famous Comté and the gastronomy full of character
  • Small, quiet back roads that invite you to take your time and unwind

Description

Comments

  • Special offers for private groups. Please ask us for a quotation.
  • Guided tours possible upon request.

Detailed itinerary (3 days)

Day 1: Lons-le-Saunier - Champagnole

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at Lons-le-Saunier SNCF railway station. Departure directly from the railway station. Please arrive in your cycle clothing.

From Lons-le-Saunier, one of the two Jura spa towns, we head off on the "PLM" green route which takes the old railway line linking the cities of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. This greenway runs along the vineyards between Perrigny and Conliège, with superb views of the Vallière valley. This gentle ascent of the plateau by the remote Revigny Mountains is punctuated by numerous engineering structures, including the 800m long illuminated Diane tunnel. We then arrive on the plateau which will take us through varied landscapes to the village of Chatillon, a few kilometres from the lake of Chalain, one of the most beautiful in the Jura. A perfect place for a swim and picnic break! We then head on to Champagnole on small country roads. After settling in to our accommodation, a visit to Mr Janin's cheese dairy is highly recommended in order to taste the delicious fruity Comté, an essential ingredient for the aperitif and for the following day's picnic!

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / altitude gain: approx. 550 m

Day 2: Champagnole - Chateau-Chalon

This morning an optional first short loop from Champagnole to visit the Syam site, its Palladian villa and its forges. A treasure trove of neoclassical architecture, built in 1818, the Villa is a unique testimony to the life of the 19th century Maitres des Forges. We then leave Champagnole on a forest bike path. A slight climb allows us to reach the pretty plateau of Revermont. The tranquility of the Montbéliardes cows who graze on these plateaus offers a peaceful atmosphere to this secret range. We then continue our journey towards a village of character and the highlight of our stopover: Château-Chalon. A real winegrower's jewel, on the banks of the Revermont, Chateau-Chalon has given its name to one of the best wines in the world. The village is also classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France".

Distance covered: approx. 30 km / altitude gain: approx. 250 m
"Syam" option: approx. 15 km / altitude gain: approx. 200 m

Day 3: Chateau-Chalon - Baume-les-Messieurs - Lons-le-Saunier

This morning, depending on our enthusiasm, we either head along the foot of the belvedere or we head onto the plateau, via the remote Ladoye-sur-Seille. Whichever the route chosen, we're heading for another major landmark of the region. Set in its remote location, the Baume-les-Messieurs site succeeds in bringing together over a few square kilometres a concentration of wonders which we discover by bike. The small village first of all, whose charm has earned it the label "Plus Beau Village de France". Its famous imperial abbey from which the founding monks of Cluny departed. Its caves, discovered in 1610, and thirty million years old, which open onto 500 meters of galleries some 120 meters underground with chambers ranging from 30 to 80 meters high. During rainy weather, its waters form a beautiful waterfall that flows over the tuff formations that seem to come straight out of a fairy tale. A last small effort allows us to climb up over the remote Baume-les-Messieurs. On this return journey, we pass the beautiful castle of Le Pin before reaching the former city of the Princes of Orange, Lons-Le-Saunier. The cycling over, how about a relaxing dip in the salt water thermal baths before your onward journey...?

Level 1: distance covered: approx. 35 km / altitude gain: approx. 450 m
Level 2: distance covered: approx. 45 km / altitude gain: approx. 700 m

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end on the last day at Lons-le-Saunier SNCF railway station at around 4pm.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Detailed itinerary (4 days)

Day 1: Lons-le-Saunier - Champagnole

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at Lons-le-Saunier SNCF railway station. Departure directly from the railway station. Please arrive in your cycle clothing.

From Lons-le-Saunier, one of the two Jura spa towns, we head off on the "PLM" green route which takes the old railway line linking the cities of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. This greenway runs along the vineyards between Perrigny and Conliège, with superb views of the Vallière valley. This gentle ascent of the plateau by the remote Revigny Mountains is punctuated by numerous engineering structures, including the 800m long illuminated Diane tunnel. We then arrive on the plateau which will take us through varied landscapes to the village of Chatillon, a few kilometres from the lake of Chalain, one of the most beautiful in the Jura. A perfect place for a swim and picnic break! We then head on to Champagnole on small country roads. After settling in to our accommodation, a visit to Mr Janin's cheese dairy is highly recommended in order to taste the delicious fruity Comté, an essential ingredient for the aperitif and for the following day's picnic!

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / altitude gain: approx. 550 m

Day 2: Champagnole - Arbois

This morning an optional first short loop from Champagnole to visit the Syam site, its Palladian villa and its forges. A treasure trove of neoclassical architecture, built in 1818, the Villa is a unique testimony to the life of the 19th century Maitres des Forges. We then leave Champagnole on a forest bike path. A slight climb allows us to reach the pretty plateau of Revermont. The tranquility of the Montbéliardes cows who graze on these plateaus offers a peaceful atmosphere to this secret range. But the real spectacle is the arrival on the reculée des Planches, above Arbois. Reculées, waterfalls and caves are the natural jewels of this part of the Jura. A particularity of the Jura geology, the reculées are narrow and deep valleys bordered by cliffs and steep walls that end in a cul de sac. At their base there is always a cave or an underground network from which a resurgence emerges, often forming small waterfalls. A few more pedal strokes and we arrive in Arbois. The city of Jura wines and Pasteur is a lively town: the yellow-ochre stone of the old town is an invitation to stroll around, which we like to prolong at the tables of the gastronomic restaurants!

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / altitude gain: approx. 350 m
"Syam" option: approx. 15 km / altitude gain: approx. 200 m

Day 3: Arbois - Poligny - Chateau-Chalon

Gastronomy...let's stick to it! The Jura has nothing to envy to its neighbours of Bresse or Burgundy... Today we are going to cross the vineyards of Arbois to join the no less known ones of Château-Chalon. The treasure of this vineyard, the famous vin Jaune, which many neophytes confuse with vin de paille (another typical beverage of the region) is without doubt one of the most controversial wines among experts. Made from the Jura grape variety Savagnin, this wine deserves its reputation as a yellow gold, but we have to learn appreciate its strong and particular taste... So don't hesitate to stop and taste it in one of the many cellars we will come across on our stage. And what better way to savour it than with a piece of Comté cheese! Precisely, in the middle of the day, we pass by Poligny... Capital of the Comté cheese, this ancient fortified city named "Cité de Caractère de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté" is also worth a visit. We continue our cycling day towards a village of character and the highlight of our stopover: Château-Chalon. A real winegrower's jewel, on the banks of the Revermont, Chateau-Chalon has given its name to one of the best wines in the world. The village is also classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France".

Level 1: distance covered: approx. 35 km / altitude gain: approx. 450 m
Level 2: distance covered: approx. 45 km / altitude gain: approx. 700 m

Day 4: Chateau-Chalon - Baume-les-Messieurs - Lons-le-Saunier

This morning, depending on our enthusiasm, we either head along the foot of the belvedere or we head onto the plateau, via the remote Ladoye-sur-Seille. Whichever the route chosen, we're heading for another major landmark of the region. Set in its remote location, the Baume-les-Messieurs site succeeds in bringing together over a few square kilometres a concentration of wonders which we discover by bike. The small village first of all, whose charm has earned it the label "Plus Beau Village de France". Its famous imperial abbey from which the founding monks of Cluny departed. Its caves, discovered in 1610, and thirty million years old, which open onto 500 meters of galleries some 120 meters underground with chambers ranging from 30 to 80 meters high. During rainy weather, its waters form a beautiful waterfall that flows over the tuff formations that seem to come straight out of a fairy tale. A last small effort allows us to climb up over the remote Baume-les-Messieurs. On this return journey, we pass the beautiful castle of Le Pin before reaching the former city of the Princes of Orange, Lons-Le-Saunier. The cycling over, how about a relaxing dip in the salt water thermal baths before your onward journey...?

Level 1: distance covered: approx. 35 km / altitude gain: approx. 450 m
Level 2: distance covered: approx. 45 km / altitude gain: approx. 700 m

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end on the last day at Lons-le-Saunier SNCF railway station at around 4pm.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime from May to October.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

3 day cycling programme

The price includes:

  • 2 nights in 2* hotels and guest houses in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 2 breakfasts
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • A carefully designed itinerary
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
4 day cycling programme

The price includes:

  • 3 nights in 2* hotels and guest houses in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 3 breakfasts
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • A carefully designed itinerary
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • Lunch and dinners
  • Bike rental
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to change in the program due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services

Single room accommodation 3 days (2 nights) 140 € / 

Single room accommodation 4 days (3 nights) 210 € / 

Extra night in Lons le Saunier:

Extra night in Lons-Le-Saunier in 2* hotel, double room, including breakfast 75 € / 

Extra night in Lons-Le-Saunier in 2* hotel, single room, including breakfast 120 € / 

Extra night in Lons-Le-Saunier in 3* hotel, double room, including breakfast 90 € / 

Extra night in Lons-Le-Saunier in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast 150 € / 

On request, we can book the dinners of your trip in restaurants carefully selected by our teams (budget generally between 30 and 35 € per person, starter, main course and dessert. Drinks not included). Meals are to be paid by you upon arrival at the restaurant. A fixed fee of 25€ per booking, to be added at the time of your registration.

Bike rental

Hybrid bicycles are available for rent.

Hybrid bike (3 days) 60 € / 

Hybrid bike (4 days) 75 € / 

E-Bike (3 days) 175 € / 

E-Bike (4 days) 225 € / 

Delivery and collection fee (from 1 to 3 rental bikes) (+15 € per additional bike) 125 €

Rear pannier hire, pair (3 days) 15 € / 

Rear pannier hire, pair (4 days) 20 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with mudguards, a rear rack, and a puncture repair kit.

Please confirm your height on your booking from.

Electric bikes offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Getting there

By train: From Paris Gare de Lyon train station to Lons-le-Saunier train station (about 3h by TGV train). https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Lyon airport: join the Lyon train station and head to Lons le Saunier.
  • From Geneva airport: join the Geneva train station and head to Lons le Saunier.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com


Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Groupe size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons  in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided trips.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday.

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...).
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

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