The International Meuse Route is a bicycle route along the meandering River Meuse (or Maas as it is known in Dutch) between Maastricht in the Netherlands and the French town of Sedan which boasts Europe’s largest castle.
The route is over 200 km long and incorporates the RAVeL in Belgium and the in France. It is a promise of four days of highly enjoyable cycling through the valley of the River Meuse, past castles, forts and pretty villages, surrounded by breath-taking natural beauty.
Day 1: Arrival in Maastricht (NL) or ‘s Gravenvoeren (B)
Make your own way to Maastricht, the oldest town in the Netherlands. Free parking at Hotel Novotel ****. By way of a welcome we have arranged for coffee/tea and Limburg pie for you, to get your energy up for the trip ahead.
Day 2: From Maastricht (NL) / ‘s Gravenvoeren (B) to Liege (B) / 36 km
When you’re ready, set off on the first leg of your bike tour: from Maastricht to Liège, aka the “fiery city”. On the way to Belgium you will follow the River Jeker (which flows into the River Meuse at Maastricht) to the picturesque village of Kanne.
Shortly after, take a look at the boats going through the locks at Ternaaien/ Lanaye, 225 m long and 25 m wide. From here, follow the RAVeL trail, via the friendly town of Visé, to Liège (or Luik, as it is called in Dutch). The last kilometres take you past tall cranes, rusty boats and old but busy industrial zones.
Day 3: From Liege (B) to Namur (B) / 74 km
Taking you right through the centre of Liège, the safe cycling path along the Meuse is very pleasant. Next, follow the John Cockerill railway to make your way out of the built-up area of Liège. Follow the signs for RAVeL . Seen up close, the blast furnaces of Seraing are awe-inspiring.
If you like decorative glass, opt to stop off at the Val St. Lambert crystal factory shop. Next, ride your bike on quiet back-roads, past typical Walloon villages, never far from the river, towards Huy. Just before Huy, briefly switch to the bike track along the Meuse where the Tihange nuclear reactor is another very striking industrial complex. The Grande Place in Huy is the ideal spot for a lunch break. On the route along the Meuse to Namur, nature gradually prevails over industry. (70.0 km).
Day 4: From Namur (B) to Dinant or Anhée (B) / 30 km
Follow RAVeL to Dinant. You will pass the village of Wépion, famous for strawberries; and the Gardens of Annevoie, well worth a visit. In Dinant take your time to enjoy the town and riverside cafes.
Day 5: From Dinant or Anhée (B) to Haybes (F) / 51 km
Quickly after Dinant, you will reach the lovely Chateau Freyr. Then continue on for several kilometres on the former railway from Hastière to Mariembourg. Cross the border into France and the first town you’ll encounter is Givet with its imposing Charlemont citadel.
After visiting Givet, set off on the Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes and follow it to Haybes.
Day 6: From Haybes (F) to Villers-Semeuse (F) / 71 km
Continue all day on Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes, along the Meuse River. One of the day’s highlights is a visit to the charming town of Monthermé. Your destination is slightly after Charleville- Mézières, known for its lovely historical town centre.
Day 7: From Villers Semeuse (F) to Sedan (B) / 26 km
In September 2015, an extension of the Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes was opened. It now stretches along the Meuse till past the town of Sedan in northern France. Through a picturesque landscape you will cycle to Sedan, famous for its castle, the largest in Europe.
Day 8: Bus transfer from Sedan to Maastricht or ‘s Gravenvoeren
First enjoy your breakfast and take some time to enjoy Sedan. If booked, you will have a transfer by touringcar (incl. bike and luggage) to Maastricht where your holiday ends.
All cycling tours are very easy to follow. The road book offers 4 tours, along a signposted cycling network. This network can also be found on the maps. It doesn't matter in which order the different tours are made.
Total distance cycled: 288 km
Route Map (For guidance only):
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.
Starting point of the cycling holiday:Maastricht
We recommend flying to Eindhoven, Cologne or Brussels Charleroi airport to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday.
Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
The Meuse Cycle Path cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.
Included Services (Subject to confirmation):
Not Included:
This cycling holiday uses hybrid bikes with gearing suitable for the local terrain. All bikes are regularly maintained and offer comfort along with good quality components. You will receive an accessories package including a bicycle pannier bag with a good capacity, repair kit, lock, key, and air pump. When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly.
Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use. We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday. E-Bike Upgrades: Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)?
E-Bike Upgrades:
Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage. E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on 0161 703 8161.
This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on 0161 703 8161 for more information.
You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
Season | Date Band | Arrival Day |
Season 1: | 10.05.2021 | 24.05.2021 | 07.06.2021 | 21.06.2021 | 05.07.2021 | 19.07.2021 | 02.08.2021 | 16.08.2021 | 30.08.2021 | Mondays |
Season | Prices per person including bike hire |
Season 1: | £595 |
Single Room Supplement: | £265 |
Half Board Upgrade: | £185 |
21-24-gear rental bike: | £100 |
Electric Bike Upgrade: | £150 |
Transfer Sedan to Maastricht: | £50 |
Category Type | Accommodation Overview |
Category A: | 3* and 4* hotels |
Date From | Date To |
---|---|
10 May 2021 | 30 August 2021 |