Boat Bike Tours: Where to Find the Best Backgrounds for your France Pics

When enjoying your holiday in France you need to keep your friends and family updated on your adventures. Especially if you’re making a cycling holiday whereby you spend the night aboard a comfortable ship. Otherwise, no one would believe you… Here you can read all about the ten most photogenic places along the way. All you have to do is to look your best and bring your camera!

Pleasant Paris

If you decide to visit Paris you must prepare yourself to get overwhelmed with the grandeur and beauty of this vibrant metropole. From the world-famous Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to the Pont Alexandre III, Palais du Luxembourg, Cathédrale Notre-Dame and La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur: it’s simply too much to mention! If you start or finish your Boat Bike Seine Valley tour here, we are sure you’ll dazzle your audience.

Château de Fontainebleau

At the centre of 130 acres of beautifully cultivated gardens Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. With over 1500 rooms this castle provides an unparalleled view of French history and architecture. Take a look at the sumptuous ornaments of the variety of royal apartments, Napoleon III’s theatre, and its three chapels. Just pretend to belong to the entourage and smile at the camera!

History along the Canal du Loing

One of the bike tours during your 8-day Seine Valley holiday starts in mediaeval Chateau-Landon. Make sure you pose well in front of the beautifully situated, 13^th century old Abbey of Saint-Séverin, which is nowadays a retirement home. Continue to the sleepy town of Ferrières with its old, but wonderfully preserved town centre, within the middle of the narrow streets where you’ll find yet another splendid monastery. Smile and… *click*!

Bridges and canals in Montargis

The river Loing runs straight through the heart of the town, which makes it a truly photogenic location. Unfortunately, this former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16^th century, but the charming canals are still there, decorated with lots of flowers. Nicknamed ‘Venice of the Gâtinais’ Montargis is a real gem: canals, bridges and houses along the waterside. All this means lots of great photo opportunities.

Cheers to Saint-Émilion

The history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site goes back to prehistoric times: fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins stretch along the narrow streets and outside the town walls the Romans planted their vineyards. Perfect for some wine tasting! In the 8^th century, a monk and travelling confessor named Émilion settled in a hermitage carved into the rocks and his followers started commercial wine production. We’re glad they did. Cheers!

Vauban Citadel of Blaye

Located on a rocky hill on the bank of the Gironde, the Citadel of Blaye offers an amazing view over the river. The walls of this impregnable stronghold amaze by their huge size and when walking around you can hardly imagine that within these walls about 3,000 soldiers along with families, merchants, services, etc. lived here during the 17^th and 18^th century. Now it’s a good spot for a picnic.

In Bordeaux with a Bordeaux

The hub of the famed wine-growing region, Bordeaux, is a port city on the Garonne River in the Southwest of France. This makes the city a much-visited place, but still, it’s not full of tourists. Not only famous for its wine region around it, but also the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-André, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux and the grand Place de la Bourse with its reflecting pool Miroir d’Eau make it a real Instagramable city.

Famous fortified Cadillac

Park your bike next to the city’s nameplate, pretending to drive the famous car brand. Don’t forget to take pictures! This fortified town was founded in 1280 by Jean de Grailly, a representative of the King of England. Today you can still see its medieval structure. In the early 17^th century, the Duke of Épernon chose Cadillac as his place of residence and burial and built a castle. His once imposing château unfortunately nowadays is almost a ruin.

Vineyards around Sauternes

On your Boat Bike Tours holiday in Bordeaux, you pass the village of Sauternes. This place is famous for its high-quality sweet wines and so is surrounded on all sides by vineyards. Once the grapes become ripe, we understand you can’t help yourself… You must give them a try; either in solid or fluid form.

Medieval La Réole

Riding along corn and sunflower fields you can cross the river Garonne – by using the Eiffel-style bridge – to reach La Réole. This town is the last stop on the Bordeaux cycling and cruising holiday. On one side you’ll see the historic centre where narrow, cobbled streets are lined with shops, medieval half-timbered houses and the 12^th century town hall, built for Richard the Lionheart. The more majestic buildings are situated along the Garonne River.

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