The idea to create a cycle route to Paris was born 5 years ago. It might have been caused by the Dutch song ‘In between Cologne and Paris lies the road to Rome’. I had just finished creating a route to Rome and didn’t want to cycle to Cologne. I did want to go to Paris. In Paris you can buy so many books, maps and travel guides, as well as loads of good music and the chance to enjoy great food. In short, experiencing Paris is something one should do at least every five years.
Since then many people have enjoyed this route. To reach such a beautiful destination in a few days, is a fantastic experience. Paris is beautiful, and is a stepping stone to a continued journey through France or to Lisbon, Portugal, where this route will be extended in the future.
This route will lead you into Paris in a beautiful and car-free way. With some patience we will lead you out of Paris in an equally nice way. Paris is big you know, really big.
Of course the climate in Paris hardly differs from the Dutch climate, even though the average temperature is a pleasant 4 degrees Celsius warmer and the sun shines just a bit more often. In the Ardennes, in contrast, specifically the route between Hamoir and Ciney, it can be cooler than we are used to in Holland. In principle this route should be fine to cycle from May to October. In May the nights will still be cold. Up to mid-October the days can still be very mild, with beautiful autumn colors in the forests that you pass through. On the negative, October sees the start of the hunting season meaning you will need to be watch out for hunters in the forests of St. Gobain and Compiegne at Pierrefonds even though they place warning signs. There is a way to avoid the dangerous areas, though I chose to continue cycling, singing at the top of my voice. Even at the end of October I managed to cycle this route together with a friend, warmly dressed and really enjoying the ride.
In our part of Europe the prevailing wind is southwesterly. It doesn’t always blow strong, but the idea of cycling to Paris first and then back to the Netherlands with a nice tailwind isn’t such a bad idea. This is why we describe the route in both directions, also giving you the possibility to start in Maastricht and return via Eindhoven.
Coming from the direction of Maastricht you will have two gradual slopes. After Dinant, you will have two more ascents between Mariembourg and the border that are quite do-able for anyone. In France you will encounter some steeper inclines of only a few hundred meters. It does improve the beauty of the route dramatically. The moment you reached ‘the top’ and are able to look around you, you will already have forgotten your ascent.
In the introduction to the route to Rome, I optimistically claimed that one can cycle that route using a three-speed bike. With the enthusiasm and drive that I had at the time, that did seem possible. Since then, however, it appears that a number of people have found this very difficult, especially in the Ardennes. That's why, for this route to Paris, I assure you that 99.5% of the way is very easy.
The most suitable bike for a cycling holiday is a hybrid bicycle. Without a good bicycle, you won't have a good trip.
The website of this bicycle route will be extended and completed later.
