Bike Tour to Compiègne and Pierrefonds

We start in the town of Crépy-en-Valois with its quaint cobbled streets, impressive gothic churches, medieval castle and ramparts and an abundance of charm.

Leaving town we enter a valley of forests, meadows and fields dotted with villages touting historic churches. The valley was once the realm of a fairy kingdom in ancient times.

Out of the valley we ascend the heights of a large agricultural plateau to visit some Roman ruins comprised of a small amphitheater, temple and bath. The next part of our ride will take us through the Forest of Compiègne, long a royal hunting ground, where we'll stop by a charming village that was formerly a fortified farm and still boasts a gothic church.

Next we visit one of Frances most spectacular looking châteaux, Pierrefonds. It's no wonder the château is the setting for the BBC television series Merlin, as a more mythical, fairytale looking château would be difficult to find.

After some more riding in the forest, visiting a lovely village on the way, we arrive at Compiègne, a former royal town with a prestigious château built by the Louis XV. The château is now a museum featuring apartments from the 18th and 19th century, a museum of the Second Empire and an automobile museum. The town is loaded with charm with its windy cobbled streets and ancient buildings in the heart of the old town. There are also several notable churches and its impressive town hall and clock tower.