Bike Tour from Fontainebleau to Milly-la-Forêt

The château and town of Fontainebleau were traditionally one of the four main places of royal residence for the kings of France. This importance is reflected in the both the style of the town's architecture and the size and grandeur of the château. We'll explore the lively cobbled pedestrian streets, full of cafés, restaurants, food stores and boutiques, and enjoy exterior views of the château.

After leaving town we ride through the cool green forest to Barbizon, famous as the founding place of the 19th century Realist art movement. Its famous residents Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau, whose works can be found in Paris's Musée d'Orsay, attracted other noted artists of the day (Monet and Sisley among them) and the works of these artists gave birth to the Impressionist art movement.

Leaving Barbizon we ride through some lovely country villages and agricultural fields, passing a few impressive but unknown châteaux on the way.

Our final major destination is Milly-la-Forêt, formerly a walled medieval town. In Milly we'll learn about medieval medicinal herbs and Saint Blaise, whose use of the herbs helped ease the suffering of lepers. We'll also learn a bit about French icon Jean Cocteau and visit the tiny chapel he decorated and transformed into a magnificent work of art.

We finish with some more countryside riding before arriving at the train station to return to Paris.