Moselle & Saar 3-Countries tour

Check in: 3:30 PM – 4 PM We will offer you a welcome drink and introduce the crew, as well as informing you about the tour and the ship, and offering you a safety briefing. At 4:30 PM, Merlijn will set sail for Schwemlingen, a beautiful dock within nature! After dinner you can enjoy an evening walk.

Your first bike tour will take you through the wonderful Saarland region. More than any other area, this symbolizes the "rendezvous in Saarland": a junction of water and land. From Schwemlingen, it’s about 5 km to the excellent viewpoint over the landscape and the Saar loop at the “Cloef” above, inviting you for a short stay. Depending on the group’s cycling ability, you can either bike or hike to the viewpoint. From here, you will bike further on to Saarburg, passing the village of Mettlach, well known for its Villeroy & Boch products.

In Saarburg, you can visit one of the museums. Then, after dinner, there is time for a stroll through the city, to enjoy a splendid view over the Saar valley. In the charming city itself, you’ll be impressed by the narrow alleyways, framework houses, baroque buildings and colourful former homes of fishermen and sailors. There is an overnight stay in Saarburg.

Today’s bike tour will take you to Trier by following the river Saar ‘downstream’. At Konz, the river Saar meets the Moselle river. In the afternoon you can enjoy a tour around this magnificent city by a local guide. Trier was the Roman capital of the western part of the Roman Empire, and there are many remnants of this period in history, such as the gigantic city gateway Porta Nigra and the Roman Baths.

Today we have a different day (than the average bike and barge day) in store for you. The Merlijn will stay docked in Trier for another full day and we offer several choices today. Those who came 100% for the cycling can get ready to enjoy one of the cycling highlights on this trip! Where most routes lead along the river, today's route is entirely through the mountains and free nature, and even then mostly downhill! To achieve this, you go in the morning, together with your bicycle, by bus into the mountains and then follow an old railroad line, which has recently been transformed into a bicycle path, towards the Mosel. This ride will take most of the day…

Those who also deserve some rest during this vacation, want to go shopping or see more culture, will also find something to their liking. Leave the bike onboard for the day and walk into Trier to enjoy everything this city has to offer. A rich history, nice stores and plenty of terraces. Our guide will be happy to help you with your plans for the day. Tonight’s dinner is at your own pace in one of the many restaurants.

After breakfast, today’s cycle tour will start, with 2 different options: if you choose the longer bike route you will start cycling from Trier, or, if you choose the shorter route you will cruise along, as Merlijn takes you to Wasserbillig, just past the border between Germany and Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is a small country, but the capital (also called Luxembourg), is an important financial centre for Europe. The shorter bike tour starts in Wasserbillig, from where you’ll cycle along the meandering Moselle towards Remich. After dinner, you’ll visit a wine cellar to sample a taste of the upper Mosel wines. The wines here are different to the middle Mosel styles, due to the geology, which lends the wines different characteristics.

After another delicious breakfast on board, it’s time to get pedalling again. Soon you’ll pass by a town called Schengen, home to the famous ‘Schengen Agreement”, signed by 5 countries in 1985, known by everyone in Europe as it led to free passage between borders. From here, you’ll cycle into France. First stop: the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, which was one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. Further along, the tour will lead you through French countryside, riparian landscapes, wheat fields and tiny villages. You will reach Thionville, once the modern and industrial centre of the steel industry, now merely a historical city. The old centre is home to medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets and the St. Maximin basilica, which houses one of the finest organs in the world.

In Thionville, you can board the Merlijn, or extend the tour by a few more miles until Richemont. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy an afternoon spent cruising the French Moselle. After dinner, we will reach the city of Metz, another ancient city strategically situated on a Roman trading route. Its cathedral is the 3rd largest Gothic church in France, Metz is full of stunning architecture, flowers, and great cafes. Don’t forget to visit Temple Neuf, as this church is stunning from every angle.

Today, you will ride through the French countryside again, the precise route will be adjusted to the biking level of the group: mostly flat terrain following the Moselle - or a more challenging route across the hills. Each route will end in the calm and serene town of Pont-à-Mousson, where the Merlijn will await you.

Around the world, pipes and manhole covers carry the stamp of the town’s steel production. But Pont-à-Mousson was also home to a Jesuit university known throughout Europe, which explains the town’s incredible architectural heritage.

Your last bicycle tour will lead you to Nancy. The old city centre’s heritage dates from the Middle Ages to the 18th- century. The cathedral of Nancy, the Triumphal Arch and "Place de la Carriere" are fine examples of 18th Century architecture. The ‘Place Stanislas” is known for its World Heritage buildings. Visit one of the many interesting museums, do a spot of shopping, or simply relax at an outdoor cafe. After your visit, you’ll bike to the little town of Frouard, where the Merlijn is docked in the Nancy/Frouard harbour. In the evening, there is a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip, or leave for the airport.