For today's ride, you are given two choices!

Option 1 - Train from Paris to Mantes-la-Jolie and ride to Vernon (approx. 45 km): After a short 40-minute train journey from Paris, you'll arrive in Mantes-la-Jolie, where a friendly member of the team will greet you and fit your bikes. From here, your cycling adventure begins! Cross the Seine and follow quiet quiet roads westward, guided by the chalf cliffs that characterize this scenic stretch of the river. In Haute-Isle, stop to admire the remarkable troglodyte church carved directly into the rock. Continue on to La Roche-Guyon, where the impressive chateau rises dramatically from the riverbank, before arriving into Giverny - home to Claude Monet's house and gardens, an absolute must-visit for art and nature lovers alike. 

Option 2 - Train from Paris to Vernon: Prefer a lighter first day? Take the 50-minute train directly to Vernon, drop off your luggage at the hotel, and hop on the local shuttle to Giverny. Spend the afternoon exploring Monet's world-famous gardens and soaking in the colors that inspired a movement. 

Leaving Vernon, you'll ease back onto the riverside roads that meander through a Normandy that looks exactly as it does in your immagination. The scenery shifts between chalk cliffs and fertile meadows; half-timbered cottages peek from behind fruit trees, and small boats rest lazily on the Seine.

Soon the towers of Chateau Gaillard appear, perched high above Les Andelys. Buit by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century, the fortress still seems to guard the valley below. Beyond Les Andelys, the road rises pleasently along wooded bluffs, where the river falls away beneath you. The day finishes in Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray, a peaceful village nestled on one of the Seine's wide bends. 

Today's ride takes you toward Rouen, often called "the City of a Hundred Spires." Leaving Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray, follow the quiet bends of the Seine as the river glides between limestone cliffs and sleepy hamlets. The first highlight comes quickly: Pont-de-l'Arche, a delightful medieval town where the Eure River joins the Seine. Your time is entirely yours, so sit back and enjoy a coffee in the towns historic heart, or push where history really comes to life.

Not far beyond lies the graceful Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonport, again founded by Richard the Lionheart in 1189. From here, the path leads through a patchwork of orchards and small Norman farms until Rouen's skyline gradually emerges: slate rooftops, Gothic towers, and half-timbered façades glowing in the afternoon light. The spirit of Joan of Arc still lingers here. Rouen Cathedral is where her trail took place, and the Church of Joan of Arc is situated on the spot where the young women was burned at the stake of heresy in 1431. 

As you ride out of Rouen, the city's lacework of steeples slowly fades behind you, giving way to the bustle of river docks and cranes — the beating heart of Europe's leading grain port. Soon, the industrial edges soften, replaced by sandstone cottages and half-timbered villages that signal your return to the Normandy countryside. 

A short ferry crossing carries you to La Bouille, one of the Seine's prettiest riverside villages, beloved by painters for its light and quiet charm. From here, the route follows the Route des Fruits — a gentle, fragnant trail lined with apple, pear, and cherry orchards that change character with the seasons. To finish the day, board a second small ferry and glide across to Jumièges, where the majestic ruins of its 7th-century Benedictine Abbey rise from the greenary - often called "the most beautiful ruin in France."

The longest stage, but don't worry, it's like a tranquil ride through a Norman painting. Leaving the graceful ruins of Jumièges Abbey, you'll trace tranquil lanes that weave between forest and marsh, staying close to the Seine's left bank. The route soon joins the aptly named Route des Chaumières - Route of Thatched Hoses - where traditional thatched-roof cottages peek from gardens overflowing with hollyhocks and apple trees - a pure slice of rural Normandy. It's the kind of peaceful riding experience that surely trumps any bus tour. 

The landscape widens as you skirt the edge of Marais Vernier, a 4,500-hectare nature reserve alive with bird calls and sweeping horizons. Keep your camera handy: white storks often nest in the meadows, and small herds of semi-wild Camargue horses graze in the reeds. As the river broadens towards the sea, the elegant curve of the Pont de Normandie rises ahead, a modern marvel linking history and horizon. Cross the final few kilometers with a sea breeze at your back and roll triumphantly into Honfleur.

Bid farewill to Honfleur's harbor as you pedal south into the heart of the Pays d'Auge, a region where Normandy's postcard charm comes vividly to life. The route meanders through green meadows dotted with grazing cows — the sourceof the region's beloved cheeses like Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque, and Livarot. Half-timbered farmhouses and apple orchards complete the scene, while the air carries a faint scent of blossoms and cider.

Midway, pause in Pont-l’Évêque, a lively little town celebrated for its rich cheese and smooth Calvados apple brandy. It's the perfect place to toast the week's adventures before venturing towards the coast itself. Soon, the shimmering Channel appears ahead, and you'll roll into Deauville, farmed for its elegant boardwalk, colorful parasols, and Belle Époque villas.

If time allows, cross the small bridge to Trouville-sur-Mer — its bustling fish market and heaping seafood platters make an irresistible finale.

After breakfast, your adventure draws to a close. Take a final stroll along the waterfront—perhaps one last coffee by the harbor before packing up your panniers. From Deauville or Trouville, trains and transfers connect easily back to Paris, or you may wish to linger a little longer on Normandy’s coast.