There’s a secret side of France – places that doesn’t make the postcards or tourist brochures. It lingers on canal banks beneath rows of whispering trees, in villages where the boulanger knows your name after one visit, and in hilltop towns where church bells still mark the rhythm of the day.
Most travelers never find these places. They whiz by on highways or hop between cities on high-speed trains, missing the quiet heart of the country. But when you travel by boat and bike, the landscape opens up to you – slowly, generously, and without pretense.
These are five hidden places in France that you’ll only discover if you trade the fast lane for the waterway, and the car for the gentle roll of an e-bike. And the great thing is that you can visit all of them on one of our France tours!
Château de Fontainebleau: Grandeur in the green
Cycling through the forest of Fontainebleau toward the château feels like entering a different time. The road is quiet, shaded by towering trees, and then, suddenly, the château appears, its wide courtyards and intricate façades revealing more than 800 years of royal history. The castle of Fontainebleau is often described as “Versailles without the crowds.” But that hardly does it justice.
Inside, the 1,500 rooms are filled with frescoes, gilded staircases, and you’ll even get a peek into Napoleon’s personal quarters. But what makes Fontainebleau truly remarkable is how accessible it feels. Unlike Versailles, this place isn’t overwhelmed by crowds, which means you can take your time and absorb the stories behind the architecture. It’s a rare opportunity to explore French heritage in a way that feels personal, not packaged.
The floating gardens of Amiens: An inland archipelago
Just beyond Amiens’ Gothic cathedral lies a landscape few tourists ever see. Known as the hortillonnages, these floating gardens stretch across a maze of canals originally created by the Romans. Today, they’re still cultivated by locals, who grow vegetables and flowers on narrow strips of land surrounded by water.
The best way to explore them is by boat. Small guided tours take you quietly through the channels, passing rustic sheds, weeping willows, and kitchen gardens in full bloom. It’s an intimate view of rural life woven into the fabric of a historic city, as well as a striking contrast to the towering cathedral just a few blocks away.
The Somme Valley: Cycling through memory and resilience
The Somme Valley offers some of the most peaceful landscapes in northern France: rolling fields, quiet woods, and soft riverside paths. But beneath the calm lies a powerful history.
This region was the site of some of the fiercest battles of World War I, and today it’s filled with small memorials, museums, and cemeteries that quietly tell the story. Riding through this landscape, you don’t just pass historical sites; you move through them. In towns like Péronne or Albert, you can visit exhibitions that bring the stories to life. Locals are open to sharing what these places mean to them: stories passed down from grandparents or family members who lived through the war. There’s reflection here, but also connection. It’s a region that makes history feel human.
Champagne cellars: Tradition beneath the vines
Above ground, Champagne is all rolling hills, vines in neat rows, and historic villages perched on hilltops. But the real magic happens below ground. In towns like Epernay, chalk tunnels run for miles beneath the surface, carved centuries ago to store the region’s most prized creation.
Exploring these cellars on a guided visit is more than just a look at bottles. It’s an education in patience, precision, and pride. A sommelier walks visitors through the process, sharing not just facts about the precious wines that are stored here; he also tells the stories that these ancient walls have witnessed. Some caves date back to Roman times; others sheltered resistance fighters in World War II. It’s those small moments that stay with you, just as much as the cool, echoing stillness of the tunnels themselves.
The Camargue salt flats: Wild France on the move
In the south, where the Rhône River meets the Mediterranean, the landscape changes completely. The Camargue is vast, flat, and alive. It’s a place of shifting salt pans that glow white and pink depending on the light, and marshes where flamingos feed in silence. Wild white horses move across the plains, and black bulls graze in the distance.
Cycling here is more than just scenic; it’s physical, direct, and deeply connected to the environment. The roads are quiet, the air is dry and salt-scented, and each turn brings a new kind of wild beauty. Small villages in the region feel remote but welcoming, with locals proud to share their traditions, especially when it comes to food and nature.
This is not the polished postcard version of France. It’s something more raw and real, and all the more memorable for it.
Travel that lingers
What links these places isn’t just that they’re beautiful or unique; it’s that you have to slow down to find them. They reward curiosity, openness, and the kind of travel that prioritizes connection over speed.
When you move through France by boat and bike, these places aren’t detours. They are the journey. And they remind you why you came in the first place: to feel something lasting, something real.
The Magic of the hidden route
Boat and bike travel in France isn’t about seeing everything. It’s about seeing deeply. About falling in love with a moment, a village, a vineyard, a view – and remembering it long after the trip ends. So if you’re planning your dream trip to France, consider this: the best places aren’t always the ones everyone talks about. Sometimes, the real France begins where the road narrows, the canal bends, and the rest of the world fades away.
Inspired to start your own adventure?
To plan your own bike and boat adventure, call us at (203) 814-1249. Or send an email to info@boatbiketours.com if you prefer. Either way we’ll be happy to help. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on our latest tours and special offers. We’d love to welcome you on board!
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