Le Tour - French Grand Tour History

For fun, we dug up some history on the Tour de France. This will all get published in our next Cycling Classics newsletter.


The Tour de France first visited the Pyrenees in 1910. Three years earlier, Alphonse Steines had reconnoitred the Tourmalet. Forced to abandon his car in snowdrifts 4 km from the summit pass, he staggered 12 km on over the southern slopes to grateful refuge in a gendarme post. Next morning he telegrammed Henri Desgrange, the Tour originator: "have crossed the Tourmalet on foot by night. Road passable to vehicles. No snow."

The Tour de France began as a fairly flat race, whose difficulty was in its length. Length was but one dimension of the Tour de France, however. The other measure of skill and stamina came when race organizers began to add mountain stages to the tour design. The first "real" mountain to be included first in 1905 was the "Ballon d'Alsace" at the south end of the Vosges Mountains in Alsace in eastern France. This was just a beginning, however, as the organizers began adding minor Alpine passes over the next few years. The real mountains came in 1910, though, when the remote mountain roads of the Pyrenees were included in the tour and the famous Col d'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet were added. These were almost unimaginable mountain passes to drive over in 1910, not to speak of pedaling them. Today's mountain bikers would have loved those rides - with today's mountain bikes!

The Tour de France isn’t the only world-wide attention that Lourdes town receives.

The feast of “our Lady of Lourdes” was celebrated around the world on February 11th
Fr. Régis-Marie de La Teyssonnière : The Feast of our Lady of Lourdes, 11th February, is the feast linked to the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette, is kept on the calendar of the Universal Church. Therefore, the Feast can be celebrated everywhere. In some countries, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes has a special importance because of people's devotion throughout the year. This is the case in Chile, Argentina, India and the Philippines, where the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is almost a national feast. In these countries, the devotion begins on 2nd February with a novena which concludes on 11th February with great celebrating both simple and joyful. In many countries there are special celebrations around the replicas of the Grotto of Lourdes as well as in parishes dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

1913: Eugène Christophe, Ste. Marie de Campan and the forge
In 1913 the Tour reverted back to a classification based on time, and straight away gave rise to one of the most famous incidents in of all time in the Tour: the story of the forge in Ste. Marie de Campan. ( see this link for photos and info of Ste Maries de Campan: Tourism Pyrenees
The crucial stage was stage 6, Bayonne to Luchon in the Pyrenees. Leading the race overall was the 1912 winner, Odile Defraye but he was long dropped, and the leader on the road was Eugène Christophe. At the top of the Tourmalet, Christiophe led by five minutes from a group containing Philippe Thys, Lucien Petit-Breton, Gustave Garrigou and Firmin Lambot - Tour winners of the past or future all. On the descent of the Tourmalet, however, Christophe crashed after his forks snapped: nothing for it but to collect the pieces and find a forge. Half running, half stumbling, cutting through the undergrowth on occasions to cut away a bend, eventually Christophe reached the village of Ste. Marie de Campan. Finding a forge, he lit the fire, shaped a piece of metal and repaired his bicycle - all under the watchful eye of Henri Desgrange, there to see he didn't cheat. When Christophe asked a small boy present to work the bellows, Desgrange fined him 10 minutes - despite Christophe having, by this stage, already lost about four hours.
With Christophe gone from the final reckoning - gallantly he carried on, to finish seventh overall in Paris - the lead was taken by Philippe Thys of Belgium. Going into the penultimate stage his lead of over an hour looked secure, especially when second-placed rider Lucien Petit-Breton dropped out after a crash. But Thys was not yet home and dry; a spectacular collapse on the road to Dunkerque saw him lose 56 minutes, and with it, most of his lead, to Gustave Garrigou. It was a somewhat relieved Thys who reached Paris the next day to win his first Tour.
As for the forge, it still stands, with a commemorative inscription added by the French state - the buliding is now an official monument. After descending the Tourmalet, it can be seen on the right of the road, as you exit the village down the Adour valley.

Croatia Cycling - Self Guided Tour

Croatia is the new hot spot: Croatia was the No. 1 destination for 2005 on an annual poll taken by the Lonely Planet guidebook company of its U.S.-based staffers.

The Dalmation Coast beaches of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea are also getting their share of buzz. "It's the cheap alternative to the Italian Riviera," said Rick Steves.

Low Cost Wizz Air flights London Zagreb : Wizz Air, the largest low fare - low cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, announced at a press conference in Zagreb today that it would start flights from Zagreb to London on 27 March 2006.


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Cycling in Croatia - a relatively challenging tour is available for the 2nd straight year to visit the coast and a couple of the most popular islands.



Our new 2006 version of the cycling tour is available on a self-guided basis from April through October. The general itinerary is the following:

Day 1 | Arrival Day
Day 2 | Ferry to Brac and Ride Day 53 km; 65% gravel roads
Day 3 | Loop Ride Day on Brac 35-50 km; options for distance and terrain
Day 4 | Cycling around the Island of Brac; rides of 35-50 km
Day 5 | Ferry to Hvar Island; riding 32 km plus options; paved surfaces
Day 6 | Cycling and then transfer - arrive Dubrovnik; ride 55 km; paved
Day 7 | Dubrovnik Exploration Day
Day 8 | Departure Day

Accommodation: 7 nights in very charming 3 star hotels with beach access and swimming pools, private bathrooms and other amenities, mostly on the coasts overlooking water or within walking distance of the sea. See the Hotel Tour (Click here for the Hotel Tour)

Bike: On this trip riding is on average 33% unpaved surfaces. Hilly terrain, 59 km daily. MTB - Author Basic LX, wheels 26", 24 gears or Trekking - Author Classic SX, wheels 28", 24 gears - wheels and seatpost have quick release locks. Included equipment per bicycle: 1 bike computer, 1 steel bike lock, 1 Author Helmet, 1 bag for repai kit and tools - under the seat or triangle frame bag, 1 tube repair kit, 1 spare tube, 1 mini tool, 1 mini pump, 1 rear rack, 1 bottle cage, 1 watter bottle to keep.

Trip includes: lodging, breakfast daily, luggage transfers, guides and local support, meet/assist/orientation on arrival, riding routes with maps and cue sheets, transfers indicated, suggestions for visitation and dining, bike delivery, pickup, fitting, and fully equipped rental with helmet for the duration. NOT INCLUDED: ferry tickets for Split-Supetar, and Suciraj-Dravenik. Cost is 3 euros plus bike 3 euros.

Tour is priced from 1335 euros per person and goes down from there depending on the number of travelers. Custom group requests and guided trip requests are possible.

If you like what you see, and want us to email you with more info, send an email to: info@pure-adventures.com


Events & Travel Info

Some important dates/events to plan for in 2006:


Gastronomy and Tourism Days
May 10-14, 2006
Zagreb
Including
· International AGRICULTURAL Fair
· International Fair of GASTRONOMY, Food and Drink
· International Fair of Wine and the Equipment for Viniculture and Viticulture - VINOVITA
· International TOURISM Fair
· International hunting and fishing fair LORING
International Home and Garden Fair

Dance Week festival
June 1-10, 2006
Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar
Link

Jazz Concerts
Sincic Palace
June and July
Porec

Summer Festival
July 10-August 25, 2006
Dubrovnik
Link

International Tenor Competition
July 30-August 3, 2006
Trogir
Link

Classical Music Recitals
Fransiscan Monastary
July and August 2006
Hvar



Links to get more information about travel in Croatia


www.hvar.hr- all about Hvar

Brac photos

Split info

all about Korcula

all about Dubrovnik

Merckx Travels to Cuba

For fun, I include a note about Eddy Merckx and his trip to Cuba below. For Americans, Cuba is off limits, but for Canadians and Europeans it is a great travel destination. We don't have cycling tours in Cuba yet, but apparently "The Cannibal" thinks it has a lot of potential!

Copied entirely from AFP/Yahoo news:

HAVANA (AFP) - Cuba's longserving president Fidel Castro won't be able to excuse himself from physical exercise after he was given a bike by Belgian cycling Eddy Merckx.

Castro, who will be 80 in August, was given the bike by the five-time Tour de France winner for his promotion of the sport in the country.

Merckx, known as the 'Cannibal' during his bicycling days and who was anointed best cyclist of the 20th century by the sport's governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI), presented the blue coloured bike, adorned with two small Cuban flags, to the President of the Cuban Olympic Committee Jose Ramon Fernandez.

"I hope he (Fidel Castro) will use it," said Merckx.

Fernandez said it would be delivered to the president as soon as possible.

"We will get it to the president today," said Fernandez

"We all know how much he has done to boost the sport on the island," he added.

On Saturday Merckx had given the Cuban authorities 1000 bicycles - donated by the Belgian Lottery - for sportsmen and doctors in the eastern province of Guantanamo.

"I am very proud to be the godfather of this mission. I think that sport serves to unite people," said Merckx.

Da Vinci Code Mania

Our Da Vinci Code tour was recently featured on Access Hollywood, a TV show carried on daytime cable TV in the USA. The interest in Da Vinci code tours is on the rise with the pending release of the new film starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou (Amelie).

Though it may sound touristy, the book is an inspiration for rediscovering the history of the sites of Paris, on foot. Whether you choose to follow an organized walking tour of Da Vinci Code theme, or just read the book and visit on your own, there is a lot to learn. Paris is of course one of the greatest walking cities anywhere. When I lived in Paris, some days I would just take off walking careless about what street I turned on. I could walk for hours and see new sites and fantastic architecture in varying states of age. Sure, I usually got lost, but once I came across a metro, I was found again. That is the beauty of Paris, with a small and simple metro map, you will never get lost for more than a few minutes. Get out there and walk!

Here is an except from the French Government Tourist Office about the upcoming movies in Paris and region Ile de France:

"As well as the world famous Louvre and Champs-Elysées, the film (Da Vinci Code) is set in a variety of other sites that are slightly less well visited, but no less interesting.

The Eglise Saint-Sulpice is a beautifully preserved 17th-century church tucked away in the Latin Quarter and is well worth a visit.

On a fine day, the Bois de Boulogne offers Parisians and visitors a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city as well as a day at the races and the delightful Jardin d'Acclimatation. It is in this green space that the hero of the novel is chased at night.

The Gare St. Lazare is also a must for Da Vinci Code pilgrims and a visit to Le Ritz is advisable for any visitor, whether they have read the novel or not!

Paris and Ile-de-France have always been one of the world's favorite movie sets. Amélie and Moulin Rouge brought the magic of Paris to the movies, and the romance of the city is epitomized by French classics like 'A Bout de Souffle'.

The stunning Château de Vaux le Vicomte played host to Bond in Moonraker and Leonardo Di Caprio in The Man in The Iron Mask.

The next big thing in the region promises to be the lavish new movie Marie-Antoinette directed by Sofia Copolla. It is being filmed in and around the wonderful and dramatic Château de Versailles. "

Promo - Cycling Provence in April - Save

The sunniest and warmest regions of France? The Mediterranean coastal regions for sure including Provence and the Cote d'Azur to Languedoc and the Spanish border. There is also Corsica, the rebellious island region of France in the Med between France and Italy. For cycling in the famous region of Provence, we are offering a small discount to get the season off to a good start. Booking either of our Classic Provence tours for travel in April 2006 will get each participant almost as much as $100US off the tour price!

For Americans traveling over the Atlantic, some great airfares can still be had in April at nice rates too. An example:

NYC-PARIS: $530 on American Airline April 18-26, all taxes and ticketing fees included!

A 3 hour train on the bullet train TGV will have you in Avignon directly from the airport and soon riding in the sunny countryside of Provence!

Romania Hiking - Wildlife Safari in East Europe

Romania has some of the best natural habitat and wildlife viewing in all of Europe! This according to our local guides in Bucharest who claim that only Siberia is better on that matter. Having traveled much of western and central Europe and seeing first hand how people get excited about seeing a squirrel, this is some important information. Below is a sample tour that could be available to adventurers seeking a real wildlife viewing experience and challenging hiking.

Romanian Wildlife tour

It's a fact, since many years: when thinks of wildlife, one thinks of Romania.
That's why now 2 thirds of the Europe's bear (ursus arctos) population lives in the Romanian mountains, also most of the wolfs (lupus canis), chamois (rupicapra rupicapra) and the lynx (lynx lynx), as well as an impressive number of species of birds.

We set up a wildlife tour for giving the visitor the opportunity to see all this, take pictures, relax and eat natural organic food. The tour takes the visitor away from the noise and dust of the city: the Piatra Craiului Mountains, considered a geological accident (as the ridge lies from South to North, totally opposite to the other mountains in that area) but a happy accident. The limestone and the scree over 1800 m represent perfect shelters for the chamois and eagles.

As well, in the spruce-fir forests the brown bear seems to be (and in fact IT IS) at home.

Two hiking days are dedicated to seeing the bears and the chamois, in a natural reservation, guided by the guys from the National Forests Administration (because entering some parts of the reservation is not allowed to the public without special authorization). The experience is unforgettable.

After the hikes comes a snapshot of Transylvanian History. We'll visit Sighisoara medieval town, birth place of Vlad Dracul, after stopping by Bran Castle, also known as Dracula Castle. (NOTE, the castle is mistakenly considered Dracula Castle, as Vlad Tepes only stayed here for a small period). And not before stopping to Râsnov Castle (on the forest-covered hills where big part of Cold Mountain was filmed)

Dinner in the house where Dracula was born in Sighisoara will complete our medieval day.

Two more days are dedicated to exploring Sibiu & Medias (important cities of the medieval age) and Romanian countryside before coming back to Bucharest. Medias is the city where Vlad Dracul was kept in prison for some time.

Wildlife and the life of the wild from medieval times! A nice combination! When I did spend time in Romania I came away totally surprised and wanting more.

ASO Assigns Tour de France Use Rights

ASO, Amaury Sports Organization, the operator of the French Classic Tour de France race is trying something new in 2006: restricting the use of its brand names including Tour de France, Paris Roubaix, and other events it organizes and owns rights to.

This is big news in the travel industry, and it has to be for the bike industry in general. We received a French version, in form letter format, of a cease and desist letter from ASO last week, and anyone reading this will soon notice a change in name among our websites as well as other tour companies selling trips to the "French Grand Tour". Presumably anyone mentioning the ASO brands without license will also be receiving this letter. (NOTE: this is worldwide, and that is a LOT of letters!)

Our organization has been seeking to obtain a license under the new ASO guidedlines, but in fact it was already decided by ASO that they would only issue 6 licenses to 6 different tour companies WORLDWIDE. Our request was put off for this year, perhaps next. Of the 6 licenses issued; 2 tour companies are in the USA, 2 in the UK, 1 in France, and 1 in Australia! Of course, we will continue to sell trips to the ASO owned events but without the use of the name. Other companies such as Trek Travel are also continuing this approach. It is a real shame that ASO has determined it beneficial to limit to so few the number of licenses; it can only hurt the amount of money coming in to the race cities hosting the event as it moves along.

We certainly understand the need to control the use of the name, but the limitation seems impossible to enforce. How many blogs, bike shops, government agencies even, and other non-travel organizations used these names over the history of this race until now? Thousands? Tens of thousands? In the last 7 years alone, it has exploded. I can't walk into a bike shop anywhere in America and not see something about the Tour de France. Oops, I am not authorized to say that anymore. Well, this will be the last time until we negotiate for our license in 2007. And, speaking of the license, they are not giving them away!

Rumors on the street have it that licenses are going for more than 30,000 euros each! How much is that going to increase the cost of your tour if you book with a "licensed" outfitter!! They have no choice. What a shame, it sure seems like another solution could have been found. Oh well, that is capitalism, and on one hand it is nice to see a French company embracing a little of that. Now, can they do something about striking railroad workers during the July travel season!!??

L

American University Alumni Assns in Paris

Here is a weird bit of information, if useful to anyone reading this blog. A number of alumni associations have clubs in Paris - why not - so here is a short list I recently came across. If you are a grad, and passing through on a cycling or hiking or other trip, feel free to contact them. Maybe they have a wine social or something?!

Berkeley Club
Email: annemileti@hotmail.com

Boston University Alumni Association of France
www.bu.edu/alumni/intl/connect/europe.html

The Cornell Club of France
www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/int/paris/Initial.htm

Harvard Club of France
clubs.harvard.edu/olc/pub/HAA/university/home.jsp?shortname=hcfrance

New York University Club of France
www.nyu-club-france.com

Paris Alumnae Network
www.pan-paris.org

Princeton Alumni Association of France
Email: pamwesson@wanadoo.fr

Stanford Club of France
www.stanford-fr.org

Wellesley Club of France
Email: sjkatz@aya.yale.edu

Yale Club of Paris
Tel: 01 48 04 51 75

Guided Walking Tours in Paris

Walking in Paris is one of the features in visiting this beautiful city. The small streets and large boulevards offer so much in the way of architecture, history, sites, cafes, and of course people watching and more. Navigation can be tricky, but if you aren't pressed for time, its no big deal to just set out and walk. Metro stations are everywhere and if you get lost on your way somewhere, which is easy to do, a metro will give you orientation and an option to get back to where you need to go quickly.

If however you want to walk with a guide and get some valuable input from a professional who also happens to live in Paris, then we do have some offers available.

The level is easy and is open for as few as 1 person, available any day. We can add more guided walks to other parts of the city if you would like more, just inquire!
There are many possible itineraries based on what you may want, some possible options follow - or using this formula - send us your own request.

Here are a few examples:

- Montmartre district: we'll meet you at the foot of the Sacre-Coeur, the white Basilica dominating the Paris skyline to start a walk down the cobblestone streets and discover this artistic and historical district.

- The Marais: the charming streets of this area will take you to the Jewish section of Paris, Place des Vosges, City Hall. While there, you'll see all the little shops and specialty boutiques. Nearby is the famous Pompideu Center and the famous Stravinsky fountain.

- Ile St Louis / Ile de la Cite: On this tour, you'll learn about 2 of Paris' most famous monuments: Notre Dame and the Saint Chapel (very well known for its magnificent stained glass work) as well as La Conciergerie where Marie-Antoinette was held before being executed. This tour is full of history but also a good occasion to take great pictures of the city.

London to Get Tour de France Start in 2007

LONDON, Jan 24, 2006 (AFP) - The crown jewel of French sport, the Tour de France, is to start for the first time in London next year, the city's mayor Ken Livingstone confirmed here on Tuesday.

It will be only the third time that the race has come to England in its 103-year history and the first time that the prestigious Grand Depart will be given on English soil.

Livingstone said that London would host the prologue time-trial on July 7, 2007 and the first stage of the race the following day.

The tour finishes as usual on the Champs-Elysées in central Paris on July 23 after criss-crossing the French countryside from the Atlantic Ocean to the Alps.

"I am proud to announce that London has successfully bid to host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in July 2007," he said.

"Hosting the first stage of the legendary French cycle race will raise the profile of cycling in the capital, attract visitors and promote the capital as a venue for international sporting events.

"Cycling in the capital is growing faster than anywhere else in Europe.

"I want London to become a world-class cycling city and Transport for London has increased investment in cycling from 5.5 million pounds in 2000 to 24 million pounds this year.

"Today's announcement is great news for cycling and for London and we will unveil the route at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference centre on February 9."

The tour has made a habit over the last 50 years of visiting foreign shores for its Grand Depart every three or four years including Amsterdam in 1954, Brussels the following year, Berlin on 1987 and Dublin in 1998.

The Irish capital was the first city outside of continental Europe to stage the tour opener and London will be the second.

London had competition for the right to host the tour opener from Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark after announcing its bid in October 2004 on the occasion of the centenary of the Entente Cordial friendship treaty between the two, often squabbling, western European neighbours.

The opening ceremony of the 2007 Tour will take place on July 6 and the route is expected to take in many of London's world-famous landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

The prologue time trial takes place on July 7 and the first stage will be on July 8.

Livingstone said that London would pay tour organisers 1.5 million pounds (EUR 2.2 million) for the right to stage the event which will be beamed out to a huge worldwide TV audience.

The prologue time trial, covering between 8-10km, determines who wears the leader's famous yellow jersey. The first stage is expected to cover 200km in and around London.

Livingstone said hosting the event should be a money-spinner and a better bargain than recent attempts to host a London Grand Prix.

"If you compare what we have paid the Tour de France to win the right to host this with what I was being asked as a contribution to the Grand Prix by Bernie Ecclestone, this is dramatically less," he said.

Paris Ranked 4th Most Expensive

Though I find this very hard to believe, the follow article was printed on Expatica, siting their own sources listed; this is the list. I have been to many other European cities and in my experience London is way more expensive for a tourist. So, perhaps these numbers don't play out accordingly for visitors as it does for residents.

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Paris ranked world's fourth most-expensive city

NANTES, Feb 1, 2006 (Expatica) — A European city, Oslo, has overtaken Tokyo as the most expensive city in the world while Paris holds steady in the fourth on a ranking of the cost of living in more than 130 cities released this week.

The survey, conducted by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, prices and products calculated in dollars; fluxions in both prices and exchange rates determine changes in the relative cost of living of the cities included.

Tokyo has been ranked the city with the highest cost of living in the world for the past 14 years in a biannual survey,

Europe dominates the top of the list with European cities taking eight of the top 10 spots on the list although Paris is the only eurozone city to appear on the top-ten listing.

For France, Paris tied with Osaka Kobe for the fourth spot while Lyon came in at 24. London took the seventh spot, while the first American city to appear on the list is New York, in the 27th spot.

Oslo was ranked as the third-most expensive city in the spring survey, but took the top spot in the Autumn survey from Tokyo, now ranked as the second most-expensive city. The Economist analysts attributed the change to strong economic growth in Norway, a phenomenon that combines high consumer confidence with strong levels of investment and low interest rates.

Only two European cities saw a relative decline in the cost of living from the results of the spring survey: Tashkent in Uzbekistan (117 from 105 in the spring survey)) and Almaty of Kazakhstan (tied at 117, down from 119).

Dublin, Ireland and Sydney, Australia tied for the 16th spot; Auckland, New Zealand ranked 29th while Montreal, Canada came in at 43 and Johannesburg, South Africa at 77, all listed as the most expensive cities in their respective countries.

And the city with the lowest cost of living in the world? Tehran.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World

1 Oslo, Norway
2 Tokyo, Japan
3 Reykjavik, Iceland
4 Osaka Kobe, Japan
4 Paris, France
6 Copenhagen, Denmark
7 London, UK
8 Zurich, Switzerland
9 Geneva, Switzerland
10 Helsinki, Finland


The Ten Least-Expensive Cities in the World

117 Taskent, Uzbekistan
120 San Jose, Costa Rica
121 Dhaka, Bangladesh
122 New Delhi, India
122 Tripoli, Libya
124 Asuncion, Paraguay
124 Mumbai, India
126 Karachi, Pakistan
127 Manila, Phillippines
128 Tehran, Iran

Discounts Available on Bicycle Tours

Discounts are now available on all Loire Valley Tours booked before March 31, 2006 for travel any time in 2006. The discount is 5% off the posted tour rate. With an average tour price of $1000; that is a $50 per person savings - on average.


This is only applicable to bicycle and hiking tours in the region.

Hungary & Slovakia Cycling Tours - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Discover France/Pure Adventures
CONTACT: Loren Siekman
TEL: 800-960-2221
E-MAIL: info@pure-adventures.com
WEBSITE: www.pure-adventures.com
Media Kit.


Discover Culture, Adventure, and Diversity with ‘Pure Adventures’

EUROPE—Pure Adventures, the progeny of Discover France, has announced it’s new line-up of self-guided cycling tours for 2006. Understanding that modern- day travelers are continually looking for new and exciting travel destinations, the company has masterfully incorporated international adventure, cultural experiences, and a diversity of activities into its two new tours.

There is an ever increasing popularity amongst adventure travelers in visiting central European countries. The trend is caused by the fact that they are inexpensive, open to tourism, have well preserved historical interest and offer "off the beaten" path itineraries. As always, the new tours are supported by locals who really help the guests to appreciate the best there is to see and become fully immersed in the area’s culture.

The Hungary Cycling Tour is nine days and eight nights and takes guests into the heart of the Hungarian countryside where they will enjoy three and four star lodging while discovering the intriguing and mysterious history of the region including the city of Budapest.

Despite spectacular development, Budapest has preserved its old charm and magic. Not only is it the worthy holder of the title `Queen of the Danube`, it is a city where the pleasing harmony of different architectural styles and superb structures, the cuisine, culture, and legendary hospitality blend into an unforgettable experience for visitors

A sampling of the incredible itinerary includes cycling along the Danube River out of Budapest into the countryside of Western Pannonia. The cycle path begins at Batthyany Square, crossing the Danube at Kisoroszi, into Visegrad. Arriving in Visegrád guests will take a trip up to the “Castle in the Clouds” and enjoy the amazing panorama which unfolds before their eyes. Guests will pass through forests and open woodland along diminutive roads with little traffic along the way and will also visit the village of Tata, known as “the town of waters. Guests will then venture on to visit the millenary, Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, where they may visit the church and library and taste the famous wines of the historical wine district. After a fashion, guests will arrive in Sopron, a town rich in cultural history and containing vast amounts of intriguing relics…..

For guests yearning to delve further into the country’s history and culture, a five night tour to explore the Balaton Uplands is also available for 635 euros or a 14 night tour to explore the "Romantic Castles and Palaces of Northern Hungary" is available for 1165 euros.

Not to be out-done, the eight day/seven night Slovakia Cycling Tour takes cyclists from Vienna to Krakow. Slovakia has seen its tourism gradually increase since the late 1990’s, after its amicable split with Czech Republic,. Quaint and jovial with a surprisingly rich cultural life, guests will discover castles, artisans, and charming people along the route and certainly create cherished memories doing so.

A peek into the rich itinerary is sure to leave travelers yearning for more. The first leg of the journey leads straight to the town of Trnava, the oldest royal town in Slovakia. Its past wealth is reflected in its fortifications and rich assortment of monuments. The tour follows rolling hillsides around the most famous Slovakian spa town of Piestany, renowned for its successful treatment of arthritis. Guests will then be off to Beckov with its towering castle ruin of the same name and then on to view the majestic castle perched above the city of Trencin. After several days more, the tour culminates in the wonderful city of Krakow, a colossus of art and architecture…..

Both packages include all lodging, breakfast and dinner daily, luggage transfers, arrival orientation and bike fitting, route book with maps, cue sheets, and site information, local emergency service, local support guides and experts that are available by phone to assist during the trip with any kind of emergency.

Itineraries can be adapted for longer ride options and extended stays (up to 9 days). Additional nights in Krakow or Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest, are all possible and the Slovakia tour may be combined with the Hungary (Budapest to Vienna) trip for a spectacular two week journey.

For a complete itinerary, pricing, and booking information call 800-960-2221 or e-mail info@pure-adventures.com Photos available.