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After meeting in Folkestone and travelling by train to the continent we’ll ride to the Belgium region of Wallonia for our first night on tour and welcome dinner. The following morning we’ll continue east to ride some of the most beautiful and least-visited regions of Europe. Initially you head to Prague, a day off here allows time to explore ‘the city of a thousand spires’, before moving north to the German Polish border town of Gorlitz. Where once this town was on the fortified line between East Germany and Poland it is now thriving, benefitting from an annual secret donation to help restore the stunning architecture to its former medieval glory. Visit the Landskron Brewery Germany’s eastern most Brauhaus, or for the WWII buffs you can take a short ride to Zagan the scene of The Great Escape and visit the camp and museum commemorating those who lost their lives as a result of this audacious escape attempt.

You ride south through the Sudetic Mountains and into the Carpathians, heading for Krakow stopping en route in the small Polish town of Ladek-Zdroj. A free day in the UNESCO listed historic centre of Krakow can be spent entirely in the Main Square, the largest Medieval Town Square in Europe, or you can visit the Royal Wawel Castle overlooking the city. Or there is always the option to take a ride to Auschwitz, visit the museum and pay your respects. From Poland you head south with an overnight stop in a lovely Boutique hotel in Slovakia, on your way winding through the Matra Mountains to Budapest. Ranked as the second best city in the world by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine. With so much to see you will have to choose between seeing the Buda Castle, visiting Trinity square in the shadow of the charismatic Mathias church, the Kaltenburg Brewery, or just sit on the banks of the Danube drinking coffee. But don’t think that sitting on the banks of the Danube is wasting the day. This stretch of the river, in the heart of Budapest, is a UNESCO listed site as it is so beautiful.

You then have a short ride along the banks of the Danube to Bratislava where you have a day off the bike and another enchanting city to explore. Small by modern standards, the skyline of this capital is dominated by Bratislava Castle, jealously guarding the Danube. Stroll, narrow pedestrian streets of pastel 18th-century buildings or sample the myriad sidewalk cafes under the watchful gaze of the city castle. Follow the twists and turns of the Danube and you will arrive in Vienna Austria, with enough time to take a horse and carriage tour of the city and enjoy the capital. Vienna was home to Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud but is best known for

its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. The Unesco World Heritage site of Salzburg is next, divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings of the pedestrian Altstadt (Old City) on its left bank, facing the 19th-century Neustadt (New City) on its right. The Altstadt is the birthplace of famed composer Mozart. Ulm allows you the chance to visit the huge Gothic Ulm Minster, a centuries-old church. Its steeple has views of the city and, in clear weather, the Alps. A 16th-century astronomical clock and the Half-timbered houses line the narrow alleys of the Fischerviertel.

A relaxed ride sees you back in France and Obernai. Nestled on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains with its charming medieval and Renaissance houses, its historic centre is surrounded by ramparts. Spend time wandering its side streets, discovering historic treasures. Our final night is spent in the capital of the Champagne wine-growing region, Reims. For more than 1,000 years, French kings were crowned at its Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. There’ll be time to visit the Cathedral before settling down to our farewell dinner. The following morning it’s time for home, but before that, the winding roads and French countryside awaits. This part of the world is still crammed with ancient architecture and unspoilt roads, populated by wonderful people and is waiting to be explored by bike. For the first few days of the tour we have some fairly big mileages to get to our destinations, but the routes are packed with picturesque countryside and more regular mileages will return after the opening stint.