How Green is Meuse Valley

Running along the spectacular Meuse River valley, The Trans-

Ardennes Green Track is, without question, one of the great success
stories of The French Ardennes’ in recent years.

Offering an easy 85 km walk or cycle-ride between Givet in the north,

and the capital of Charleville–Mézières, it can now be explored even
more easily by UK holidaymakers thanks to the decision of two British
cycle holiday companies to feature it in their programmes of tours for
2011.

The companies are Cycling for Softies: www.cycling-for-

softies.co.uk and French Pedals www.frenchpedals.co.uk.

Cycling for Softies full package features hotel accommodation

throughout the five, seven, nine or eleven night holiday; gourmet
evening meals each night; bicycle hire; information packs; and
emergency back-up and assistance.

And with each bicycle, they also provide

-A roomy, three sectioned pannier for carrying clothes, with two
additional small pockets for a bottle of wine and baguette!
-A provanti bag for the front handlebars with map holder.
-A personal water bottle.
-A lock, pump, tool kit and spare inner tube.

Prices range from £929 for a five night holiday package.

French Pedals holidays, meanwhile, last five nights, and are priced at a
little under £600 per person based on two people sharing.

Once again, all of the necessary equipment, back-up and advice

comes as part of the package – along with a very clear itinerary for
holidaymakers to follow at their own pace. Children are also welcome.

French Pedals price include a buffet breakfast and a satisfying evening

meal. Luggage transfer between hotels and the use of good bicycles is
included in the price. Customers holidays can be extended on request.

Running the length of the spectacular Meuse Valley - from Charleville-

Mézieres in the south, to Givet on the Belgian border in the north - the
Green Track itself cuts a swathe through what was once the main trade
route between Flanders and Burgundy.
It also helps visitors to discover many of the mysterious legends of the
Ardennes region, such as the 'Four Sons of Aymon', and the 'Ladies of
the Meuse'. More importantly still, being entirely traffic-free, it provides
walkers, cyclists, horse riders and even skaters with more than 80km of
well-marked and secure pathways.

Located just 1 hour and 45 minutes by TGV from Paris, the 'regional
capital' of Charleville-Mézieres is an ideal entry point to the Green
Track, which is punctuated by hotels, country Gîtes, B&Bs and
campsites.

A free guide to The Trans-Ardennes Green Track is now available in

every Tourist Office, and at the Tourist Board office in Charleville-
Mézieres. Alternatively, it can be downloaded from
www.voiesvertes.com.

Ambitious plans to extend the Green Track much deeper into the
French Ardennes, to form a 150km path that will eventually reach
Sedan, are already well under way. And it is hoped that this will be
completed by the summer of 2014.

Copies of the latest Discovery Guide to the French Ardennes,

meanwhile, can be obtained by telephoning +33 (0) 3 24 56 06 08, or
by e-mailing info@ardennes.com.

For further information, visit www.ardennes.com.

-Ends-

Images, further information, and full press packs can be obtained by

contacting:

Jörg Hartwig
TEL: +33 (0) 3 24 56 67 77
E-MAIL: hartwig@ardennes.com

or
Ian Weightman
TEL: +44 (0)1782-680963
E-MAIL: ian.iwms@virgin.net