Burgundy 5-night Barge Cruise


Burgundy 5-night Barge Cruise

Summary


St Florentin to Ravières. Burgundy canal.

Highlights: Chablis, Château of Ancy-le Franc, Noyers and Abbey of Fontenay. Additional tours can be arranged.

Monday


Paris stop on the 5-night Upper Loire Barge Cruise

Welcome to C’est la Vie, moored in St Florentin

Cruise to Flogny la Chapelle

Pickup in Paris, your party will be met at 1 hotel of your choice in Paris at 10.00am by our driver and driven to the “C’est la Vie” which is moored in the town of St Florentin.

A champagne welcome awaits you with introductions to the crew; you have time to unpack before a buffet lunch and the start of your cruise. We head to the small town of Flogny la Chapelle, well known for its Fete (Fair) of the Gougères, (choux pastry with cheese.)

Relax on the sun deck, or if you prefer take a walk or ride along the tow path following the C’est La Vie to its overnight mooring.

There’s time for a stroll around Flogny before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Tuesday


Chablis wine tasting on the 5-night Burgundy Barge Cruise

Sightseeing: Chablis wine tasting

Cruise to Tonnerre

This morning we cruise to the town of Tonnerre, with time to walk or ride along the tow path and walk off your breakfast of locally baked pastries. In Tonnerre you can discover the Fosse Dionne a Karst spring, it is driven by the infiltration of precipitation on the plateau above the town, as well as drainage from at least one river. Roman soldiers watered their horses here and it was later converted into the town wash house in the 18th Century.

After a buffet lunch you will be driven to the town of Chablis, where you can taste some of the famous white wines of this region in one of their local cellars and enjoy a drive through vine yards, which cover the hill sides for as far as the eye can see.

This pretty town is also well known for its church of St Martin, the patron saint of horses and horsemen. The main door is decorated with horse shoes of travellers passing by asking for protection, it’s said that Joan of Arc nailed one of her horse’s shoes here when passing through this town in 1429 on her way to Orleans.

Returning to the “C’est la Vie in Tonnerre for dinner aboard.

Wednesday


Noyers, France on our 5-night Burgundy Barge Cruise

Sightseeing: Noyers

Cruise to Tanlay

The medieval town of Noyers, is where we are headed this morning, walking through the cobbled streets, enjoy the local market and discover the old ramparts and half timbered buildings dating from the 15th/16th centuries. Noyers is noted as one of the most beautiful towns in France. Majestic plain trees line the banks of the river Serein, which acts as its natural boundary; it’s not to be missed.

Drive back to the “C’est La Vie” through fields of wheat and grazing animals for lunch and an afternoon cruise on the Burgundy Canal to Tanlay, now lined by poplar trees, a perfect moment to put on your walking shoes, or take a bike and ride into the neighboring villages, Tanlay is a prosperous little town and has a Chateau, golf course and some commerce.

It’s well worth taking a stroll before dinner aboard.

Thursday


Chateau of Ancy le Franc on the 5-night Burgundy Barge Cruise

Sightseeing: Chateau of Ancy le Franc

Cruise to Ancy le Franc

As we cruise to the town of Ancy le Franc, sitting on the sun deck you can watch the countryside pass by, we are in farming country with fields filled with Charolais cows or sunflowers.

Your buffet lunch is served alfresco under our sliding canopy, as we near our next destination.

It’s a short walk or drive if you prefer, to this afternoons visit of the gorgeous Renaissance chateau of Ancy le Franc, built in 1542 for Antoine III of Clermont Tonnerre, it is renowned for its 16th-century wall paintings and frescos (which are said to rival Fontainebleau), Ancy-le-Franc has been extensively and sensitively renovated. With a small lake and gardens recently replanted in the French style, the chateau has regained its former glory.

Dinner aboard the C’est La Vie.

Friday


Abbey of Fontenay on our 5-night Burgundy Barge Cruise

Sightseeing: Abbey of Fontenay

Cruise to Ravières

This morning’s cruise takes us to the town of Ravières, there is plenty of time to enjoy the sun deck or put on your walking shoes and discover this beautiful countryside. Ravières is famous for its limestone quarries, whose stones have decorated many buildings in Paris and across the world. After a buffet lunch you will be driven to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, founded by St Bernard. Dating back to the 12th Century it is listed on the Unesco World Heritage site. It’s an Abbey with a very interesting history; luckily for us it was saved from total destruction at the time of the French revolution and turned into a paper factory. It has been lovingly restored by its present owners.

Returning to the “C’est La Vie” for the Captains dinner, which ends your cruise in style.

Saturday


Return to Paris

A fond farewell.

After breakfast, you’ll be chauffeured back to Paris for the end of the morning.

We hope to see you again on the “C’est la Vie”!

Notes


The 5-night Burgundy barge cruise route is run in reverse on alternate weeks and can be different due to locale conditions.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

C'est La Vie Luxury Hotel Barge Menus


Example Menu #1
Example Menu #2

Testimonials


The whole crew were top notch

We had a wonderful, relaxing time on the barge. The whole crew were top notch, friendly and professional. The food, wine & cheese were outstanding; we also enjoyed the company of our fellow travellers. This was the 2nd barge trip for us, in totally different parts of France, C’est La Vie and the Marne itinerary […]

~ M&G M, VA USA

C’est La Vie est extraordinaire

In my North Carolina French – C’est La Vie est extraordinaire. The food, wine, accommodations, service, excursions and ambience were all superb and easily exceeded our lofty expectations. Olivier, Deb, Tom, Adam, Alix & Heloise seemed to anticipate our every need or desire, for drinks, food, this & that – and all with such warmth […]

~ B&S H, WA

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