Renaissance: Upper Loire and Western Burgundy Itinerary
Samois-sur-Seine to Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses
Sunday
We collect you from Paris at 1.30pm for the drive by private, air-conditioned minibus to Renaissance moored in the colourful river-side village of Samois-Sur-Seine on the peaceful wide reaches of the River Seine. A champagne reception awaits you before a short cruise on the river takes us to our first overnight mooring in the bustling waterside village of St. Mammes. The cruise today includes the passage through one of the mighty River locks on the Seine - capable of holding up to 8 barges the size of Renaissance at a time.
Monday
Our cruise schedule continues this morning as we enter the Canal de Loing to begin the ascent of the locks which lead up to the summit level of the canal. Our excursion today is to the glorious Chateau Vaux le Vicomte - setting for the film "The Man in the Iron Mask". The chateau has a fascinating history - which provided the inspiration for the film made there - and the visit includes a chance to walk in the gardens which are widely regarded as some of the best formal gardens in France. Our mooring tonight is in the town of Nemours on the Canal de Loing.
Tuesday
A morning cruise takes us to an idyllic mooring at Beau Moulins where we pause for lunch before visiting the town of Moret Sur Loing - the medieval walled city famed as the home of the impressionist painter Sisley. Our local guide will help you explore the charming town where the River Loing flows into the River Seine. The church here inspired the style of the Cathedral de Notre Dame in Paris and the scenery of the many authentic town houses and narrow streets are an inspiration for painters to this day. Our mooring tonight will be in the quite hamlet of Nargis on the Canal de Loing.
Wednesday
Our day begins with a morning excursion to the hill-top medieval town of Chateau Landon with its 10th-12th century church and fortified battlements. The town is best seen from an open vehicle, so today we ride into town by horse drawn carriage before stopping in the town centre to explore the narrow alleyways and reinforced battlements of the city. After lunch, our cruise continues to the pretty waterside village of Cepoy on the Canal de Loing where we moor in plenty of time for a pre-dinner stroll or cycle.
Thursday
Today we join the Canal de Briare at Montargis - regional capital of "the Gatinais" - with its flower bedecked bridges and a network of miniature canals which once fed the walled city with produce. A morning excursion to the town is the perfect opportunity to take in a little souvenir shopping in this bustling market town, to visit the world famed "Mazet" Pralines shop or simply to sit and watch the locals going about their business. Our cruise today takes us past the town of Montargis and on to the village of Montbouy - renowned as one of the prettiest villages on this stretch of the canal. Our mooring tonight will be in the shadow of the splendid 12th century village church in Montbouy on the Canal de Briare.
Friday
An early start is in store for those who would like to see a traditional country market, since Chef will be off the barge early today to pick up freshly grown vegetables and local cheeses for this evening's farewell dinner. Our final cruise takes us to one of the oldest canal side villages in Burgundy, Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses, where a staircase of seven locks (now adopted as a French National Monument) stand as a testimony to the 500 year history of the canal. Our final excursion takes us to a privately owned Loire Valley Chateau - the Chateau de La Bussiere - for a guided tour and a visit to the splendid vegetable gardens (which supplies the vegetables for the local Michelin starred restaurant). Since we are also now moored on the borders of the Burgundy and Loire regions, our visit to the chateau will be rounded off with a private tasting of some of the regions best known and most popular wines. Our mooring tonight will be in the village of Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses on the Canal de Briare where we enjoy a celebration farewell dinner hosted by your barge Captain.
Saturday
After breakfast, we return to a central Paris drop off location. You should expect to arrive in Paris before midday.
Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse direction on alternate weeks.
For Reservations please contact:
European Waterways Ltd
35 Wharf Road, Wraysbury,
Middlesex, TW19 5JQ, England
Tel: 44 (0) 1784 482439 Fax: 44 (0) 1784 483072
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