| DEPARTURE DATES - (sundays) |
RATE |
ROUTE |
| March
28 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| April
4, 11, 18, 25 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| May
2, 9 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| May
16, 23, 30 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| June
6, 13, 20, 27, |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| July
4, 11, 18 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| July
25 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| August
1, 8, 17, 22, 29 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| September
5, 12, 19, 26 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| October
3, 10 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| October
17, 24, 31 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| November
7 |
Value |
6
weeks cruise |
MEETING
POINT
Meeting Point: France – Dijon
- Hotel de la Cloche– 4:30pm
L'Impressionniste
Barge Information
THE 12 PASSENGER L'IMPRESSIONNISTE ....
The 12 passenger L'Impressionniste, sister ship to La
Belle Epoque began life as a cargo barge in Holland before undergoing
a complete transformation into the powerful canal and river cruiser she
is today
Her
light and airy interior features picture windows and
selections of prints, fabrics and wall colorings reminiscent
of the turn of the century era after which she has been
named. She is crewed by a knowledgeable Captain, Mater
Chef and crew of three
L'Impressionniste's
classic route covers some fine Burgundian rural cruising,
with plenty of opportunity to cycle and stroll along
the tow-path and wander into nearby villages
| Cruise
Highlights |
Cuisine
Aboard |
- All-inclusive
open bar, free wines,gourmet cuisine, entry
fees to excursions
- Visit
16th century Chateau de Tanlay
- Tour
Chateau D'Ancy le Franc's twenty five restored
appartments
- See
the hill-top medieval stronghold of Semur-en-Auxois
- Wine
tasting at Chablis and Epineuil
- Gastronomic
dinner ashore
- Optional
Hot Air Ballooning
|
Regional
Specialities
Coq au Vin, Escargots Bourgogne,
Filet de Charolais
|
|
Wine
Cellar
Côte St Jacques
Epineuil, Chablis,
Nuits St-Georges
|
|
Cheese
Board
Delice de Bourgogne, Chaource,
Aisy Cendré, Epoisses
|
Click here for Agde
to Avignon Itineraries
ITINERARY
FOR AVIGNON TO AGDE
Sunday,
Day 1
AVIGNON
Guests are met at 4pm at the delightful Mercure Hotel Cite des Papes
in Avignon and escorted by minibus to L'Impressionniste for a Champagne
Welcome. Dine aboard in Avignon.
Monday,
Day 2
AVIGNON TO ARLES
This morning we visit the Palais des Papes, a massive monument to the
era of the 'other Rome’, when the popes moved to France. After
a stroll though the vibrant shopping district of Avignon, return to the
barge for lunch. In the afternoon we cruise down the mighty Rhone River
to Arles, passing the immense citadel of King René at Tarascon,
and the foothills of the Alpilles. Dinner on board.
Tuesday,
Day 3
ARLES TO AIGUES MORTES
This morning we explore Arles, the Roman Arena and Theatre, St. Trophime's
church and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit some of Vincent
van Gogh's haunts on foot through the heart of this old capital of the
Camargue before rejoining the barge for our cruise up the Rhone. We join
the Petit Rhone and then the Canal du Rhone a Sete that carries us to
our mooring beside the medieval fortified town of Aigues Mortes. Dinner
ashore at a local auberge.
Wednesday,
Day 4
AIGUES MORTES TO FRONTIGNAN
Stroll from our mooring outside the Aigues Mortes town walls to visit
the Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning
13th century crusaders. In the afternoon, we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete
through the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant
sea bird life and flocks of elegant pink flamingos, to the hamlet of
Les Aresquiers where we are close to the Mediterranean. Dinner on board.
Thursday
Day 5
FRONTIGNAN TO MARSEILLAN
An early morning cruise brings us to Frontignan. This is followed by
a chance to explore Sete, 'the Venice of the Languedoc', with its thriving
fishing fleet and fish market. In the afternoon we sail out onto the
Thau Lake, a large, inland salt-water lagoon full of mussel and oyster
beds. The water is so clear that you can sometimes see miniature sea
horses passing on the tide. After lunch on board we arrive in Marseillan,
a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village. Before dinner on board, you
might enjoy an aperitif wine tasting in a local Languedoc vineyard.
Friday,
Day 6
MARSEILLAN TO AGDE
Before the ship sails we have an opportunity to tour the cellars and
distillery of the world famous aperitif, Noilly Prat, followed by a tasting.
Then an afternoon cruise on the Canal du Midi, through the renowned round
lock and finishing our voyage on the River Herault. We will be moored
in the shadow of the Cathedral of the fishing town of Agde, built of
lava blocks from the nearby Black Mountains. Captain’s Dinner on
board.
Saturday,
Day 7
AGDE
TO PARIS
Return transfer by minibus to Agde TGV station by 10am or Montpellier
TGV station, airport or hotel by 11am.
This
is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On
alternative weeks the cruise in reverse direction
and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.
ITINERARY
FOR AGDE TO AVIGNON
Sunday,
Day 1
AGDE
Guests are met at The Metropole Hotel in Montpellier at 4pm and escorted
by minibus to L’Impressionniste for a Champagne Welcome. Dinner
is preceded by a gentle stroll into Agde, with its cathedral built of
lava blocks from the nearby Black Mountains. Dinner aboard.
Monday,
Day 2
AGDE TO MARSEILLAN
We begin our day with a cruise along the Canal du Midi, the oldest complete
canal in France to Marseillan, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village
on the edge of the Thau Basin. Today’s excursion is to Pezenas,
a delightful village, mostly famous for its associations with the famous
French play write Moliere, who is said to have written many plays while
staying here. Dinner on board.
Tuesday,
Day 3
MARSEILLAN TO LES
ARESQUIERES
This morning we go into Marseillan where passengers can tour the cellars
and distillery of the world famous vermouth Noilly Prat, followed by
a tasting or visit the street market. Around lunchtime we sail out onto
the Thau Lake to Frontignan. The Thau Lake is a large, inland salt-water
lagoon full of mussel and oyster beds where the water is so clear that
you can sometimes see miniature sea horses passing on the tide. On arrival
in Les Aresquieres we moor up for the night. Dinner on board.
Wednesday,
Day 4
LES ARESQUIERES TO
AIGUES MORTES
Leaving Les Aresquieres we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete through
the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant sea bird
life and flocks of elegant pink flamingos. After lunch we arrive at our
mooring outside Aigues Mortes town walls and visit the town and its famous
Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning 13th
century crusaders. Dinner in a local restaurant.
Thursday
Day 5
AIGUES MORTES TO ARLES
We leave Aigues Mortes early and enjoy three waterways today starting
with the Canal du Rhone a Sete, then the Petit Rhone and finally the
Rhone itself, which leads us to Arles, gateway to Provence and old capital
of the Camargue. After lunch, we explore Arles, the Roman Arena and Theatre,
St. Trophime's church and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit
some of Vincent van Gogh's haunts on foot. Dinner on board.
Friday,
Day 6
ARLES TO AVIGNON
An early start takes us along the mighty Rhone River passing the intriguing
citadel of King Rene at Tarascon and the foothills of the Alpilles to
Avignon. Here we spend an enjoyable afternoon, with a visit the Palais
des Papes, an impressive monument to the era of the 'Other Rome', when
the popes moved to France, shopping in the vibrant centre or take a trip
out to Chateauneuf du Pape for an optional wine tasting. Captain’s
dinner on board.
Saturday,
Day 7
Return transfer by minibus to Avignon train station or Mercure Hotel
Cite des Papes in Avignon by about 11am.
This
is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On
alternative weeks the cruise in reverse direction
and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.
|
