| 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, 15, 22, 29 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| September
5, 12, 19, 26 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| October
3, 10 |
Regular |
Burgundy |
| October
17, 24, 31 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| November
8 |
Value |
Burgundy |
| 2
Passengers required on all departures to guarantee
the cruise except
November when a minimum of 4 passengers are required |
MEETING
POINT
France -
Paris - Hotel
Ampere 1.30pm
L'Art
de Vivre Barge Information
THE 8 PASSENGER
L'ART DE VIVRE ....
started life as a Scottish munitions carrier and survived long enough
to be transformed by a team of skilled crafts-men into a floating celebration
of the Burgundian "good life". Your
crew of four comprises Captain, Tour guide, Master Chef and Hostess,
all with a love for the Nivernais canal, and all secure in the knowledge
that their vessel represents L'Art de Vivre itself.
The
region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey
back in time along a magical waterway. The
Upper Nivernais remains an undiscovered region, well
off the beaten track on the edge of the Morvan hills.
The sleepy hamlets, white grazing Charolais cattle, woods
and forrests are typical of the scenery we cruise through.
During
the summer months we visit the Valley of Sardy, a canal
section with smaller locks, where time seems to have
stood still for over two hundred years. The hand-swung
bridges are a delight and we pass old logging sites which
are now almost forgotten memory for the local people. This
is the original home of luxury hotel barging and yet
today, a barge is a rarity, welcomed by all, and every
journey is a great event.
| Cruise
Highlights |
Cuisine
Aboard |
- All-inclusive
open bar, free wines,gourmet cuisine,
entry fees to excursions
- Medieval
town of Clamecy and 13th century cathedral
- 16
Lock flight at Valley of Sardy
- Foie
Gras tasting, with a noble Chablis
- Visit
the 16th Century home of Marechal Vauban
- Tour
the hill-top basilica of Vézelay
- Wine
tasting at Precy le Moult
- Optional
Hot Air Ballooning
|
Regional
Specialities
Terrine de Pêcheur façon Maison,
Tourte Chaude d'Escargots à la
Ciboulette, Filet de Rouget au Safron
|
|
Wine
Cellar
Sancerre, Chablis, Pouilly
Fumé,Cote de Nuits, Hautes Côtes
de Beaune
|
|
Cheese
Board
Brie, Maroilles, Pont L'Eveque,
St Marcellin
|
Top of Page
Click here for Baye
to Clamecy Itineraries
ITINERARY
FOR PARIS TO CLAMECY
Sunday,
Day 1
PARIS TO CLAMECY
Guests are met at the hotel at 1.30 pm and transferred to L'Art de Vivre.
After a Champagne Welcome, wander the logging capital and raison d'etre
of the Nivernais canal, enjoying the 13th century cathedral, old winding
streets and views of the River Yonne. Dinner aboard.
Monday,
Day 2
CLAMECY TO ANOIS
Morning cruise from Clamecy, with a stop at Chevroches for a visit to
the 18th century model farm of Misery with the owner Mme Dhuick as our
guide. Here we taste farm produce from jam to the famed Foie Gras, all
of this accompanied by a fragrant Chablis. We continue our first day's
cruise to the charming hamlet of Villiers sur Yonne. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday,
Day 3
ANOIS TO MONCEAU LE
COMTE
Enjoy an early cruise and a fascinating stop in Asnois
to visit "Le
Bouc qui Fume" or the "Smoking Billy Goat", a chapel based
antique/curiosity shop. After passing the impressive double lock at Tannay
, we moor in the old logging port and visit the Château of Bazoches,
home of Marechal Vauban, whose illustrious visitors included Richard
the Lionheart. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday,
Day 4
MONCEAU LE COMTE TO
CHITRY LES MINES
Morning visit to one of Burgundy's most picturesque hill-top
settings - Vézelay. Discover the treasured Roman
Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, lace and craft shops, superb
views over the surrounding countryside and
a delightful drive back to the barge before cruising to Chitry, passing
through Dirol and its two Van Gogh style hand-operated lift bridges.
Dinner ashore.
Thursday,
Day 5
CHITRY LES MINES TO
SARDY
After a morning stroll around the village of Chitry we
visit Elise Villiers, a viticulteur from Precy le Moult
to taste some of the regions finest
Chardonnays and the famed wine made from the "Melon" grape.
Return to the barge and cruise to Sardy. Dinner aboard.
Friday,
Day 6
SARDY TO BAYE
Today we begin our day making our passage through the 16 lock flight
leading to the summit of the Nivernais canal. These locks are sometimes
less than 200 yards apart! and alongside each lock is a pretty waterfall,
maintaining the canal level. Considered by many to be one of the most
beautiful canal reaches in France, some of the lock houses are now craft
shops and you can embark and disembark as we ascend to the three tunnels
of La Collancelle before the lake at Baye which marks the summit. Captains
Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday,
Day 7
BAYE TO PARIS
After breakfast return to Paris by coach by about 1 pm.
This
is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
On alternate weeks,
cruise will be in reverse
ITINERARY
FOR BAYE TO CLAMECY
Sunday,
Day 1
PARIS TO BAYE
Guests will be met at the pick up hotel in Paris at 1.30pm. After a coach
transfer from Paris arrive on the Art de Vivre, moored in the lakeside
village of Baye. Champagne Welcome followed by dinner on board.
Monday,
Day 2
BAYE TO SARDY
This morning we make our way through the three tunnels of La Collancelle
set in a deep cutting, from the lake at Baye at the summit level of the
Nivernais Canal. This afternoon we descend the flight of 16 locks, which
are sometimes less than 200 yards from each other! Alongside each lock
is a waterfall maintaining the level of the canal. Many consider this
stretch of canal to be one of the most beautiful in France and some of
the lock houses are now craft shops which guests can visit as we descend.
Finally we moor at the charming port of Sardy situated at the foot of
the locks. Dinner on board.
Tuesday,
Day 3
SARDY TO CHITRY LES
MINES
After a gentle morning cruise we moor in Chitry for lunch
before disembarking for our afternoon visit to the Chateau
de Bazoches. This 12th Century
Château, whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart,
later became the home of Marechal Vauban, the famous defence engineer,
in whose family it has remained until this day. Dinner on board.
Wednesday,
Day 4
CHITRY LES MINES TO
MONCEAU LE COMTE
Morning visit to one of Burgundy's most picturesque hill-top
settings - Vézelay. Discover the treasured Roman
Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, lace and craft shops, superb
views over the surrounding countryside and
a delightful drive back to the barge before cruising to Chitry, passing
through Dirol and its two Van Gogh style hand-operated lift bridges.
Dinner ashore.
Thursday,
Day 5
MONCEAU LE COMTE TO
ANOIS
Morning visit to one of Burgundy's most picturesque settings,Vezelay
with stunning views of the rolling Morvan countryside. Here you will
see the treasured Romanesque Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene and enjoy
shopping for local crafts before returning to the barge for lunch and
an afternoon cruise to Villiers sur Yonne. As we leave Tannay we pass
through the impressive double lock and briefly stop in Anois to visit "Le
Bouc qui Fume" (the smoking billy goat) an antique/curiosity shop
in an old chapel. Villiers is a charming port next to the river Yonne
with a view of the church spire. Perhaps enjoy a traditional game of
boules before diner. Dinner on board.
Friday,
Day 6
ANOIS TO CHECROCHES
Morning departure from Anois to Chevroches a charming hillside village
commanding a stunning view over the foothills of the Morvan forest. After
lunch we continue cruising to Clamecy where we tour the Cathedral and
the Logging and Barging Museum. There is time to wander the narrow streets
lined with historic buildings and take the opportunity to do some shopping
before returning to the barge for a pre-dinner stroll. Captain's dinner
aboard.
Saturday,
Day 7
CLAMECY TO PARIS
After breakfast return to Paris Pick- up hotel by coach by about 1 pm.
This
is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
On alternate weeks,
cruise will be in reverse direction. Itineraries are subject
to change
|
