Child 12 to 17 yrs travelling with an adult €200 reduction
Child reductions applicable for all under 18 yrs on Charters

Rates, additional charges and conditions are subject to change, and to
currency fluctuation, without notice - Errors and Omissions Excepted

Renaissance Barge Information

About Renaissance ... accommodates up to eight passengers in ultimate luxury. The beautifully appointed lounge has comfortable seating. A cosy bar is stocked with your favourites, and bookshelves contain a Bose CD system, current books, up-to-date periodicals and magazines.She has 4 suites, two of which can be configured as twins or doubles (Hugo & Dumas) and the other two are double only (Voltaire & Moliere). Each has a 60ft sq private bathroom. Renaissance has a sundeck with Jacuzzi and bicycles for clients use.

Cruise Route. From the mighty River Seine to France's oldest Canal du Briare, along a waterway steeped in history, past beautiful scenery and small country villages such as Chateau-Landon, Gien and Rogny les Sept Ecluses.

Renaissance accommodates up to eight passengers in ultimate luxury. The beautifully appointed lounge has comfortable seating. A cosy bar is stocked with your favourites, and bookshelves contain a Bose CD system, current books, up-to-date periodicals and magazines.

She has 4 suites, two of which can be configured as twins or doubles and the other two are double beds. Each has a 60ft sq private bathroom.

Renaissance has a sundeck with Jacuzzi and bicycles for clients use.

ITINERARY - Montargis to Chatillon-sur-Loire

Sunday, Day 1 Paris to Montargis
Guests are met at the meeting hotel in Paris at 1.30 pm and transferred to the spacious Renaissance where a Champagne Welcome awaits you. We enjoy an evening cruise through Little Venice, past flower-bedecked bridges and medieval watercourses joining France’s oldest canal, the Briare. Dinner aboard.

Monday, Day 2 Montargis to Montbouy
Our visit this morning is to the splendid Renaissance-style Chateaux Vaux le Vicomte, which inspired Versailles, with exquisite décor and period furniture, manicured formal gardens and a collection of 19th century horse drawn carriages. Afternoon cruise through the Loiret countryside with towpath cycling. Dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Day 3 Montbouy to Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses
Today’s excursion is to Chateau-Landon. With a history going back 20,000 years to the first evidence of primitive habitation, this seldom visited, mainly medieval town was captured by Caesar in 52 BC. We have a private guided walking tour and see the 11th century Saint Severin Abbey, as well as enjoy a tasting of Loire wines. Afternoon gentle cruise to historic Rogny and its 350 year old floodlit 7 lock-flight. Dinner ashore at Auberge des Templiers in Les Bezards.

Wednesday, Day 4 Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses to Ouzouer-Trezee
After a leisurely breakfast of fresh croissants, baguettes and assorted pastries we visit Chateau de la Bussiere. This moat-encircled 18th century family owned chateau has a freshwater fishing museum full of antique rods, reels and fishing memorabilia, working gardens and interesting brick architecture. Originally built in the 11th century it was extensively modernised 600 years later and represents an interesting glimpse of Chateau lifestyle. Dinner aboard.

Thursday, Day 5 Ouzouer-Trezee to Briare
Morning cruise to Briare and Gustave Eiffel’s magical aqueduct across the River Loire with walking and biking for those that wish to do so. We preview Friday’s crossing of this amazing 10,000 ton, 662 metre Pont Canal which was completed in September 1896. Today we also visit Gien, home of the Faience pottery and hunting museums and Chateau de Gien. Dinner aboard.

Friday, Day 6 Briare to Chatillon-sur-Loire
Morning wander around fruit and vegetable, seafood, cheese and French fashion stalls in the market in Briare. Afternoon visit to a family-run vineyard in Sancerre. This medieval hilltop village overlooks a vibrant and pulsating region which has known viticulture since Roman times. Evening cruise across the River Loire on Eiffel’s aqueduct and Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday, Day 7 Chatillon-sur-Loire to Paris
After breakfast we return you to the meeting point in Paris.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse

ITINERARY - Chatillon-sur-Loire to Montargis

Sunday, Day 1 Paris to Chatillon-sur-Loire
Guests are met at Hotel Ampere in Paris at 1.30 pm (charters can be met at their hotel) and transferred to the spacious Renaissance where a Champagne Welcome awaits you. We preview Monday’s crossing of Gustave Eiffel’s magical aqueduct across the River Loire, an amazing 10,000 ton, 662 metre Pont Canal, which was completed in September 1896. Time for a walk or cycle ride before your first dinner aboard.

Monday, Day 2 Chatillon-sur-Loire to Briare
Morning cruise across the River Loire on Eiffel’s Aqueduct to Briare. Before lunch, time to wander around fruit and vegetable, seafood, cheese and French fashion stalls in the market in Briare. Afternoon visit to a family-run vineyard in Sancerre. This medieval hilltop village overlooks a vibrant and pulsating region which has known viticulture since Roman times. Dinner on board

Tuesday, Day 3 Briare to Ouzouer-Trezee
This morning we visit Gien, home of the Faience pottery and hunting museums and Chateau de Gien, built at the end of the 15th century for Anne de Beaujeu, Louis XI's older daughter. Afternoon cruise to the village of Ouzouer-Trezee. Dinner aboard.

Wednesday, Day 4 Ouzouer-Trezee to Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses
This morning we visit Chateau Sully sur Loire. The castle originally belonged to Georges de la Trémoïlle, who infuriated Joan of Arc by encouraging the Dauphin to devote himself to idle hunting in the forests around Sully. After Joan's failure to liberate Paris 1430, de la Trémoïlle virtually imprisoned her in the castle. In the 18thC Voltaire, exiled from Paris, also spent time at the Château. Afternoon cruise to the historical town of Rogny. Dinner ashore at Michelin starred Auberge des Templiers in Les Bezards.

Thursday, Day 5 Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses to Montbouy
We leave Rogny this afternoon for a gentle cruise to Montbouy. Today’s excursion is to Chateau Guedelon. A team of fifty people have taken on an extraordinary feat to build a castle using the very same techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages. Work on the site began in 1997 and is scheduled to take 25 years to complete. Guédelon offers a unique opportunity to witness the different stages of a castle's construction with each phase being of interest in its own right. Let yourself be transported from the present day, back to the sights and sounds of a 13th century construction site. Dinner aboard

Friday, Day 6 Montbouy to Montargis
We enjoy a morning cruise through Little Venice, past flower-bedecked bridges and medieval watercourses joining France’s oldest canal. The cruise takes us through the Loiret countryside with towpath cycling to Montargis. Our visit this afternoon is to the splendid town of Moret-sur-Loing, home to the great Impressionist artist Alfred Sisley. This medieval walled town is still an inspiration for painters today, with its elegant Renaissance facades, colourful shops and medieval half-timbered house. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday, Day 7 Montargis to Paris
After breakfast we return you to the Hotel Ampere in Paris by midday

This is a sample itinerary. On alternative weeks the cruise is in reverse direction.