| 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 2007 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 |
