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Sunday Paris/Clamecy D
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 Clamecy/Villiers sur
Yonne BLD
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 Villiers sur Yonne/Tannay BLD
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 Tannay/Chitry
Les Mines BLD
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 Chitry Les Mines/Sardy BLD
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 Sardy/Baye BLD
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 Baye/Paris B
After breakfast return to Paris by coach by about 1pm.
Note: Itinerary operates in reverse on alternate weeks. This
is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
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2005 Dates and
Rates/Cruise only from
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Value
Season
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Mid
Season
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Regular Season
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Apr 3,10,17;
Nov 6,13
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Apr 24;
Jul 10,17,24,31;
Aug 7,14,21,28;
Oct 23,30
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May 1,8,15,22,29;
Jun 5,12,19,26; Jul 3;
Aug 29; Sep 4,11,18,25;
Oct 2,9,16
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Single
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Twin
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Single
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Twin
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Single
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Twin
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$3140
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$2290
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$3690
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$2690
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$4390
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$3190
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Itineraries are subject to change due to canal/river
conditions and are at the sole discretion of the
captain.
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
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Click
here for deck plan
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