Barge cruising France - Champagne 2006

Vitry-le-François to Reims: May 27th, Reims to Vitry-le-François: October 7th .....Reims to Epernay: July 15th

Transfers between Paris and the Barge

VITRY-LE-FRANCOIS to REIMS

Vitry-le-François was built by Francis 1st in the 16th Century and is now an attractive market town, largely rebuilt after wholesale destruction during the Second World War. We arrive at the barge in time for a leisurely stroll before dinner on board. The following morning we set off along the valley of the River Marne on the Canal Lateral à la Marme towards Châlons-en-Champagne, mooring for the night beside a small village. Arriving in Châlons-en-Champagne there is time to explore this important town. Of particular interest are the 13th Century Cathedral of St.Etienne, the Municipal Library's superb collection of ancient manuscripts and books, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the USA placed in the city hall after the First World War. From Châlons we continue to follow the course of the Marne to Conde sur Marne where we join the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne. We climb through a staircase of eight interlinked locks to pass through the 2.3km long tunnel beneath the Mont de Billy. Once through the tunnel we start our descent to the River Aisne. Towards the west we see the wooded heights of the Montagne de Reims where, in the gullies and south facing slopes numerous champagne vineyards thrive. We arrive in Reims in time to explore this magnificent city. Reims is the cultural and economic capital of the Champagne region and boasts a long and celebrated history. Here, amid the splendours of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Tau Palace, you will find reminders of the the coronation of French kings from Clovis in 498 to Charles X in 1825. Also, as befits a regional capital, the ambience of the centre is appealing, with excellent shops, lively bars and plenty of the cosmopolitan chic one associates with champagne

This itinerary is reversed for the cruise from Reims to Vitry-le-François

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This cruise takes us from the Cathedral city of Reims up the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne, then down into the Marne valley where we join the Canal Lateral à la Marne and then the River Marne itself for the run up to Epernay. The cruise is structured to give time to explore Reims (see above itinerary) before we set off up the canal. As we rise towards the summit level of the canal the Montagne de Reims, with its small villages and champagne vineyards, is seen to the West. Passing through the 2.3km. Mont de Billy tunnel we descend to the Marne valley through a flight of interlinked locks, reaching the junction of the Canal Lateral à la Marne at Condé-sur-Marne. Our cruise now takes us down this canal to its junction with the navigable river, passing the champagne villages of Mareuil-sur-Marne and Ay-sur-Marne where even in the smallest plots of land straight rows of vines reach down to the water's edge. At Dizy we join the River Marne to reach Epernay, home of many of the large champagne houses, where we tour the renowned caves of Castellane, leaving time to visit the excellent shops in the town before our final dinner aboard Merganser.

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