Barging (barge cruising) France : Champagne vineyards,River Marne

Vitry-le-François was built by Francis 1^st in the 16^th 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 cruise follows the valley of the River Marne on the Canal Latéral à la Marne 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 is the 13^th Century Cathedral of St.Etienne. From Châlons we continue to follow the course of the Marne to Condé-sur-Marne, where we join the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne. We climb through a flight 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 towards 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 flourish.We arrive in Sillery whence on the final day of the cruise there is an opportunity to visit Reims and the Phare (lighthouse) wine museum at Verzenay.

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 Latéral à la Marne and then the River Marne itself for the cruise to Château-Thierry. Reims is the cultural and economic capital of Champagne and boasts a long and celebrated history. On the first day of the cruise we visit Reims and the Phare (lighthouse) wine museum at Verzenay, a small town situated in the heart of the champagne wine growing region. The following morning we set off towards the Marne.The Montagne de Reims with its small villages and champagne vineyards is seen towards the west. Passing through the 2.3km. Mont de Billy tunnel we descend towards the Marne valley through a flight of interlinked locks, reaching the junction of the Canal Lateral a la Marne at Condé-sur-Marne. Our cruise now takes us down the Canal Latéral à la Marne 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, and passing Dormans, where the memorial to those who fell in the battles of the Marne during the first World War merits a visit, we come to Château-Thierry. There is time to visit this interesting town before our final dinner aboard Merganser.

These itineraries are reversed for the cruises Reims to Vitry-le François and Château-Thierry to Reims.