MERGANSER CRUISE ITINERARY FRANCE 2010

Compiègne to Paris: June 19^th

Paris to Compiègne: August 7^th  

Paris to Montereau: June 26^th

Montereau to Paris: July 31^st

Compiègne -  The rose garden in the Château

COMPIEGNE to PARIS

 Arriving at the barge in Compiègne we tour the pretty town to see its famous Second Empire Chateau, excellent formal  gardens and outstanding vistas. Cobbled central areas boast a large number of timbered buildings, rare in this part of France and the shopping is first class, as is to be expected of this cosmopolitan city. Our cruise now takes us down the valley of the River Oise, through attractive rural countryside interspersed with extensive woodland, past small towns and villages, to reach the historic town of Pontoise. The old town, which we have an opportunity to visit, has kept its character, with a profusion of narrow alleys and splendid monuments. Continuing down the Oise, we reach the River Seine at Conflans St. Honorine, for many years the regional capital of river transport and still a major river port. Turning upstream towards Paris we moor at Malmaison, close by the Maison Fournaise, celebrated for its connection with the great French impressionist painters. The final day of our cruise takes us into the heart of Paris, past the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Ile de Paris and Notre Dame. There is time to savour the atmosphere of the city before your farewell dinner aboard Merganser

Merganser at the Arsenal, Paris

PARIS to MONTEREAU

 Our cruise starts through the centre of Paris under the famous and spectacular bridges of the city, past the Eiffel Tower, the Hotel des Invalides, the Tuileries and Notre Dame Cathedral. As we cruise the upper reaches of the River Seine we reach the ancient town of Melun with its remarkable 11^th Century NotreDame Church, from which town there is an opportunity to  visit Vaux-le-Vicomte, forerunner of Versailles. Our cruise continues to Samois, a small village set between the river and the forest of Fontainebleau. Before reaching Montereau where our cruise ends we make a diversion onto the River Loing and its lateral canal, stopping at Moret sur Loing. This town was home to the impressionist painter, Alfred Sisley, and retains much of its original charm.

 
These itineraries are reversed for the cruises from Paris to Compiègne and from Montereau to Paris. 

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