MERGANSER CRUISE ITINERARY FRANCE 2008

Briare to Montereau: August 2^nd

Montereau to Paris: August 9^th 

Transfers between Paris or Lille and the Barge

BRIARE to MONTEREAU

Our mooring in Briare is in the basin where in former times barges gathered before attempting the difficult crossing of the River Loire and after settling in there is time to stroll round this pretty town before dinner on board Merganser. Our cruise first takes us up the old Briare Canal to Rogny les Sept Ecluses where we can see the original staircase of seven locks built to the order of King Henry IV and completed in 1642. Replaced by a flight of six locks in 1887, they remain witness to a considerable engineering achievement of their time. Cruising past Châtillon-Coligny we reach Montargis,  capital  of   the  Gatinais, a region of pine forests and small streams famous for hunting and fishing, and a town noted for pretty flower-bedecked small canals.We now head towards Nemours, beautifully situated in the rocky and wooded valley of the River Loing. After visiting Nemours we continue along the canal to Moret sur Loing. We visit this charming little town with its 12^th Century dungeon and old winding streets, before cruising  to our final  destination,  Montereau.

Briare - the old canal

Moret sur Loing

MONTEREAU to PARIS

Montereau is a lively town situated at the confluence of the Rivers Seine and Yonne. Once you are settled in there is time to explore the town before dining on board. We start our cruise down the River Seine the following morning, reaching Samois sur Seine, a charming village set amidst woodland in one of the finest reaches of the river.  For those wishing to climb beyond the village there are splendid panoramic views of the Seine valley and the forest of Fontainebleau. Our cruise now takes us to Melun with its remarkable 11^th Century Nôtre Dame Church. From Melun we tour the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a magnificent  jewel  of  the  Ancien Régime. Continuing our cruise towards Paris we moor for the night in a woodland setting before setting off  for  the centre of  Paris itself. After passing the confluence with the River Marne we pass under the famous and spectacular bridges of the city, past the Hôtel des Invalides, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Ile de la Cité, the  Tuileries and Nôtre Dame Cathedral. There is time to savour the atmosphere of the city before your farewell dinner aboard Merganser.

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