MERGANSER CRUISE ITINERARY FRANCE/BELGIUM 2007

Charleville-Mezieres to Namur: August 18^th  

Namur to Charleville-Mezieres: August 25^th  

Transfers between Lille and the Barge.

CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES to NAMUR

 
You arrive in Charleville-Mézières in time to explore before dinner aboard Merganser. Charleville-Mézières is in reality two towns, one, Mézières founded in the 9^th Century and the other, Charleville a new town of the 17^th Century, which were united in 1966. Both are interesting with the Place Ducale in Charleville particularly spectacular. As we cruise down the River Meuse the river winds extravagantly between the wooded slopes of the Ardennes towards Monthermé, situated just beyong the confluence of the rivers Semoy and Meuse. The stretch between Monthermé and Revin is one of the most attractive stretches of the Meuse in France. It is an ideal place to view the Meuse valley from surrounding viewpoints and we visit the most spectacular of these. Our cruise now continues through the Ardennes towards Givet and the French-Belgian border. Once in Belgium we continue to Dinant, a cruise characterised by  steep cliffs beside the river, few villages and an atmosphere of  wild beauty. The town itself is a renowned tourist centre and there is time to explore its many attractions. As we continue towards our destination, Namur, the river becomes wider and the villages more frequent. Namur itself is a lively town overlooked by its 17^th Century citadel, a witness to its turbulent past, which we visit, and which affords us a spectacular view over the town and river valley.

The River Meuse at Dinant