Barge cruising France

MERGANSER ITINERARIES - Season 2010

Barge cruising in France with Merganser starts on Saturday and is scheduled to last six nights. Arrangements will be in place to transfer passengers from and to the Eurostar terminal in Paris at the start and finish of their cruise. Eurostar bookings from London may be arranged on request. Passengers may instead elect to be transferred from and to locations in Paris or the major airports serving Paris.

Price £700

Price includes all meals, wines, bar drinks, guided tours and excursions, and transfers.

Nemours - Canal du Loing

MERGANSER CRUISE AREAS IN 2010

During 2010 Merganser will cruise in three broad areas of France. These areas are as follows:

Champagne

Paris and the rivers Seine, Oise and Aisne

The Upper Loire

The Champagne cruises embrace those between Vitry-le-François, Reims and Château-Thierry. Reims lies between the rivers Aisne and Marne on the Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne, is a large regional capital and is notable for its magnificent cathedral. It is also an important centre of the champagne wine industry and in 2009 visits were made from the barge to the cathedral and the Phare at Verzenay, a folly in the form of a lighthouse which houses a fascinating wine museum. To the South of Reims lies Châlons en Champagne, an important and attractive town, where we usually moor close to the excellent town centre with good shops, another fine cathedral and great atmosphere. Château-Thierry lies to the west and is located on the River Marne. Visits may be made to the castle and the former home of La Fontaine, now a museum devoted to his life and works. The Upper Marne is particularly attractive, with good views of the vineyards which clothe its banks. Dormans has an impressive monument in remembrance of the two great battles of the Marne in WW1; Damery and Cumières afford numerous vintners whose premises may be visited. Vitry-le-François gives us a chance to visit the wood framed churches of the champagne bocage and the Lac du Der and we usually visit our own champagne supplier located in the village of Bassuet, a small area to the South of the vignoble which produces some of the finest wines of the region. These routes are good for towpath cycling and walking.

The cruises in Paris and on the rivers Seine, Oise and Aisne embrace those between Montereau, upstream from Paris on the Seine, and Reims. For the most part they are on rivers although between Compiègne and Reims there are stretches of canal with good cycling and walking opportunities, both on the Canal Latéral à l’Aisne and the Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne. Paris is a prime location and opportunities exist for exploration. Compiègne has its royal palace and Soissons much to recommend it, including some interesting art-deco buildings and a fine covered market. Upstream from Paris the Seine is very attractive, with stops at Melun from which we usually are able to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte, forerunner of Versailles, and Samois, a small village set between the river and the forest of Fontainebleau. We also 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, particularly beside the water.

The River Loire is one of the longest rivers in France and from Briare its lateral canal runs southwards towards Nevers, principal city of the Nièvre and the most southerly point we reach. The cruises in this area lie between Montereau and Nevers, are entirely on the Canal Latéral à la Loire and provide excellent opportunities for towpath cycling and walking. From Montereau the cruise to Briare first follows the River Loing, then its lateral canal. At Montargis the canal gives way to the Briare canal; remarkable vestiges of an ancient canal (17^th Century) are now preserved at Rogny les Sept Ecluses as a historical monument. Between Briare, a pretty little town with two interesting museums dedicated separately to enamel and navigation, and Nevers we have two long aqueducts, the most renowned being that over the River Loire but of almost greater interest being that over the River Allier, where a deep double lock separates the aqueduct level from the canal below it. Nevers itself has a fine cathedral with an extremely interesting interior and a charming old town rising from the banks of the Loire.

DATE	ROUTE click on the route for a description of the cruise	PRINCIPAL FEATURES
May 15 to May21	Vitry-le-François to Reims	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
May 22 to May 28 *	Reims to Château-Thierry	River Marne and its lateral canal, Champagne vineyards
May 29 to June 4  *	Château-Thierry to Vitry-le-François	River Marne and its lateral canal, Champagne vineyards
June 5 to June 11	Vitry-le-François to Reims	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
June 12 to June 18 *	Reims to Compiègne	River Aisne, Soissons
June 19 to June 25  *	Compiègne to Paris	Rivers Seine & Oise, Impressionist scenes, Malmaison
June 26 to July 2	Paris to Montereau	River Seine, Vaux-le-Vicomte
July 3 to July 9  *	Montereau to Briare	Canal de Loing, Canal de Briare, Moret sur Loing
July 10 to July 16	Briare to Nevers	River Loire and its lateral canal, aqueducts, Sancerre
July 17 to July 23	Nevers toBriare	River Loire and its lateral canal, aqueducts, Sancerre
July 24 to July 30	Briare to Montereau	Canal de Loing, Canal de Briare, Moret sur Loing
July 31 to Aug 6	Montereau to Paris	River Seine, Vaux-le-Vicomte
Aug 7 to Aug 13	Paris to Compiègne	Rivers Seine & Oise, Impressionist scenes, Malmaison
Aug 14 to Aug 20	Compiègne to Reims	River Aisne, Soissons
Aug 21 to Aug 27	Reims to Vitry-le-François	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
Aug 28 to Sept 3	Vitry-le-François to Château-Thierry	River Marne and its lateral canal, Champagne vineyards
Sept 4 to Sept 10	Château-Thierry to Reims	River Marne and its lateral canal, Champagne vineyards
Sept 11 to Sept 17	Reims to Vitry-le-François	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
Sept 18 to Sept 24	Vitry-le-François to Reims	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
Sept 25 to Oct 1	Reims to Vitry-le-François	Reims Cathedral, Lac du Der, wood-framed churches
*  SOLD OUT

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DEPOSITS: Booking deposit per person 50% of the total cruise cost, final payment six weeks before the cruise. Charter payment terms by arrangement.

CABINS: there are three twin cabins and two single cabins. All cabins have low-level beds and private bathroom with shower, hand basin and flush WC.

BOOKING INFORMATION:

UKWH Ltd., 31 Wellington St., Hertford, SG14 3AN, England.,

Tel: 01992 550616, (International +44 1992 550616),

Email: ukwh@bargedirect.com

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