L'Art de Vivre - Luxury French Hotel Barge cruising the Nivernais canal, Burgundy, France

L'ART DE VIVRE - CYCLING CRUISES

Luxury barge cruises in France along the Nivernais canal
in the region of Burgundy

Guests are met at Hotel Ampere in Paris and transferred by private motor-coach to L’Art de Vivre, moored on the River Yonne in the bucolic village of Vincelles. Champagne welcome-dinner on board.

Our itinerary today takes cyclists up through the narrow streets of Irancy, the latest wine village to be awarded its own appellation-controlée, We then take a narrow track straight up through the vineyards and plunge down to St Bris where a short break is spent in the 12th C. cellars of Mr.Bersan. Cross country on the Grande Randonnée track 13 followed with buffet lunch/barbecue in the grounds of a 17th C watermill. An afternoon cycle circuit takes in Accolay, and Fontenay sous Fouronnes before rejoining the barge at Bazarnes for a short evening cruise to Vermenton. Dinner on board.

As the barge leaves Vermenton, cyclists disembark at the first lock and follow the GR 13 along the banks of the River Cure through Bessy and Arcy sur Cure. An old Roman road leads back over the hill down to Pregilbert where L’Art de Vivre is mooring up - lunch on board. Afternoon cycling to Mailly le Chateau and The Rochers du Saussois, with perhaps a stop at the 14th C tower, studio of local artist M.Rose, before rejoining the barge at Merry sur Yonne. Dinner ashore at Auberge La Beursaudiere, once a Benedictine priory.

As the L’Art de Vivre slips its mooring, this mornings ride traverses the Bois d’Arcy and climbs to one of Burgundy’s most picturesque hilltop settings - Vezelay. After discovering the world famous Romanesque Basilica of St.Mary Magdelene, a swoop downhill takes us through St.Père sous Vezelay to meet our chef, setting up a buffet luncheon on the banks of the River Cure, alongside the mediaeval bridge at Pierre Perthuis. Our afternoon ride is through Fontenay and the forest of Chauffour-Ferrières to the village of Lucy sur Yonne where the barge is moored for the night. Dinner on board.

This morning a short ride uphill brings us to the 18th C Ferme de Miserey, where traditional farming methods are explained and an introduction to the art of Foie Gras making is accompanied by a tasting. Then cycle to Dornecy through the Fôret de Champôrnot, buffet lunch somewhere in the greenery and then back to the barge moored at Clamecy alongside the towpath. Dinner on board.

Small lanes lead out of the mediaeval town of Clamecy through the hamlets of Creux and Saligny to Tannay, where a refreshing winetasting can be had chez Jean-Loup Moreau. We cross the canal and climb to the Romanesque church of Metz le Comte with its commanding views over the Morvan National Park. Here we meet our chef, setting up lunch in the shade. In the afternoon Morvan lanes take us to the Chateau of Bazoches where a short visit can be made to the home of Marechal Vauban, France’s foremost military architect, then back along the edge of the Foret de Maulay to meet the barge in Villiers sur Yonne. Captains Farewell dinner on board.