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NYMPHEA
- Golfing
Itinerary -
Luxury
French hotel barge cruises in the Loire Valley, France
Sunday, Day 1
- MOULIN DE NITRAY
You
are met at 4.30 pm at the TGV railway station at St Pierre des Corps
and transferred to Nymphea where a Champagne Welcome awaits you at our
mooring opposite the 17th century Moulin de Nitray. Dinner aboard.
Monday, Day 2
- MOULIN DE NITRAY TO LARCAY
A morning cruise through two locks takes us
to the quaint town of Larcay where we moor under
the weeping willows for lunch. Afternoon spent at Golf de Touraineat
the Chateau de la Touche, Ballan Miré. Return to Nymphea for dinner on
board.
(18 holes Par 71 - length 5673 m)
Tuesday, Day
3 - LARCAY TO VALLET
After
a morning cruise past no less that six private chateaux, we tie up
opposite the hamlet of Vallet, a cluster of classic Tourangeau
architecture grouped around its 18th century mill. From there
we
leave forTours Ardrée Golf Club.Laid out in 350 acres of park and
woodland, the fairways thread their way through the trees and water
hazards, leading to large but well protected greens. We take
dinner tonight in one of the local restaurants specializing in regional
cooking.
(18 holes, par 72, 5734 metres)
Wednesday,
Day 4 - VALLET TO CHISSEAUX
While
cruising in the morning we may pull in to the tiny landing stage next
to Domaine de Fontenay. A two minute walk brings us to their
courtyard where we can taste their range of Touraine wines as an
aperitif before lunch moored at Civray. In the afternoon we
play
the golf on the estate of the Chateau de Cheverny. Winding
round
the Rousseliere Lake, home to mallard ducks, swans and grey
herons. Before returning to the barge we can visit the
Chateau if
time permits. An evening cruise takes us under the famed Chateau de
Chenonceau to the village of Chisseaux. Dinner on board.
(18 holes par 71, 6272 metres)
Thursday, Day
5 - CHISSEAUX TO MONTRICHARD
A
morning cruise takes us to Montrichard. After lunch we drive
to
Chateau des Bordes, which was originally conceived by industrialist
Baron Marcel Bich (Bic pens fame) and businessman Mr Yoshiaki Sakurai.
The two friends decided to create a world class golf course with an
international dimension for their own and their guests'
pleasure.
Robert von Hagge, Texan architect of more than 200 courses, was
employed to bring American expertise to the project. With no
expense spared and free from development constraints, von Hagge created
a masterpiece of extraordinary beauty exploiting the abundance of the
Sologne's lakes to present water hazards at 12 of its 18 holes as it
winds its way through the forest.The golf here is in the same league as
Valderama, . In fact, along with the former Ryder Cup venue,
Les
Bordes is one of only two courses in Continental Europe to enjoy the
highest rating in the Peugot Golf Guide to 1000 European
courses.
Dinner aboard.
(18 holes, par 72, 7062 yards)
Friday, Day 6
- MONTRICHARD TO NITRAY
There
is much to explore at the 12th Century Chateau of Foulques Nerra
overlooking the mediaeval town square. Before lunch, we visit
one
of the more unusual dwellings in the Loire Valley, La
Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family has grown up in this
hillside
troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn wine cellar, quarry for
the tuffeau stone, and lastly a silkworm nursery. After lunch, Nymphea
sets off downstream again, for another passage under Chenonceau with a
chance to visit the castle, and arrives at the hamlet of
Nitray.
Enjoy a pre-Captain’s dinner aperitif grown in Nitray and Captain’s
Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day
7 - NITRAY TO TOURS
After breakfast disembark, and return to St
Pierre des Corps Station arriving there at 9.30am.
NOTE:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative
weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction.
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