NYMPHEA - European luxury barge cruise vacations aboard the French Barge Nymphea in the Loire Valley region of France

NYMPHEA

Romantic, private honeymoon charter for two

Luxury French barge cruises in the Loire Valley, France

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 as we toast to the newly weds at our mooring opposite the romantic 17th century Moulin de Nitray. While you unpack, enjoy a complimentary bottle of Champagne on ice in your cabin before your first romantic, candlelit dinner aboard

A morning cruise through two locks takes us to the quaint town of Larcay where we moor, under the shady weeping willows, for lunch. Afternoon excursion to Chateau de Villandry, with its world-renowned renaissance gardens. Champagne cocktails before your romantic, candlelit dinner aboard.

This morning you will enjoy a romantic hot air ballooning flight above the beautiful Loire Valley. Return to the barge for a 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 for our excursion by minibus to Amboise on the banks of the Loire, where we visit the Royal Chateau D’Amboise and the Clos Luce, Leonardo Da Vinci’s home. Champagne cocktails before your candlelit dinner aboard.

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 Blere. In the afternoon we cruise under the 5 arch bridge of the impressive Château de Chenonceau and moor at Chisseaux. From there we depart by minibus to visit the Chateau. We take dinner tonight a Michelin starred restaurant where we have arranged for you the best seats in the house.

A morning cruise takes us towards the troglodyte village of Bourré. After lunch we drive east to Valencay, one of the most splendid chateaux of the Loire and the home of Napoleon’s foreign minister, Talleyrand. Once back on board we cruise to the next lock, a short walk from which is one of the more unusual dwellings in the Loire Valley, La Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family have grown up in this hillside troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn wine cellar, quarry for the tuffeau stone, and lastly a silkworm nursery. Returning to the barge we cruise to Montrichard where we moor for the night. Champagne cocktails followed by a candlelit dinner aboard.

Following breakfast, a short stroll takes us to the heart of Montrichard, into the midst of one of the largest weekly street markets in Touraine. There is much to explore at the 12th Century Chateau of Foulques Nerra overlooking the mediaeval town square. Before lunch we can visit the local vineyard of the Meriau family, to taste the regional Touraine vintages. After an early lunch, Nymphea sets off downstream again, for another passage under Chenonceau and arrives at the hamlet of Nitray in time to visit the Chateau and rose garden of Nitray. Enjoy a pre-Captain’s dinner aperitif from their vineyards. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.

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.