|
SAVOIR
FAIRE
Luxury barge cruises in France, Belgium and Holland
CHAMPAGNE
& BRIE CRUISE
Epernay to Paris, FRANCE
A glorious
week of cheese and wine tasting while cruising on the Marne, one of the
most beautiful rivers in France.
DAY 1: SUNDAY
(Cumieres)
You
are transferred by air-conditioned minivan from Hotel Ampere in Paris
at 2pm and driven directly to the Savoir Faire, moored at Cumieres, 2km
from the heart of Epernay. After an introduction to your ship, you are
given time to settle in to your cabin before joining your captain and
crew for our welcoming champagne reception. There will be time to
stroll through the village before coming back on board where your
master chef will delight you with the first of many delicious meals.
DAY 2: MONDAY
(Cruise Cumieres to Damery)
This
morning, after breakfast, we visit Reims and its magnificent cathedral.
We then join the "Savoir Faire" for lunch and a short cruise to the
delightful little town of Damery, with its 13th century church, which
was part of a former Benedictine priory. Later this afternoon we visit
the Abbey of Hautvilliers where the monk Dom Perignon first made
Champagne. Dinner aboard.
DAY 3:
TUESDAY (Cruise Damery to Chateau Thierry)
You
are now entering the true Champagne region. Your hosts have arranged a
pre-lunch visit to the world famous cellars of Moet and Chandon for a
tour and tasting. We then continue to cruise to Chateau Thierry, were
we shall moor for the night. This pretty town offers a promenade along
the original walls of the town with views over the Marne valley. This
whole area was the scene of American battles in World War I. Nearby is
the American Monument. Built in 1929, at an altitude of 660 feet, the
monument keeps alive the memory of the American troops who fought in
WWI. Optional visit to Belleau Wood battlefield and the American
cemetery. Dinner aboard.
DAY 4:
WEDNESDAY (Cruise Chateau Thierry to La Ferte)
Your
cruise today will take you through picturesque landscapes so loved by
both the French and visitors abroad. Today we have arranged a tour of
some of our favorite places and a selection of visits to small
family-run vineyards so that you can try their fine selection of
champagnes. Our mooring for the night is at La Ferte, which offers
beautiful, refreshing promenades along the river. Dinner aboard.
DAY 5:
THURSDAY (Cruise La Ferte to Meaux)
Today
we cruise to Meaux, in the very heart of Brie, famous for its wonderful
cheeses of the same name. Nearby, on the route to Soissons, stands a
monument that commemorates the 5th September 1914, the extreme point of
advance of the German troops and the date of the French counter-attack.
We visit Coulomniers, one of the centers of Brie cheese. Your
personalized visit to a master cheese maker will enable you to see the
cheese-making process first hand and to sample a variety of the world
famous Brie cheese, along with wines from his excellent cellar. Dinner
aboard.
DAY 6: FRIDAY
(Meaux to Paris)
This
morning we leave Meaux and head towards the mighty Seine which will
take us into the very heart of Paris. Our cruise will take us past
Coupvray, the birthplace of Louis Braille, the inventor of the alphabet
for the blind. At St Maur des Fosses we pass through the tunnel, which
enables us to bypass the shallow waters of the Marne Loop. Today we
visit the magnificent Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte. The
wonderfully-proportioned chateau and its exquisite gardens are the
highlight of this visit. Built between 1656 and 1661 for finance
minister Nicolas Fouquet.
We finish our journey with an
exclusive evening cruise through Paris. As the "Savoir Faire" glides
past the magnificent church of Notre Dame, the resplendent Louvre art
gallery and the symbolic Eiffel Tower, you will be joined by your
captain and his wife for cocktails followed by the farewell "Captains
Dinner". Pass beneath the Eiffel Tower and the floodlit bridges. Our
final berth for the night is in the Arsenal, a stone's throw from the
lively district of the Bastille.
Day 7:
SATURDAY (Departure 9.30am)
After a hearty breakfast, our chauffeurs
will drive you to your hotel or airport in Paris.
Note:
This is a sample itinerary. Itineraries are flexible and may be changed
according to passenger requests and local conditions. The itinerary is
in the reverse direction every other cruise week.
|
