DAILY ITINERARY THROUGH THE CRUISING WEEK
Sunday
The rendezvous in Paris at the Hotel Mansart with the Luciole's representative is at 2.30 pm, followed by the journey to Auxerre in the barge's private bus. The Luciole will be moored on the impressive river frontage of the city, overlooked by the Cathedral, the 13 - 15th Century Abbey and Parish Church. A Champagne reception welcomes our guests on board
Monday
A cruise upriver leads us into beautiful pastoral countryside intermingled with sweeping reaches of the River Yonne. After lunch we arrive at the Crément making centre of Bailly. An afternoon visit is made to a wine cellar in the vicinity of Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris and Irancy, also devoted to wine, stand nearby
Tuesday
The morning cruise along the Nivernais takes us up an arm of the canal to the village of Accolay. In the afternoon we return for a tour of historic Auxerre providing a good opportunity to visit the shops and take time to enjoy French provincial life
Wednesday
From Accolay, we make the short journey to delightful Noyers-sur-Serein. With its friendly market stalls, half timbered houses and turreted ramparts it is easy to see why Noyers is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. After lunch barge Luciole continues southwards to a night-time mooring beneath the walls of Mailly-le-Château
Thursday
A morning drive takes our group to Vézelay, where the spectacular 12th Century Basilica dominates the town. Here St Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade. In the afternoon the Luciole cruises through a region where dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside, to an evening mooring at Lucy-sur-Yonne
Friday
A morning voyage takes us to the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise. Our final visit is to the imposing Château of Bazoches. Set on a hillside amidst splendid rolling countryside, this was the 17th Century home of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer
Saturday
After breakfast, the Luciole bus departs for Place Vendôme, central Paris where taxis are available for onward travel. Anticipated arrival is at 1pm. For guests wishing to travel elsewhere in France by train or hire car, a stop can always be made in Auxerre en-route to Paris
Please note: The cruising itinerary will be in the reverse direction, if the Luciole is moored in Clamecy at the start of the week. Our bus can make a small detour to collect passengers from Auxerre should they not wish to rendezvous with us in Paris
The rendezvous in Paris at the Hotel Mansart with the Luciole's representative is at 2.30 pm, followed by the journey to Auxerre in the barge's private bus. The Luciole will be moored on the impressive river frontage of the city, overlooked by the Cathedral, the 13 - 15th Century Abbey and Parish Church. A Champagne reception welcomes our guests on board
Monday
A cruise upriver leads us into beautiful pastoral countryside intermingled with sweeping reaches of the River Yonne. After lunch we arrive at the Crément making centre of Bailly. An afternoon visit is made to a wine cellar in the vicinity of Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris and Irancy, also devoted to wine, stand nearby
Tuesday
The morning cruise along the Nivernais takes us up an arm of the canal to the village of Accolay. In the afternoon we return for a tour of historic Auxerre providing a good opportunity to visit the shops and take time to enjoy French provincial life
Wednesday
From Accolay, we make the short journey to delightful Noyers-sur-Serein. With its friendly market stalls, half timbered houses and turreted ramparts it is easy to see why Noyers is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. After lunch barge Luciole continues southwards to a night-time mooring beneath the walls of Mailly-le-Château
Thursday
A morning drive takes our group to Vézelay, where the spectacular 12th Century Basilica dominates the town. Here St Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade. In the afternoon the Luciole cruises through a region where dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside, to an evening mooring at Lucy-sur-Yonne
Friday
A morning voyage takes us to the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise. Our final visit is to the imposing Château of Bazoches. Set on a hillside amidst splendid rolling countryside, this was the 17th Century home of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer
Saturday
After breakfast, the Luciole bus departs for Place Vendôme, central Paris where taxis are available for onward travel. Anticipated arrival is at 1pm. For guests wishing to travel elsewhere in France by train or hire car, a stop can always be made in Auxerre en-route to Paris
Please note: The cruising itinerary will be in the reverse direction, if the Luciole is moored in Clamecy at the start of the week. Our bus can make a small detour to collect passengers from Auxerre should they not wish to rendezvous with us in Paris
The mid-week market at the Medieval town of Noyers-sur-Serein, voted into the top 100 prettiest towns in France
Marshal Vauban's turreted chateau at Bazoches, nestles into the hill side, with views down the valley to the the Basilica of Mary Madelaine