19th - 25th April
Our charter group from the Mid-West were such fun, terrific friends who cruised in the sunshine and were a delight to have aboard. We cruised in the ongoing warm spring sunshine as the nightingales sung day and night.
Cruising beneath the Roches des Saussois was as dramatic as ever. From the top of the high limestone cliffs, I called ‘hello’ and echoed back accompanied with waves of surprise was ‘it’s Penny’!
The afternoon’s visit was to Vézelay, with Vincent. There is a significant work program at present, in the Basilica, to repair the high vaulted ceilings above the aisles and knave. The French Heritage Society of America have been enormously generous, along with the French government of giving grants for the work to proceed. The results are simply stunning.
A roaring barbe-que greeted us – along with Angeline at our Avallon restaurant in the heart of the medieval walled town.
On Thursday afternoon, we drove to Chablis for our tour. Up on Grand Cru Hill, looking down over the prestigious vines and across the valley, it is surprising to see, despite the Spring weather just how late the leaves are appearing on the vines this year. The days have been warm, but the nights cold, nearer to freezing. Minna at Chateau Bichot, for our wine tasting, explained that many vineyards had suffered this year with the frost and it had been necessary to light the ‘smoke pots’ in the vines – an old method to distribute warm air to stop the frost settling on the new leaf buds.
Hotel barge Luciole
Cruising since 1976
Phone: 00 44 1625 576880
From USA: 011 44 1625 576880
WhatsApp: 00 33 6 09 92 20 76
Email: info@bargeluciole.com
23 Adlington Road, Bollington
SK10 5JT England
1-2 Quai de la Republique, Auxerre
89000 France
© Hotel Barge Luciole 2026
