Art cruise

Any week for Charter Groups

A painter’s paradise in picturesque Burgundy
Painting, drawing and a visit to the splendid Musée des Beaux Arts in Dijon

Burgundy offers stunning scenes, soothed by warm golden light. With splendid architecture and luscious landscapes, it breathes a rustic French atmosphere that translates so well onto canvas.

The Luciole Art Week blends cruising, visits and creative art time. There will be structure but also a considerable degree of flexibility for painters wanting to follow their own agenda.

The Luciole also welcomes passengers accompanying ‘painting partners’. We will be offering our usual visits so plenty for everyone one to see, sketch or paint, in this historic region of France.

Itinerary

Sunday

Transfer from Paris to the Luciole moored in Auxerre, Captain Francisco welcomes you aboard with a Champagne reception.

Time before dinner to sketch the skyline with the dramatic Cathedral St Etienne and Abbey St Germain.

Monday

In the morning we cruise out of Auxerre towards Vincelles. Leaving the city behind the River Yonne opens into wide stretches of river, before entering into canal sections. Choose to paint and sketch the scenery or walk the towpath and pick flowers from the bank to sketch back on the barge - A slow easy start to relax and enjoy the artistic surroundings.

Afternoon visit to Irancy to paint and enjoy a wine tasting in the picturesque village, set in an amphitheatre of vines and cherry trees.

Alternative option: A wine tasting visit to Chablis.

Tuesday

After our early morning breakfast cruise, we drive to Dijon to visit the dramatic Musée des Beaux Arts, situated in the dramatic Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. We lunch in the famed city before returning to the Luciole and cruising to our evening mooring, next to the ‘lavoir’ (wash house) in Accolay. An ideal location to draw village life.

Wednesday

Morning visit to the delightful medieval town of Noyers-sur-Serein, listed in the top hundred prettiest villages in France. Wednesday is market day and there is so much to see and sketch, with boutique art and craft shops of pottery, leather-makers and fashion. Simply a delight.

Afternoon cruise from Accolay to Mailly-le-Château. Paint on deck or finish the mornings artwork.

Thursday

Morning cruise from Mailly-le-Château to Lucy-sur-Yonne, past the spectacular Saussoir cliffs

Afternoon visit to the hill top town of Vézelay. Shops line the Eternal Hill that leads up to the Basilica. On the terrace behind the panorama of the Burgundy landscape is breathtaking - A painter’s paradise. And the shops are enticing to all.

Friday

Our final cruise is from Lucy-sur-Yonne to Clamecy. We pass under the lift bridge of Pousseaux and lunch beside the the medieval farm Chartreuse, with time to explore and draw.

A visit to the Chateau of Bazoches, once home to Vauban, who was a Maréchal de France, a influential military architect and engineer

In the evening we celebrate the week of art with Captain’s dinner.

Saturday

Departure from the Luciole is after breakfast at 9.30am.
Arriving in Paris at lunchtime.