Discover the Loire Canal in the heart of France

Briare to Nevers (BNV) - 7 days -or- Nevers to Briare (NVB) - 7 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
Ship - MS Raymonde	Ask about our Travel Insurance

Detailed Itinerary: Briare to Nevers (BNV)

Skip to Nevers to Briare itinerary

DAY 1: BRIARE (Embarkation)

Passengers are welcome to board at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and dinner. We'll cruise through the Briare Aqueduct, whose 14 masonry supports were built by the Eiffel Company. Until recently, it was the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. Afterwards, we'll return to Briare.

*There is an OPTIONAL transfer by coach from Paris meeting place to our barge in Briare (duration ~2:15). Please contact us for details and pricing.

DAY 2: BRIARE – LERE

Join us on a visit of Briare and the Deux Marines Museum. We'll take a tourist train to discover the village of Briare and its hidden treasures, among them the Chateau de Trousse-Barriere - an imposing 19th-century brick castle - and the town hall, a modest castle that was modified in the 18th century. Traveling along the treelined canal, we'll also see locks and lock-keeper houses and the quaint bridges that cross the waterways. The 19th-century Church of Saint-Etienne was built on the site of an earlier church and combines elements taken from both Byzantine and Gothic styles of architecture. Then, we'll visit the Deux Marines Museum and learn about the history of the Loire and its canals: the spot that was once considered the most important waterway crossroads in France. We'll spend the afternoon cruising to Léré. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 3: LERE – MENETREOL-SOUS-SANCERRE

Join us on an excursion to Sancerre and a goat farm. Set in the historic Berry region, Sancerre overlooks the gorgeous Loire Valley. You'll discover this beautiful medieval city by following the Fil d'Ariane: a red line painted on the streets taking you past the old wine-making neighborhoods, bakeries, fascinating buildings, and lovely art galleries. The Fief Tower (Note: this is an OPTIONAL visit with a separate entrance fee; significant stairs to climb) is the only remaining tower of the 14th-century medieval castle. Afterwards, we'll visit a goat farm and have a tasting of its trademark cheeses and the local Sancerre wine. The family on the farm is raising approximately 200 goats and 60 cows and will be happy to share their cheese-making secrets with you. We'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 4: MENETREOL-SOUS-SANCERRE – HERRY

We'll leave by coach for a visit of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we'll visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center located in a beautiful setting. We'll visit the vineyards, the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting. Afterwards, we'll return on board and continue towards Herry. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 5: HERRY - COURS-LES-BARRES

Tour of La Charité-sur-Loire followed by a tasting of handmade caramel and chocolate sweets. We’ll return on board the ship and spend the afternoon cruising towards Cours-les-Barres. While the ship cruises, feel free to walk along the canal or use the bikes available on board (approximately 3 miles/5 km). Tonight is our festive gala evening.

DAY 6: COURS-LES-BARRES - NEVERS

We'll leave by coach for the visit to the Fontmorigny Abbey, a privately-owned French historical monument. Now one of the main cultural sites in the area, it is testimony to over 8 centuries of French religious heritage. The contemporary stain-glass windows are not to be missed. We'll continue on to visit Apremont-sur-Allier and its floral garden. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this small medieval jewel on the bank of the Allier is an absolute must-see. The village offers a stunning point of view of the castle that overlooks it, also a nice stroll along the Allier river. We'll return on board at the end of the morning and cruise to Nevers through the afternoon. Take advantage of this time to ride one of our onboard bikes or walk along the canal (2km-long). At nightfall, we'll leave on a romantic tour of Nevers with lanterns.

DAY 7: NEVERS (Disembarkation)

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

*There is an OPTIONAL transfer by coach from Nevers to Paris drop off place (duration ~2:15). Please contact us for details and pricing.

Departures & Pricing

Detailed Itinerary: Nevers to Briare

Skip to Briare to Nevers itinerary

DAY 1: NEVERS (Embarkation)

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner. At nightfall, we'll leave on a romantic tour of Nevers with lanterns.

*There is an OPTIONAL transfer by coach from Paris meeting place to the barge in Nevers (duration ~2:4.). Please contact us for details and pricing.

DAY 2: NEVERS - COURS-LES-BARRES

This morning, join us for a visit of Nevers. Our visit will begin with the Espace Bernadette Soubirous, the final resting place of the simple country girl from Lourdes who claimed to have seen the Virgin 18 times. We'll then continue to the city center where we'll be able to see Ducal Palace, considered the first of the Loire's castles. Built on the hill, the palace overlooks the center of the old town, the Republic Square and a large park. We'll stroll through the remarkably preserved old quarter, with its half-timbered houses and picturesque streets, before reaching the Nevers Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Quriaqos and Julietta, a national monument of France. We'll have a brief visit to the pottery quarter before ending our tour with a tasting of local products. We'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Cours-les-Barres. Take advantage of this moment to ride along a portion of the EuroVélo 6, the bike route traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 3: COURS-LES-BARRES - HERRY

We'll leave by coach for the visit to the Fontmorigny Abbey, a privately-owned French historical monument. Now one of the main cultural sites in the area, it is testimony to over 8 centuries of French religious heritage. The contemporary stain-glass windows are not to be missed. We'll continue on to visit Apremont-sur-Allier and its floral garden. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this small medieval jewel on the bank of the Allier is an absolute must-see. The village offers a stunning point of view of the castle that overlooks it, also a nice stroll along the Allier river. Afterwards, we'll return on board and continue towards Herry. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 4: HERRY - MENETREOL-SOUS-SANCERRE

Tour of La Charité-sur-Loire followed by a tasting of handmade caramel and chocolate sweets. Our ship will cruise to Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. While the ship cruises, feel free to walk along the canal or use the bikes available on board (approximately .6 miles/1 km). The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.

DAY 5: MENETREOL-SOUS-SANCERRE - LERE

We'll leave by coach for a visit of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we'll visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center located in a beautiful setting. We'll visit the vineyards, the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting*. Once we return on board, we'll continue towards Léré. The evening is free to do as you please.

DAY 6: LERE - BRIARE

We'll set off for an excursion to Sancerre and a goat farm. Set in the historic Berry region, Sancerre overlooks the gorgeous Loire Valley. We'll discover this beautiful medieval city by following the Fil d'Ariane: a red line painted on the streets taking you past the old wine-making neighborhoods, bakeries, fascinating buildings, and lovely art galleries.
The Fief Tower (significant stairs to climb) is the only remaining tower of the 14th-century medieval castle. Afterwards, we'll visit a goat farm and have a tasting of its trademark cheeses and the local Sancerre wine. The family on the farm is raising approximately 200 goats and 60 cows and will be happy to share their cheese-making secrets with you. We'll spend the afternoon cruising to Briare, cruising through the Briare Aqueduct, whose 14 masonry supports were built by the Eiffel Company. Until recently, it was the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

DAY 7: BRIARE (Disembarkation)

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

*There is an OPTIONAL transfer by coach from Briare to Paris drop off place (duration ~2:15). Please contact us for details and pricing.

Advisements:

• A valid passport is required for travel. Passports must be valid at least 6 months after the last day of travel.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• The itinerary is subject to mooring availability at locks or ports, and may be modified as necessary.
• For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise operator and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise .