The 8 passenger L'Art de Vivre started life as a Scottish munitions carrier and survived long enough to be transformed by a team of skilled crafts-men
into a floating celebration of the Burgundian "good life".
Your crew of four comprises Captain, Tour guide, Master Chef and
Hostess, all with a love for the Nivernais canal, and all secure in the
knowledge that their vessel represents L'Art de Vivre itself.
The region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey back in
time along a magical waterway. The Upper Nivernais remains an
undiscovered region, well off the beaten track on the edge of the
Morvan hills. The sleepy hamlets, white grazing Charolais cattle, woods
and forrests are typical of the scenery we cruise through.
During the summer months we visit the Valley of Sardy, a
canal section with smaller locks, where time seems to have stood still
for over two hundred years. The hand-swung bridges are a delight and we
pass old logging sites which are now almost forgotten memory for the
local people.
This is the original home of luxury hotel barging and yet
today, a barge is a rarity, welcomed by all, and every journey is a
great event.
Cruise Highlights
Cuisine Aboard
All-inclusive open bar, free wines, gourmet cuisine, entry fees to excursions
regional specialties
Terrine de Pêcheur façon Maison, Tourte Chaude d'Escargots à la Ciboulette, Filet de Rouget au Safron
Medieval town of Clamecy and 13th century cathedral
wine cellar
Sancerre, Chablis, Pouilly Fumé,Cote de Nuits, Hautes Côtes de Beaune
16 Lock flight at Valley of Sardy
cheese board
Brie, Maroilles, Pont L'Eveque,
St Marcellin
Visit the 16th Century home of Marechal Vauban
Tour the hill-top basilica of Vézelay
Wine tasting at Tannay
Optional Hot Air Ballooning
2008 Itinerary
Sunday: Day 1 - PARIS TO CLAMECY Guests are met at the pick up hotel at 1.30 pm and transferred to L'Art
de Vivre. After a Champagne Welcome, wander the logging capital and
raison d'être of the Nivernais canal. Dinner aboard.
Monday: Day 2 - CLAMECY TO VILLIERS-SUR-YONNE There is time this morning before the barge departs to stroll around
the narrow streets of Clamecy and maybe visit the Logging & Barging
Museum or climb the hill to view the 13th century Collegiale de St
Martin. Cruise from Clamecy in the late morning, passing the quaint
village of Chevroches perched on the hillside. During lunch we moor at
Villiers-sur-Yonne in its picturesque setting under willow trees. Our
excursion this afternoon is to the impressive half built fortification
at Guedelon. This is a 25 year project, set up to demonstrate the
traditional building methods from the 12th to 14th centuries. Meet the
stone masons, blacksmiths and other craftsmen. Enjoy a game of boules
before dinner aboard.
Tuesday: Day 3 - VILLIERS-SUR-YONNE TO MONCEAUX LE COMTE Morning cruise, passing beneath the first of many Van Gogh style hand
operated lifting bridges. A short bike ride is recommended into the
village of Anois to visit "Le Bouc qui Fume" (the smoking billy goat),
an antique/curiosity shop in an old chapel. Before stopping at Tannay
for lunch we pass through an impressive double chambered lock. After
lunch a brief drive to visit the local wineries of Tannay, famous for
its rather special Melon grape variety. We then continue our cruise and
moor in the old logging port of Monceaux le Comte. Dinner ashore at the
Auberge du Centre serving traditional local cuisine.
Wednesday: Day 4 - MONCEAUX LE COMTE TO LA GRANGES This morning we visit one of Burgundy's most picturesque hill-top
settings, Vezelay. Discover the treasured Romanesque Basilica of St
Mary Magdalene, lace and craft shops and superb views over the
surrounding countryside. Return to the barge for lunch and cruise to La
Granges. On the way, we have an opportunity to stroll around
Chitry-les-Mines with it’s 16th century Château, used during world war
two as an H.Q. by the local Resistance Group « Les Loups » (The
Wolves). Dinner aboard.
Thursday: Day 5 - LA GRANGES TO SARDY As we cruise through the remote countryside and meadows of "France
Profonde" on our way to Sardy, you will notice that the locks are lot
older with their huge beam-levered lock gates and ivy covered lock
houses. After lunch we visit the Château of Bazoches, whose illustrious
visitors included Richard the Lionheart. It later became the home of
Marechal Vauban, the famous defence engineer, in whose family it has
remained until this day. Dinner aboard.
Friday: Day 6 - SARDY TO BAYE Today we begin with a passage through the 16-lock flight leading to the
summit of the Nivernais canal. The locks are sometimes less than 200
yards apart! Alongside each lock is a pretty waterfall-weir and some of
the lock houses are now craft shops, which can be visited whilst you
stroll alongside the barge. Many consider this canal reach to be one of
the most beautiful in France. We moor for lunch at the last lock before
our final cruise through the three tunnels of La Collancelle set in the
deep cut to Baye lake, which marks the summit. Captain's Farewell
Dinner aboard.
Saturday: Day 7 - BAYE TO PARIS After breakfast return to the Paris meeting point hotel for approximately 1pm.
On alternative weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. Itineraries are subject to change.
2009 Departure Dates
2009 Cruise Rates
Contact us for special pricing
Contact us now to book this cruise or for more information Contact
Prices Do Not Include: Drinks or insurance.
For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise line and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.
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