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- Luciole
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€4,650 Per Person
€4,650 Per Person
Charming Class
Luciole is a cozy and casual first class barge that travels along the Nivernais Canal in Burgundy. This hotel barge started cruising since 1976.
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Description
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- Cruise Highlights
Accommodation Cabin accommodation (twin or double bed) with en-suite bathroom
Activity Excursions and admittance fees as per the itinerary
Meals All meals included - authentic French cuisine and regional specialities plus a selection of fine wines
Drinks Open bar with alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks
Inclusion Sun deck
Transportation Vehicle for transfers and excursions
Activity Use of bicycles
Tour Visit magnificent Gothic cathedrals and churches.
Tour Chateaux and historic monuments
Itinerary Cruise between Auxerre and Clamency.
Transfers Transfer from the airport/hotel or train station to the barge
Inclusion WiFi on board
Summary
Luciole is known for an extremely warm on-board atmosphere, and the vessel has a relaxed "country French" ambiance. The saloon is large and welcoming, with comfortable seating and dining areas. The welcoming deck was garnished with colorful flowers.
The Luciole offers cruising in ultimate comfort and relaxation!
Cruise Highlights
- All-inclusive 6-night/7-day cruise
- Daily excursions and entry fees to:
- Auxerre, a medieval town, and its magnifi cent cathedral
- Noyers-sur-Serein, a pretty Burgundian village
- Vezelay town and its hilltop basilica
- Château de Bazoches, home to the Marquis de Vauban
- Brocard wine cellar for Chablis wine tasting
- All gourmet meals and open-bar 24/7
- Attentive service from 6 crew members
- Transfers between Paris and Luciole
- Cruise from April to October/Sunday departures
- Bookings available by the cabin. Alternatively, this barge may be fully chartered for the exclusive use of your group.
Cruise Cuisine
Lunch
- Smoked salmon with capers & lemon; goat’s cheese and tomato tart; charcuterie board with green olives; chickpea and bean salad; roasted mixed pepper & courgette; green salad with croutons
- Mediterranean couscous; Burgundian gougère; mange tout & celeriac remoulade; cucumber ribbons & marinated artichokes; green bean and chorizo salad; feta & lambs lettuce salad; French bread & butter pudding
Dinner
- Slow braised lamb croquant with lentil stew; crispy bacon & wild mushroom sauce; steamed cod with sauce vierge; lemon crushed violet potatoes; roasted celeriac & turnip matchsticks; Sticky toffee pudding with caramel ice cream
- Slow roasted butternut velouté; twice cooked pork belly with pork cheek; red wine braised cabbage; buttered baby carrots; French lemon tarte with lime sauce
Wines
- Chablis - Brocard 2012
- Irancy - Benoit Cantin 2014
- Vézelay - Henri de Vézelay 2011
- Chitry - Olivier Morin 2012
- Aligoté - Bersan 2011
- Chardonnay - Pascal Bouchard 2011
- Sancerre - Domaine Achieres 2013
- Melon - Coteaux de Tannay 2014
- Tavel rosé - Les Mesillons 2014
- Côtes d'Auxerre - Blanc 2014
Cheeses
- Comté & Valençay
- Morbier & Petit Billy
- Reblochon & Chaource
- Camembert & Livarot
- Cantal & Bresse Bleu
- Sauvignon Saint Bris - Tourelle 2014
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Itinerary
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Auxerre to Bazoches
Day 1, Sunday
The rendezvous in Paris at the Hotel Mansart (charter groups are welcome to choose an alternative location) with the Luciole's representative is at 2:15 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.Day 2, Monday
The 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. Here in 1972 local winemakers restored the fortunes of this ancient vineyard area with the production of sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne in what are now known as the Caves de Bailly. The picturesque villages of St Bris and Irancy, also devoted to wine, stand nearby.Our excursion: in the afternoon is made to a wine cellar in the vicinity of Chablis, barely sixteen kilometres to the east of Auxerre. Chablis is one of the greatest names in wine, with production within a strictly-defined area. The most prestigious wines are produced from vineyards on the south of the town on 'Grand Cru Hill'.
Day 3, Tuesday
The cruise in the morning along the canal takes you towards the River Cure on the 'Vermenton Arm' and the village of Accolay.Our excursion: to historic Auxerre is in the afternoon. The city offers many historic features: the Cathedral of St Étienne, Abbey of St Germain, with the Romanesque crypt and attractive clock tower in the centre of the town, built in the 15th Century. The Church presides over one of the most attractive waterfronts in France, recently renovated and where the Luciole now has her own private mooring.
Nearby, Place St Nicholas commemorates the patron saint of barge people and adjacent, from the Place du Coche Eau, passengers once boarded packet-boats for Paris. Auxerre was originally a Roman camp and became a centre of learning and pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. It was declared a holy city by the Pope in the 11th Century. The town's strategic position ensured a rich trading history and also saw Joan of Arc stop twice to pray in the Cathedral of St Étienne. Napoleon famously stayed in Auxerre during "the hundred days" following his return from exile on Elba, before heading north to Waterloo in 1815. The afternoon provides a good opportunity to visit the shops and take time to enjoy French provincial life.
Day 4, Wednesday
Our excursion: in the morning from Accolay, takes us to the delightful town of 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. Above the town, the reconstruction of the medieval castle progresses. Catholic Henry IV ordered the destruction of the Protestant-owned château in 1599. Look out for the orchids in May and June. One of our charter groups, with a passion for these rare wild flowers found 6 amongst the old grounds of the chateau, much to the great delight of Willem Adriaan de Bruyn, who leads the renovation of this gem of Burgundian heritage.The cruise after lunch continues southwards to a night-time mooring beneath the walls of Mailly-le-Château. Here you can take the steep path from our mooring at Bourg d'en Bas, or Lower Town up to Mailly-le-Château where a terrace offers spectacular views of the Yonne Valley.
Day 5, Thursday
Our excursion: to Vézelay is in the morning, where the spectacular 11th Century Basilica dominates the steep sided hill town which has numerous shops and cafes. Vézelay was the historic starting point for two of the Crusades to the Holy Land, where Saint Bernard preached to the Crusaders in the presence of Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Vézelay owed its position of influence and prestige since it holds the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene and a Papal declaration attesting to their authenticity. The town was a high point of Medieval pilgrimage and was a major gathering point for the Crusaders on the way to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. There is plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this hilltop town and a super chance to visit the numerous craft shops selling clothes and gifts. Another opportunity too, to stop at one of the local cafes and watch the world go by (very French cafe life!).The cruise in the afternoon to an evening mooring at Lucy-sur-Yonne passes through a region where dramatic cliffs stand by the water's edge. Watch out for the delightful ducks and geese, who have made this canal bank their home. Along the cruise route the Rochers du Parc and those at Les Saussois are regularly used by climbers.
Day 6, Friday
The cruise in the morning takes us to the delightful medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise. The town features the 12th to 16th century church of St Martin that stands up on the hill in the town centre. Beside the river, stands the church of Our Lady of Bethlehem, which was opened in 1927. It was dedicated to the 50 successive bishops of Bethlehem who, unable to preside in Bethlehem itself, were resident at Clamecy from 1225 until the French Revolution in the late 18th century.Our excursion: on the final afternoon 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 (1633-1707). Vauban was France's great military tactician and engineer, who was responsible for the creation of the first coherent network of fortifications surrounding the developing kingdom of France. He was also a prolific and at times visionary writer who remained steadfastly loyal to his roots in the Morvan region around Avallon and Vézelay and considered the Château of Bazoches as his true home.
Day 7, Saturday
After breakfast, the Luciole bus departs for Place Vendôme, central Paris where taxis are available for onward travel. Anticipated arrival is at 1:00 pm. For guests wishing to travel elsewhere in France by train or hire car, a stop can always be made in Auxerre en-route to ParisPlease 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.
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Barge Details
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Luciole Deck Plan
- 6 crew
- 35 metres long
- 8 en-suite cabins: 3 twin/double, 3 twin, 2 single
- Air-conditioned
- Centrally heated
- Sundeck with umbrellas
- Bicycles available on board
- Library and music system
- Wi-Fi (subject to local reception)
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Dates & Prices
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Rates for 2018
Departure Date Per Person Single Cabin April 15, 22, 29 4,650 Euros 4,650 Euros May 6, 13, 20 4,650 Euros 4,650 Euros May 27 5,150 Euros 5,150 Euros June 3, 10, 17, 24 5,150 Euros 5,150 Euros July 1, 8, 15 5,150 Euros 5,150 Euros July 22, 29 4,650 Euros 4,650 Euros August 5, 12, 19, 26 4,650 Euros 4,650 Euros September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 5,150 Euros 5,150 Euros October 7 5,150 Euros 5,150 Euros October 14, 21 4,650 Euros 4,650 Euros Charter (Whole Barge)
Departure Date Charter 8 ppl Charter 10 ppl Charter 12 ppl Theme Cruise Supplement April 15, 22, 29 39,950 Euros 46,000 Euros 52,000 Euros 2,000 Euros May 6, 13, 20 39,950 Euros 46,000 Euros 52,000 Euros 2,000 Euros May 27 52,000 Euros 58,000 Euros 2,000 Euros June 3, 10, 17, 24 52,000 Euros 58,000 Euros 2,000 Euros July 1, 8,15 52,000 Euros 58,000 Euros 2,000 Euros July 22, 29 39,950 Euros 46,000 Euros 52,000 Euros 2,000 Euros August 5, 12, 19, 26 39,950 Euros 46,000 Euros 52,000 Euros 2,000 Euros September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 52,000 Euros 58,000 Euros 2,000 Euros October 7 52,000 Euros 58,000 Euros 2,000 Euros October 14, 21 39,950 Euros 46,000 Euros 52,000 Euros 2,000 Euros Terms & Conditions
Prices shown in Euros or US Dollar and will be converted in Australian Dollar (AUD) at time of payment using a daily ROE. An initial deposit of 30% of the total cruise fare for cabin or charter is payable at the time of booking. The balance must be paid within 100 days as per our terms and conditions and as specified in our confirmation invoice, which will be despatched when the booking form has been processed. Rates are subject to change. Cancellation policy applies to all bookings.
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Opening Hours:
9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday
Call us
Prefer speaking to us over the phone? Our Barge Specialists would love to help you out!
Opening Hours:
9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday