Libellule
3 night Champagne Cruise
The Libellule is an ideal riverboat with a forward saloon and large windows affording excellent views of the surrounding countryside and a separate dining room. She has very spacious cabins, making her one of the most comfortable of the barges.
The three night/four day itinerary gives a taste of barging and of the region by cruising through the very heart of the Champagne area, with visits to Moet & Chandon and one of the other great champagne houses. There will be time to explore two centers of the champagne trade, the town of Epernay and the city of Reims with its remarkable Gothic cathedral, where no fewer than 25 kings of France were crowned.
There is an opportunity to experience both river and canal cruising as the route is partly on the picturesque Marne and partly on the lateral canal.
During the return transfer to Paris, the cruise is crowned with a visit to the extraordinary chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte, the masterpiece of 17C architecture and landscaping that inspired Louis XIV to build the palace of Versailles.
Monday, DAY 1
Château Thierryransfer by coach to the Libellule moored in Condé sur Marne. The scenery changes gradually as we leave the bustle of Paris behind and cross the fertile rolling hills of the Champagne region. There will be a break midway at a service area and we arrive at the Libellule, moored at Château-Thierry, our mooring for the evening and birthplace of Jean de la Fontaine, author of the famous fables. Time to settle in or stroll into town before dinner.
Tuesday, DAY 2
Château Thierry / CumièresCruise upstream on the Marne, the river valley gradually narrows and becomes more steep-sided, its slopes covered in vineyards and dotted with a number of remarkable properties as well as picturesque hamlets, owing their existence to the affluence brought to the area over the last three centuries by their produce. Moor at Cumières, a charming village surrounded by Premier Cru vineyards and overlooked by the former Benedictine monastery of Hautvillers where, at the end of the 17th century, the celebrated brother cellarman Dom Pérignon first blended grapes to make champagne as we know it. Afternoon visit of the cathedral at Reims. There will be a visit, with tasting, of the cellars of one of the great champagne houses (such as Taittinger, Veuve, Clicquot, Pommery or Mumm). Return to the Libellule.
Wednesday,
DAY 3 Cumières
/ Condé sur Marne
Cruise upstream to the town of Epernay, centre of the
champagne wine trade. We moor close to the town centre, and visit the famous
cellars of Moët and Chandon after which there will be a tasting of the produce
of this, the first of all the champagne houses, founded in 1743. Afterwards
there will be time free to explore the town of Epernay. Cruise back downstream
to the junction of the Canal latéral à la Marne with the river and pass
through the first of the narrow, canal locks and cruise eastwards along the
Canal Latéral à la Marne. The towpath, along this part of the canal and
several locks make it possible to disembark and stroll alongside or take a
bicycle into one of the nearby villages. Mid-afternoon we pass the village of
Dizy and then the village of Ay, famous for its vineyards. Late afternoon we
moor at Condé sur Marne.
Thursday, DAY
4 Cumières/
Château-Thierry
Depart the boat and make a
detour to the south on the return journey by motor coach to Paris, to Vaux le
Vicomte to visit the magnificent château built here in the 17th century by
Fouquet, Louis XIV’s minister of finance. Afterwards the rest of journey to
Paris will take about an hour.
FEATURES
* Cabins :
Lower Deck- 6 twins, 1 double
Upper Deck- 2 twins, 1 double
* 20 Passengers
* 7 Crew members
* Flower Decorated Sundeck
* TV and Video in each cabin
* Stereo, CD
* Air conditioning / Central Heating
* Bicycles on board
* Handicap Access - NO
Few possibilities for biking and walking
small sundeck with steep stairs
