Saroche
Châlon-en-Champagne to Meaux
River Marne / Canal Latéral à la Marne

France revolves around exquisite food and fine wines - whilst other nations eat to live, France lives to eat! Every cruise on board Saroche is a gourmet experience. Whilst the majority of other passenger barges have a set menu each evening, Saroche offers a choice of dishes each evening on its 5-course menu. The chef will discuss your personal preferences with you and tailor the week's menus to reflect these. We also cater for special dietary needs. 

SUNDAY, DAY 1 - Châlon-en-Champagne
Guests are greeted at the pre-designated meeting point and escorted to Saroche in Châlon-en-Champagne, After settling in you are invited to join the captain for a champagne Reception and cruise safety briefing. Relax on deck and enjoy a pre dinner drink in the tranquility of the canal's tree-lined reaches; or stroll through the town which has some wonderful examples of architecture throughout the ages including the Cathedral of Notre Dame en Vaux, the half timbered house now the Office de Tourisme, the Prefecture and the Town Hall.

MONDAY, DAY 2 - Cruising : Châlon-en-Champagne to Mareuil sur Ay
Our morning cruise continues away from Châlon along the Canal Latéral à la Marne, through sleepy canalside villages and wooded reaches to, Mareuil sur Ay, a small canalside village with some very fine champagne houses. Here we moor on the canal banks in front of the château which is a good example of 17th Century architecture.
Excursion : Visit to Reims to the Cathedral where the Kings of France where crowned. Take time to taste some fine champagnes from the several well known champagne houses, whose cellars extend for over 18 kilometres,

TUESDAY, DAY 3 - Cruising : Mareuil sur Ay to Dormans
Shortly after leaving Mareuil we arrive at the village of Ay with its half-timbered houses and flower strewn courtyards. Then we leave the canal and journey on the River Marne with its wide flowing reaches and large sloping locks contrasting dramatically with those on the canal. We continue through the picturesque countryside and villages of Cumières and Damery to the town of Dormans where the Louis XIII château and Marshal Foch's Monument to the Marne Victories dominate the panoramic view over the valley.
Excursion: Visit the Château of Condé en Brie, once home of the Prince de Condé, with its interior decoration adorned with the works of great painters such as Watteau, Oudry and Boucher.

WEDNESDAY, DAY 4 - Cruising : Dormans to Château Thierry
Todays cruise continues downstream. through some of the finest scenery of the Marne valley, with clusters of hillside villages, before finally arriving at Château Thierry where it is impossible not to notice the vast memorial at the top of Hill 204.
Excursion : Optional visit to the Memorial at Hill 204.

THURSDAY, DAY 5 - Cruising : Château Thierry to La Ferte sous Jouarre
The author of fables, Jean de la Fontaine, was born here in 1621 and the house of his birth is now a museum. Our morning's cruise takes us downstream to a tranquil mooring at the Charly lock where we visit the village of Charly-sur-Marne for a private tasting in the flower-strewn courtyard of the Leguillette cellars. In the afternoon we leave the vineyards and proceed through the wooded countryside to the town of La Ferte, with its pretty walks and tree-lined boulevards hugging the river bank.

FRIDAY, DAY 6 - Cruising : La Ferte sous Jouarre to Meaux
Today's cruise continues down stream along the river through sleepy riverside villages and tree lined reaches to the town of Meaux, its historic city centre was formerly enclosed within a Gallo-Roman rampart, a good part of which can still be admired by visitors. The pedestrian shopping precinct has good cheese shops where local cheeses such as Brie de Meaux can be sampled. Our cruise ends with Captain's farewell dinner ashore.
Excursion : To Jouarre to visit the splendid Benedictine abbey, dating from the 7th Century. Visit the tower and the Merovingian and Carolingien crypts where there are some remarkable tombs. Optional visit to the town of Coullomiers to visit the cheese houses and sample the local wares at a tasting.

SATURDAY, DAY 7 - Meaux
Time after breakfast for one last chance to sit on deck before your departure from Saroche.

* The cruise is from Meaux to Chalon-en-Champagne on alternate weeks

This itinerary details the cruise route and gives examples of the visits which may be made from the vessel.
It is our aim to provide a cruise tailored for you,
wherever possible we will adjust the cruise to fit in with your requirements.
Activities such as riding, tennis, hot air ballooning and golf can be organised on request.
18 speed mountain bikes and boules are available on board.