m.touch travel
Burgundy
Barge Holiday
Art de Vivre
Cruise Highlights
Cruise Highlights:
• All-inclusive open bar, free wines,gourmet cuisine,
entry fees to excursions
• Medieval town of Clamecy and 13th
century cathedral
• 16 Lock flight at Valley of Sardy
• Foie Gras tasting, with a noble Chablis
• Visit the 16th Century home of Marechal Vauban
• Tour the hill-top basilica of Vézelay
• Wine tasting at Precy le Moult
Boat Features - Art de Vivre
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Boat Features
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• 100 Feet Long • 8 Passengers • 4 British Crew- Captain • 3 Twin/ 1 Dble State Room • Air Conditioned • Shaded Sun Deck • Central Heating • Spa Pool • Air Conditioned Bus • 8 Touring Bikes |
Boat Design
Cuisine Aboard
Regional Specialities • Terrine de Pêcheur façon Maison Wine Cellar • Sancerre, Chablis Cheese Board • Brie |
Testimonials
| "The cuisine and staff were excellent. We most enjoyed our visits to the market and countryside, accompanied by our tour guide. Overall, to sum up our experience: Very enjoyable-staff wonderful-food exceptional. All of it in the company of 6 people I thoroughly enjoyed, whom I would never had met before the trip." |
| "It was the most relaxing trip I have ever taken!. Just watched France float past, when not eating and drinking wonderful wine. All of it in the company of 6 people I thoroughly enjoyed, whom I would never had met before the trip." |
| "Another fabulous barge trip. The weather was not perfect but the boat and staff were. The food and wine were truly first class. We've made some wonderful new friends that I feel sure we will see again." |
| "Going down the 8 locks of Fonserannes at Beziers and through the tunnel and into the Etang de Thau to Marsaillian was an experience we shall never forget. The canal itself is truly a peaceful picture postcard." |
Barges in Burgundy :
Departures:
Sundays Mar 23 - Nov 9
Value Periods (inclusive)
Mar 23 - Apr 20
Jul 6 - Aug 24
OCt 26 - Nov 9
Prices
Regular Season: 3,050€ pp
Value Season: 2,650€ pp
Check Availability 
L'Art de Vivre • 6 Nights • Burgundy • Upper Nivernais
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
The Burgundy region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey
back in time along a magical waterway
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Detailed map |
| Daily Itinerary Aboard |
Sunday, Day 1 Paris to Clamecy Monday, Day 2 Clamecy to Villiers sur Yonne We continue our first day's cruise to the charming hamlet of
Villiers sur Yonne. Dinner aboard Tuesday, Day 3 Villiers sur Yonne to Tanny Wednesday, Day 4 Tanny to Citry les Mines Thursday, Day 5 Citry les Mines to Sardy Friday, Day 6 Sardy to Baye Saturday, Day 7 Baye to Paris This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction.
Familly Schedule Family cruise Sunday, Day 1 Paris to Clamecy Guests are met at the hotel at 1.30 pm and transferred to L’Art de Vivre. After a Champagne Welcome, there is time for a cycle ride into the logging capital and raison d’être of the Nivernais canal, enjoying the 13th century cathedral, old winding streets and views of the River Yonne. Dinner aboard. Monday, Family cruise Monday, Day 2 Clamecy to Villiers sur Yonne Morning cruise from Clamecy, with a stop at Chevroches for a visit to the 18th century model farm of Misery accompanied by the owner Mme Dhuick. Here we taste farm produce from jam to the famed Foie Gras, all of this accompanied by a fragrant Chablis. Return to the barge to continue our first day’s cruise to the charming hamlet of Villiers sur Yonne. Time for a game of boules on the canal path before dinner aboard. Tuesday, Family cruise Family cruise Tuesday, Day 3 Villiers sur Yonne to Tanny This morning we visit Cardoland, which is a vast wooded park about 7km from Vezelay. The sculptor, Cardo, created this wonderful prehistoric world of life size dinosaurs. It has a museum, caves, exhibition and prehistoric play area. Cardoland is a wonderful visit for families with younger children but there is also an option to visit the Château of Bazoches instead, home of Marechal Vauban, whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart. Cruise this afternoon towards Tannay passing the impressive double lock at Tannay before mooring in the old logging port. During the cruise there is an opportunity for the children to join the Chef in the galley for hand on cooking time. Dinner ashore tonight at a local auberge. Wednesday, Family cruise Family cruise Wednesday, Day 4 Tanny to Citry les Mines The family can choose this morning’s visit. All ages will love a canoeing trip in on the River Cure near Vezelay. The canoeing really is a fantastic excursion, which we feel, should not be missed but for those families who prefer something a little less adventurous we can visit one of Burgundy’s most picturesque hilltop settings – Vezelay instead. Discover the treasured Roman Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, lace and craft shops and superb views over the surrounding countryside. Return to the barge and cruise to Chitry, passing through Dirol and its two Van Gogh style hand-operated lift bridges. Dinner aboard Thursday, Family cruise Day 5 Family cruise Thursday, Day 5 Citry les Mines to Sardy After breakfast we again have a choice of a morning of sailing at the local natural adventure park or a morning stroll around the village of Chitry. In Chitry we visit Elise Villiers, a wine maker from Precy le Moult and sample some of the regions finest Chardonnay and the famed wine made from the ‘Melon’grape. In the afternoon we cruise through beautiful countryside to Sardy. There is also an opportunity for indoor swimming at the pool at Chatillon en Bazois. Dinner aboard. Friday, Family cruise Family cruise Friday, Day 6 Sardy to Baye Today we begin our day making our passage through the 16-lock flight leading to the summit of the Nivernais canal. These locks are sometimes less than 200 yards apart! Alongside each lock is a pretty waterfall, maintaining the level of the canal, and some of the lock houses are now craft shops, which can be visited. Many consider this canal reach to be one of the most beautiful in France. During the cruise the Captain has arranged a fabulous treasure hunt to entertain children and adults alike and also plenty of time for the children to have fun in the jacuzzi and also play Magnetic Fishing either in the Canal for the older children or in the jacuzzi for the younger children 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 before the lake, which marks the summit. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard. Saturday, Family cruise Saturday, Day 7 Baye to Paris After breakfast return to Paris to the meeting point, Hotel
Ampère, at approximately 1pm BICYCLES: There are 8 adult bikes on board. Children’s
bikes for all ages and/or child seats for adult bikes can be supplied
at no charge if requested to our Reservation Department at least
6 weeks prior to departure. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: Hot air ballooning, pony trekking
and quad biking can be arranged at an additional supplement. Optional
activities usually require advanced booking so please advise our
Reservation Department at least 6 weeks prior to departure. BABY/CHILD EQUIPMENT: We are pleased to supply travel
cots, high chairs, car seat, bottle warmer, toys, stroller etc
at no charge but we must be notified at least 6 weeks prior to
departure as to your requirements NOTE: On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. |