b'By Ship 1 Nights on shipTO/FROM THE WATERWAYS OF FRANCEPARIS LONDON By Rail By CoachYONNE RIVER Days 1-2 - London, Sens and Montereau ENDWe depart from London St Pancras on the Eurostar. Alighting inCHTEAU DE Paris, we transfer by coach to Sens, on the banks of the Yonne River.VAUX LE VICOMTEBoarding our barge, MS Deborah, were greeted with a welcomeVRY MELUNcocktail before dinner. Were introduced to Sens on an insightful guided tour on Day 2, discovering one of the oldest cities in France.CHTEAUPROVINSWe visit the Gothic cathedral, with its intricate stained-glass windows,DE FONTAINEBLEAU MONTEREAUand spend time at the lively food market, March Couvert. HundredsMORET-LOING- 6of vendors come here daily to sell local vegetables, cheese, meat,ET-ORVANNESTARTgingerbread and honey. Theres some free time to experience thisSENSsnippet of everyday life in Sens before returning to our barge for lunch. In the afternoon, we begin cruising the Yonne River, glidingWHATS INCLUDED past idyllic hamlets of stone cottages and thick woodland until we reach Montereau-Fault-Yonne for the night. Your evening is free to explore. This quiet French town is a well-kept secret, boasting someUK Tour Manager until excellent cafs, a quaint riverside church and a number of colourfulembarkation and from murals painted on walls across the town.disembarkation of MS Days 3-4 - Moret-sur-Loing, Provins and Fontainebleau DeborahWe reach the Loing River and continue to Moret-sur-Loing, a picturesque medieval town that lies close to Fontainebleau Forest,All cruise excursionsWATERWAYS OF THE YONNE, PARISwhere we moor. After lunch, we set out for Provins, a UNESCO-listed town boasting an impressive 58 historic monuments. We take a Return, escorted rail AND THE PETITE SEINE guided tour of the city, taking in its medieval charm, including half- travel from London St timbered houses dating from the 13th century. Provins is famousPancras to your bargefor its rose cultivation and produces a wide variety of rose-based MS DEBORAH food products. We get to sample some of the local rose honey,6-night cruise aboard enjoying its distinctive floral flavours, before returning to our bargeMS Deborahfor dinner. Re-joining the Seine on Day 4, we cruise past pretty 7 DAYS FROM 2,395 scenery on our way to Melun. We visit the Chteau of Fontainebleau in the afternoon, once used by French royals as a hunting lodge andBreakfast, lunch and Glide along the Seine and its tributariesthe Yonne and Loing Rivers - on a cruisehome to Napoleon IIIs imperial theatre. One of the most impressivedinner each day ofthats exclusive to Great Rail Journeys. Take in picturesque villages, medievalrooms in the palace, it features three levels of plush seating, anyour cruiseornate chandelier and a stage with hand-painted sets. Theres also a churches, lichen-draped forests and the grandeur of royal chteaux. ballroom that displays Italian frescoes and intricate woodwork fromAll-inclusive selection of the 16th century, while hundreds of acres of parkland surround thecomplimentary beers, chteau, punctuated with magnificent sculptures. wines and soft drinks each day of your cruiseDays 5-7 - Barbizon, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Paris and LondonAfter a relaxing morning sailing, we arrive in vry, on the outskirtsComplimentary luggage of Paris. From here, our coach takes us to the painters village oftransfersCRUISE HIGHLIGHTSFONTAINEBLEAU PALACE Barbizon. A settlement that began as a grocery store soon grew to become the birthplace of the Barbizon School of Art, a precursor to French Impressionism. Youre free to explore the charming villageSHIP INFORMATION Visit Fontainebleau Palace Spread over manyon your own; one of the main attractions here is the Auberge acres and flaunting an elegant horseshoeGanne. Once the meeting place of the resident artists, it now housesFor deck plans and more ship stairway, monarchs would ride out from here toa museum exhibiting the life and work of local painters. In theinformation, please see pages hunt. Today, it offers a timeless glimpse into whatevening, we enjoy a gala dinner. We explore another stately chteau,138-141life was like for French aristocrats. Vaux-le-Vicomte, on Day 6. Built by King Louis XIV, its considered a masterpiece of the French Baroque style. Opulent tapestries, Explore Barbizon Wander this charming villagepaintings and chandeliers adorn the interiors, while the gardens at your own pace. One of the main attractionsboast beautifully laid-out flowerbeds and elaborate fountains.here is the Auberge Ganne, a former meetingAfter a tour, we sail back to Paris for an illuminated city cruise. We place for resident painters. These days, it housestravel on the Eurostar to London St Pancras on Day 7.a museum exhibiting the life and works of local artists.Illuminated Paris cruise Our barge takes us along narrow canals and beneath low bridges as2023 Rail & Cruise from London St Pancraswe experience the City of Love from a differentTour Code: CYR | Standard Class Railperspective. See life on the French capitals two banks and admire the brightly lit Eiffel Tower, aJun 21 2,495 Aug 16 2,395true Parisian icon. Deposit from 360 per person. Solo Occupancy available. 106 THE WATERWAYS OF FRANCE Call us on 01904 521972 or visit GreatRail.com for more details 107'