The Loire Valley Waterways
AN ALL INCLUSIVE BARGE CRUISE THROUGH THE SCENIC LOIRE VALLEY
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7 Days from £2,095per
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You are viewing the 2020 itinerary
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Cruise serenely along the idyllic waterways of the Loire Valley and take in the historic towns and villages that have grown prosperous on the bounty of the region's world-class wine trade.
Our journey begins at our dedicated Departure Office in London St Pancras, where you meet your Tour Manager before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. From here, transfer to your barge, The Deborah, at Briare. After meeting the crew, enjoy dinner on board, cruising through the Briare Aqueduct.
The aqueduct was once the longest navigable aqueduct in the world between 1896 and 2003 until the introduction of the Magdeburg Water Bridge. The Briare Aqueduct was originally designed to replace a river-level crossing as it was too susceptible to being flooded.
Today, explore Briare, discovering the 19th-century Château de Trousse-Barrière, formerly an old farmhouse and bought by engineer Hugues Cosnier at the time of the construction of Briare's canal. Later make a visit to Briare's Museum Conservatory, dedicated to the Loire Valley and its canals. Become immersed in the traditions of this proud canal-faring region as you learn about the development of boating on the Loire and the navigational techniques that sailors used to utilise.
Following time at the museum continue cruising to Léré, a small town set amidst a popular farming area and by the banks of the Loire.
Today explore beautiful, medieval Sancerre, an attractive hilltop town that overlooks the undulating scenery of its surrounding region. Léré was formerly in the land of Gaul and settled by the Celtic Bituriges tribe, more recently Sancerre was a regional command centre for the French Resistance in the Second World War, coordinating the destruction of many bridges in the region to hinder German movements. After time here, you are treated to a tasting of the region's famous aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, along with a selection of cheeses at a goat farm.
Whilst Sancerre was once known for its Pinot vintages, a terrible case of phylloxera insects decimated the vineyards. During the replanting process, the formerly favourable Pinot grapes were replaced with Sauvignon Blanc crops, which it is famous for today.
Today enjoy a visit to Pouilly-sur-Loire, an idyllic town which is famous for its white wines. Take a tour of the vineyards and cellars where the Pouilly-Fumé grape is grown and the wine stocked. The grapes of this wine form a grey bloom coating at maturity, which is the colour of smoke, hence the 'Fumé' name; however, Fumé also describes the celebrated 'gun smoke' bouquet of this particular wine. Indulge in a tasting that allows you to experience the famous flavours of this delightful wine first hand. Fittingly, the wine cultivated in this area of France would be exclusively exported and delivered by barge, after the opening of the Canal de Briare in 1642. Afterwards, continue to Chapelle Montlinard, a rural village that comprises of farmland and a small collection of rustic hamlets.
Today enjoy a tour of La Charité-sur-Loire, built around its priory - the original Cluniac priory in the area which has withstood much turmoil in its long history, including a great fire and the French Wars of Religion - during which it endured an 8-month siege by Catholic forces. During the French Revolution a road was planned to cut through the land on which the priory stood, but thankfully it was saved by a report by Prosper Merimée, the first inspector of monuments, who thought the priory was historically significant enough to be spared. Make a visit to the priory before heading to a nearby farm. After time to explore, return to the ship, where a Gala dinner is served tonight.
Explore Fontmorigny Abbey today, a former Cistercian monastery that is now privately owned and has seen a resurgence of late, becoming one of the most popular monuments in the region. You then see the floral gardens of Apremont-sur-Allier, where there is free time to discover the delight of its gardens - considered some of the most beautiful in France - at your own pace. Tonight, enjoy a lantern-lit tour of Nevers.
After breakfast disembark in Nevers then transfer to Paris for the Eurostar service to London.
Briare
Your time in historic Briare is spent discovering its 19th century Château and Museum Conservatory, giving a splendid insight into the Loire Valley's canals.
Sancerre
Sancerre is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc wines and its delicious goat's cheese, and we are privileged enough to be able to sample both during our time here.
Pouilly-sur-Loire
Another French town famous for its distinctive wines, Pouilly-sur-Loire is home to the unmistakable Pouilly-Fumé, known for its 'gun smoke' bouquet, which we sample during our time here.
La Charité-sur-Loire
This town's historic priory was charms us as we discover its history and how the town developed around it.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
An escorted experience and all travel arrangements
Comfortable accommodation in your destination
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
Enhancing your tour
Please note: This tour may be suitable for reduced mobility passengers, please call for further information.
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Tour Rating
based on 2 verified reviews
The standard of accommodation, staff and food on the barge was outstanding. Nothing too much trouble and the team made the whole experience a first class holiday. However... the coach journey from Gard du Nord to meeting the barge took over 4.5 hrs. Just getting out of, and back into, Paris took over 2 hours. This was an extremely long and tiresome journey meaning that we didn't get to the barge until after 2030 hrs.
A superb holiday let down only by the long coach journey from Paris to the noat
The time spent on the barge was excellent. Due to the heat we only went on one trip, to Sancerre, which was most enjoyable but we left the guide, when we reached the town square, and had a coffee. We gathered from fellow bargees that the other trips were good. Whilst the food was very good and masses, rather too much, of it we felt it lacked the sparkle of our trips on the Annacolouth. However, the reason we only gave it four stars was the complete mess up on our return to Paris. Despite walking the huge distance, from the coach to the station, as fast as we possibly could, and with an enourmous amount of help from fellow passengers and Eurostar staff, we only just reached Eurostar in time to take off. This has convinced us that we can no longer make this journey.
Food excellent, no handrail in the disabled cabin shower. Rush to train on return terrible.
An absolutely fantastic holiday experience.
Mostly excellent but 2 outings more suitable for children and food not as good as a similar GRJ cruise last year
In general the tour was excellent - the barge "Deborah", the staff, the food, the excursions. The weak points were the road transfers between Paris Nord and Briare/Nevers, particularly the return from Nevers. No allowance had been made for possible delays on the AutoRoute or for the mini-bus driver's statutory break. Hence due to an accident/ traffic jam we missed the intended Eurostar service and our last connections to Aberdeen, resulting in a day's delay getting home. They are Great Rail - why not rail based transfers?
Relaxing, peaceful, excellent food and wine. Just what we needed.
Very pleasant but a four hour coach transfer to Nevers was a shock. We found the daily excursions leaving the boat at 8.30 am very tiring, getting up early and having our breakfast at 7.30 is not our idea of a holiday Lovely food on board and delightful crew. It was nice to be in a group of only 20 passengers on such a comfortable vessel
It was really good all round
AN ALL INCLUSIVE BARGE CRUISE THROUGH THE SCENIC LOIRE VALLEY
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