Hirondelle
- Gare de Lyon station
- Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
| from €3,650* per person | 7 Days | April-October |
| Luxury accommodations | Exertion level: 2 | |
| Operator: European Waterways | 8 people max | |
Below you can find some of the highlights of the cruises we are currently offering on Hirondelle, along with some examples of the cuisine and fine wines the master chef will present you with on board. You can view the current itineraries and maps by clicking "Hirondelle Cruises" on the menu on the right where you will also find links to the photo gallery, deck plan and cruise rates.
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Locations visited/nearby
Canal de Bourgogne , Canal Lateral a la Loire and Canal du Rhone au Rhin, France, Europe
Special information
- May accommodate certain types of disabilities. Contact the operator for more information.
Itinerary
Sunday, Day 1 Rogny Les Sept ÉclusesMeet our private driver at Gare de Lyon station and transfer to the barge moored in Rogny les Sept Écluses on the Canal de Briare. A Champagne Reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. Dinner aboard.
Monday, Day 2 Rogny to Ouzouer-Trezee
Today, the barge traverses the River Loire via the longest canal bridge in Europe, connecting the Canal du Briare to the Canal Latéral à la Loire. Rogny is the site of the oldest canal lock in France, a seven-step staircase lock built in 1774. After lunch you’ll visit the beautiful Chateau de Saint-Fargeau with a history spanning a thousand years. Dinner aboard
Tuesday, Day 3 Ouzouer-Trezee to Chatillon sur Loire
After breakfast, you visit the beautiful town of Gien to tour a faïence factory. The faïence of Gien is renowned for its colour and design. We also include a visit to the historic Chateau de St Brisson sur Loire. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries as a fortress, it houses many fine rooms, as well as a collection of huge catapaults, of a kind used as medieval weaponry. We then return to the barge and enjoy a wonderful lunch while the barge cruises southward to Chatillon sur Loire, a pleasant countryside mooring. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 Chatillon-sur-Loire to Menetreol
Late morning we will visit Sancerre, situated on an impressive hilltop west of the waterway, where you will have a chance to discover the delights of this charming town and fabulous views of the vineyards of Sancerre. After a fine lunch in the town we make a stop for a private wine tasting with the Count at the fabulous 15th century Chateau de Tracy, one of the most prestigious producers in the Loire where we taste their renowned Pouilly Fumé. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, Day 5 Menetreol to La Charite-sur-Loire
Before we leave our mooring, we visit a local cheese producer to see the famous ‘crottin’ goat cheese being produced. The barge continues her cruise from Menetreol towards La Charité-sur-Loire. We moor in a rural spot called Passy and make our way to La Charité-sur-Loire, an important site of Burgundian Romanesque art. The Clunisian ensemble of La Charité was a hugely important spiritual centre in the early Middle Ages, and a renowned stopping place for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 La Charite-sur-Loire to Le Guetin
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Nevers, the capital of the Nivernais, which has a strong Italian influence and a long-standing reputation for ceramics. Nevers is the third largest city in Burgundy and, until the Revolution, seat of the Counts and Dukes of Nevers. The barge cruises from to Le Guetin. Enjoy a short drive to Apremont to visit its wonderful gardens. Apremont is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Farewell Gala Dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Le Guetin
After breakfast disembark the barge and transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon with our private driver.
More information from European Waterways:
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