Luciole luxury barge cruises

Paris to Auxerre

Sunday:
Meeting at the Hotel Mansart, Paris (April to August cruises) or the Hotel Brighton, Paris (September & October cruises) with a representative of the Luciole at 2.15 pm, followed by a journey to Auxerre in the air-conditioned bus. (Private charters can select an alternative meeting point in Paris if preferred).

Luciole is moored on the impressive river frontage in the city, overlooked by the Cathedral, Parish Church, and Abbey. In these splendid surroundings, we stage a champagne reception on board.

Auxerre to Bailly

Monday :
A visit to the Historic centre of Auxerre is followed by a cruise out of the city into the beautiful pastoral countryside. Lunch on board will be taken at Champs, one of several attractive villages along the way. The afternoon cruise through attractive reaches of the River Yonne concludes at the winemaking centre of Bailly.

Bailly to Vermenton

Tuesday :
A morning visit is made to one of the wine caves near Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris, Irancy and Esolives all stand close beside the waterway in beautiful surroundings, and a rendezvous will be made with one of the wine producers in the area. After lunch, we cruise onwards and up an arm of the canal to a quayside on the River Cure at the small town of Vermenton.

Vermenton to Mailly-la-Ville

Wednesday:
A morning drive in the bus takes the group up the valley of the tumbling River Cousin to the historic town of Avallon and the lively weekly market in the streets. Avallon is the regional centre for shopping, with an inside market also, in addition to the numerous stores in the historic streets. After lunch, Luciole continues southward along a waterway where winding stretches of canal mingle with sparkling river sections before arriving at the Mailly-la-Ville village.

Mailly-la-Ville to Lucy-sur-Yonne

Thursday :
Cruising ever deeper into the countryside, Luciole enters a region in which dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside. There are many opportunities for cycling, strolling, or simply enjoying the scenery from the sundeck.
Visits during the day can include the hill town of Mailly-le-Chateau or the imposing chateau of Bazoches, home in the 17th century to the Maquis de Vauban, France's most excellent military engineer.

Lucy-sur-Yonne to Clamecy

Friday :
From an overnight mooring at the village of Lucy-sur-Yonne, we make the short journey in our bus to Vezelay to visit the spectacular 12th-century Basilica, which dominates the town. At this place, Saint Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade, and from this hillside, a swathe of rural Burgundy can be seen. Travelling onwards, Luciole then reaches the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise.

Clamecy - Paris

Saturday :
An after-breakfast departure for Paris anticipates arrival there at 12.30.
For guests travelling onwards in hired cars from the area, a stop can be made at Auxerre again, on our journey through.

Our adventure charters offer a range of exciting activities for all the family to enjoy, regardless of age or aptitude!
The fun includes canoeing, tree climbing, horse-back riding and rock climbing, all in stunning surroundings.

With 35 years of experience, proud owners John and Penny have seen many hundreds of clients leave with a smile and treasured memories of their cruise, which is recorded in the guests' log and their hearts.

The moment you step aboard, their experience will be evident.
As Penny says, "There is no 'them and us' on the Luciole, but a warm-spirited and relaxed ambience". So, leave your troubles behind and step aboard the Luciole for a week of bliss.

Paris - Auxerre
Sunday:
Meeting at the rendezvous of your choice, followed by a journey to Auxerre in the air-conditioned bus.
Luciole is moored on the impressive river frontage in the city, overlooked by the Cathedral, Parish Church and the Abbey. In these splendid surroundings, we stage a champagne reception on board.

Auxerre - Bailly
Monday :
This morning we will cruise from the historic city of Auxerre to Baily.
After lunch on board,  today's activity will give you a new perspective as you ropewalk in the trees at Bois de la Folie.
Alternatively, step back in time to Geudelon, a 13th-century village in the making, using traditional methods and tools.

Bailly - Accolay
Tuesday:
Our morning cruise takes us from Bailly to Accolay.
After lunch, we set off for some horse-back riding in the hills.
Rest assured, there are horses to suit every age, size and riding experience!
Alternatively, we can take a visit to Auxerre to discover it's culture and beautiful boutiques.

Accolay - Mailly-le-Chateau
Wednesday:
We will begin our day with a visit to the delightful town of Noyers-sur-Serein, with its colourful market and the rambling remains of the hill-top castle.
Enjoy your free time to stroll at your will and enjoy the vistas.
After lunch, we will cruise from Accolay to Mailly-le-Chateau, with opportunities to swim in the refreshing river Yonne.

Mailly-le-Chateau - Lucy-sur-Yonne
Thursday:
Our day begins on the river, cruising to Lucy-sur-Yonne.
In the afternoon, we head for the quarry of Dissingis, for some cave-climbing in a truly remarkable setting!
This is spectacular, whether you participate or simply sit and watch, spellbound, with a cup of coffee.

Lucy-sur-Yonne - Clamecy
Friday:
After cruising to Clamecy, it's all hands on deck for our canoe-kayak outing at Saint Pere sous Vezelay.
A safe environment to discover this activity or to hone your skills.
If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, we can visit the historic Basilica at Vezelay with ample time to visit the lovely clothes and craft shops in this ancient setting.

Clamecy - Paris
Saturday :
An after-breakfast departure for Paris anticipates arrival there at 12.30.
For guests travelling onwards in hired cars from the area, a stop can be made at Auxerre again, on our journey through.