'LA BELLE EPOQUE' - BURGUNDY &
CHABLIS ITINERARY:
An Introduction to Burgundy
Situated on a hillside along the River Yonne, Auxerre was
once an important staging post on the great Roman highway
and is now the capital of Lower Burgundy. The historic town
center is full of narrow, winding streets. Cathédrale St-Étienne
was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Its
Romanesque crypt, which is decorated with frescoes, is the
only remaining portion of an earlier 11th-century church.
Some of the oldest mural paintings in France are housed at
Auxerre in the former Abbey of St-Germain, which is over
1,000 years old. Auxerre has also hosted some impressive
visitors over the centuries, including Joan of Arc and
Napoléon.
Situated at the junction of the Morvan, the Nivernais, and
Lower Burgundy, from the 16th century to the completion of
the Nivernais Canal in 1834, Clamecy was a major logging
center. Logs cut in the forests of the Upper Morvan were
piled along the river banks. On certain days, dams that held
back the floodwaters were opened, allowing the logs to flow
en masse to Clamecy -- where the floating bûches perdues
were harpooned by an army of workmen and made up into rafts
to be floated on to Paris. This contact with the capital
created a flow of egalitarian ideas and political thought
among the area's inhabitants and the peasants and workers of
the Morvan staged a number of insurrections before the
revolution of 1789. Today, Clamecy is a charming town with
narrow, winding streets and old houses. It remains "the town
of beautiful reflections and graceful hills" described by
French writer and philosopher Romain Rolland, who won the
Nobel Prize for literature in 1915.
Feudal Le Château de Bazoches counted King Philippe-Auguste
and Richard the Lionheart among its first important guests.
They visited on their way to the Holy Land during the Third
Crusade. The Château's original 12th-century construction
included four towers and a keep surrounding an interior
courtyard. In 1675, Louis XIV gave the property to his
brilliant military engineer Vauban, who rebuilt it into a
beautifully furnished home. The present owner is directly
descended from the eldest daughter of Marshall Vauban. In
1808, Vauban's heart was placed in the Invalides in Paris by
Napoleon I. The rest of his body, however, is buried near
the Château in the church at Bazoches.
The limestone cliffs of Le Saussois rise 165 feet above the
River Yonne and are frequented by rock climbers. The rock
faces were "discovered" during World War II, and systematic
visits began when more challenging alpine venues were
located on the other side of the wartime line of
demarcation. Evidence of much earlier climbing efforts has
since been found, and there is now an international climbing
center here.
St-Brix-le-Vineux is an attractive winegrowing village. Its
13th-century gothic church contains Renaissance vaulting and
stained glass. Three stories below the village are caves
(pronounced "kahvs," meaning wine cellars) where both red
and white French wines are stored and aged.
The charming village of Vézelay contains many old houses
with sculptured doorways, mullioned windows, and corbelled
staircase turrets. But Vézelay is best known for its
impressive Basilique Ste-Madeleine, which was built in the
11th and 12th centuries. It became one of the greatest
pilgrimage destinations in France, and its crypt is said to
contain the relics of St. Mary Magdalene, "the beloved and
pardoned sinner." UNESCO declared the basilica and the hill
on which it sits a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Itinerary Notes
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included daily -- beginning
with dinner on Sunday and ending with breakfast on Saturday.
Please note that the coach transfer from Paris to the vessel
on Sunday is approximately four (4) hours long and includes
one scheduled break. (This also applies to the transfer from
the vessel back to Paris on Saturday.)
Itineraries are continuously adapted throughout the season
in response to conditions and to take best advantage of
special events along the way. Itineraries may also be
altered to suit the special interests of passengers.
Water levels, waterway traffic, and maintenance of canals
and locks have an effect on canal and river cruising
itineraries. Some waterways are subject to occasional
closures because of drought, storms, floods, canal/lock
repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of
such occurrences, the appropriate itinerary changes will
need to be made.
Be assured that any sightseeing or routing changes on your
specific departure will be made to enhance your cruise and
make it a unique and memorable experience. You have only to
relax and enjoy the journey as it unfolds.
SUNDAY
You are met at 1:30 pm at Hotel Ampère in Paris and
transferred to the elegant 'La Belle Époque' at Auxerre.
After a champagne welcome, dine on board.
MONDAY
Pass vineyard-clad hillsides on this morning's cruise to
moor below Caves de Bailly. Then, visit St-Bris-le-Vineux
with its medieval underground passages. A wine tasting here
offers an introduction to the outstanding vintages in the
cellars of Monsieur Bersan.
TUESDAY
Return to Auxerre today to explore the medieval town
center and view its fine churches. This afternoon, cruise to
Accolay, where you dine ashore at a local auberge.
WEDNESDAY
Cruise south through the Yonne Valley to the market town
of Mailly-la-Ville. Then, take an afternoon excursion to
Vézelay, one of Burgundy's most famous treasures, with its
Roman Basilique Ste-Madeleine. There is time to browse in
the craft shops and take in the views before returning to
your barge.
THURSDAY
Cruise past the spectacular Saussois Cliffs, home to an
international rock-climbing center. This afternoon, visit
Château de Bazoches, home of Maréchal Vauban, Louis XIV's
military engineer and siege director extraordinaire. The
château's illustrious list of visitors includes King
Philippe- Auguste and Richard the Lionheart.
FRIDAY
This morning's visit to Ferme de Joux provides insight
into the art of foie gras. Cruise through the beautiful
countryside toward Clamecy for a tour of the cathedral and a
visit to the Logging and Barging Museum. There is time to
wander through the narrow streets lined with ancient
buildings and an opportunity for shopping before returning
to the barge. Enjoy the Captain's farewell dinner this
evening.
SATURDAY
Disembark after breakfast to transfer back to Hotel
Ampère in Paris, where your tour ends.
Note: This route is run in reverse on alternate
weeks.
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