'MARJORIE II' - NORTHERN BURGUNDY ITINERARY:
An Introduction to THE BURGUNDY CANAL
The Abbey of Fontenay was founded in 1118 by St. Bernard as
a setting where his monks might follow his philosophy of
"pray, work, sleep." Badly damaged during the Hundred Years'
War and converted into a paper mill during the French
Revolution, the abbey has benefited from extensive
renovations and its charms are again apparent.
Ancy-le-Franc is best known for its Château, which is one of
the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Burgundy.
Designed by Italian architect Sebastian Serlio in the 16th
century, the design offers a great unity of style and marks
the end of the Italian influence on the French Renaissance.
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.
Genuine Chablis, which is considered to be a White Burgundy,
is produced only in the Chablis Region of France, where
10,000 acres of vineyards surround the picturesque town of
Chablis. The Chardonnay grape, which is thought to have
originated in Lebanon, is the only grape variety from which
Chablis is made. It thrives in the region's seemingly harsh
and stony soil and produces a light, dry wine that has a
delicate taste and subtle bouquet. By French law, Chablis is
divided into four quality classifications (Appellation
Controlees), and only wines from the seven finest vineyards,
all situated on a single slope overlooking the River Serein,
are labeled as "Grand Cru."
Château de Tanlay was built in the middle of the 16th
century on the site of an ancient feudal fortress. It
originally belonged to the family of Admiral de Coligny
during the Wars of Religion and is a fine example of French
Renaissance architecture. Notable for its gallery, which is
painted in trompe l'oeil, the Château has been in the
Thévenin de Tanlay Family since the late 17th century.
Located in the valley of the River Brenne, Montbard was the
birthplace of the great scholar Georges-Louis Leclerc de
Buffon. In his lifetime, Buffon produced a 44-volume
encyclopedia containing everything that was known about the
natural world. In his Histoire Naturelle, written 100 years
before Darwin, he wrestled with the similarities between
humans and apes and even discussed the possibility of a
common ancestry. Buffon earned the respect of all the
crowned heads of Europe and was elected to the French
Academy in 1752.
Situated in a bend of the River Serein, Noyers is one of the
most beautiful villages in France. Ramparts surround the
town and sixteen round towers, and the streets are lined
with charming old half-timbered or gable-ended houses. The
vast 15th-century church has a square tower with gargoyles.
Ever since the Capetian kings made it their capital in the
12th century, Paris has been the center of political,
intellectual, and artistic life in France. The oldest part
of the city is on the Ile de la Cité, which has been
occupied since the time of Caesar. By the Middle Ages, the
town had spread onto both the left and right banks. Later
periods of growth led to successive enlargements of the town
walls, but real development did not begin until the time of
Henry IV in the late 16th century. The museums and monuments
of Paris are legendary. The 12th-century Cathedral of
Notre-Dame is situated on the Ile de la Cité on a site that
was occupied by two earlier churches. Though it was severely
damaged during the French Revolution, the Cathedral with its
massive flying buttresses remains one of the most
recognizable buildings in Paris. The Louvre is one of the
world's best-known art galleries. Once a Royal residence, it
first opened as a museum in 1793. On the opposite end of the
Champs-Elysées sits the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile, the
largest triumphal arch in the world. It was completed in
1836 and commemorates the military glory of Napoleon. Near
the Hôtel des Invalides is Paris' most famous symbol, the
Eiffel Tower. It dates from 1889 when it was constructed for
the Universal Exhibition.
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 town of St-Florentin is terraced into a hillside
overlooking the confluence of the Armance and Armaçon.
During the French Revolution, it was called Mont-Armance. At
the top of the hill here, surrounded by picturesque streets,
is a church with 16th-century stained glass windows. From a
terrace called the Promenade du Prieuré, there are fine
views over the Armançon valley.
Tonnerre is terraced into one of the hills that forms the
west bank of the Armançon and is surrounded by green scenery
and vineyards. The fire that ravaged the town in the 16th
century left little behind, but the surviving Ancien Hôpital
and its sepulchre are among Burgundy's best treasures. This
beautiful building was constructed between 1293 and 1295 by
Margaret of Burgundy and pre-dates the Hôtel Dieu at Beaune
by 150 years. The Notre-Dame Tower of St-Pierre (St. Peter's
Church) survived the fire, but the church itself was
rebuilt.
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.
SUNDAY
Meet in Paris at the Sofitel Le Parc at 2:00 pm for your
transfer to 'Marjorie II,' moored in the picturesque village
of Moret-sur-Loing. After a champagne welcome, there is time
for an evening stroll before dinner on board.
MONDAY
Visit the magnificent Château de Vaux-le- Vicomte. This
17th-century masterpiece was built by Nicolas Fouquet, Louis
XIV's minister of fi nance, with gardens designed by noted
landscape architects Louis le Vau, Charles le Brun and André
le Nôtre. Later, cruise to Sens.
TUESDAY
Spend the morning exploring Sens, dominated by
Cathédrale St- Etienne, one of the fi rst gothic churches in
France, and known for its stained glass windows. Then, an
afternoon cruise to the picturesque town of Joigny with its
cobbled streets and flower-filled courtyards.
WEDNESDAY
Tour the Chablis region, home of the famous dry white
wines of Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru and Grand Cru
before cruising to Auxerre, capital of Lower Burgundy and
one of the most beautiful towns in France.
THURSDAY
Situated on a hillside along the River Yonne, Auxerre
was once an important staging post on the Roman highway. The
morning's visit includes the historic town center with its
15th century clock tower. 'Marjorie II' then cruises to
Vincelles on the Canal du Nivernais.
FRIDAY
Today's excursion is to the village of Vézelay, changed
little since 1190 when Richard the Lionheart set off for the
Third Crusade. The Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene is one of
the fi nest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe.
There is time to browse in town before returning to your
barge for a cruise to Vermenton and this evening's farewell
dinner.
SATURDAY
After breakfast, transfer to the Sofitel Le Parc in
Paris, where your tour ends. Note: This route is run in
reverse on alternate weeks.
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