PANACHE - A CLASSIC CRUISE IN NORTHERN FRANCE AND PARIS
Pont Sainte Maxence to Paris
Sunday, Day 1 Pont Sainte Maxence
Guests are met at the **designated meeting point and transferred to the hotel barge moored in Pont Sainte Maxence for a Champagne welcome and introduction to your crew and barge. Time for a walk or cycle ride before dinner on board.
Monday, Day 2 Pont Sainte Maxence to L’Isle D’Adam
After breakfast we cruise to L’Isle D’Adam on the River Oise. After lunch we enjoy an unforgettable excursion to the elegant Renaissance Chateau de Chantilly. This superb example of 16th century architecture boats an array of art treasures, gardens lay out by Le Notre (of Versailles fame) and the great stables. More than 3000 horses are stabled in and around Chantilly making it the thoroughbred capital of France. Chantilly has also a very nice golf course, an optional excursion for golfers. Dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 L’Isle D’Adam to Auvers-sur-Oise
Cruise to Auvers-sur-Oise this morning. After lunch we visit this old village where Vincent van Gogh spent the last part of his life and was buried in the local cemetery. Here and there, panels indicate the scenes portrayed by the painter. It is the district around the church, however, that constitutes the favourite “place of pilgrimage” for art lovers. Dinner on board.
Wednesday, Day 4 Auvers-sur-Oise to Conflans-St-Honorine
We drive to Giverny this morning to visit the home and gardens of the great Impressionist painter, Claude Monet. The gardens should be at their best at this time of the year, and we can admire the water lily pond and the Japanese bridge that inspired so many of Monet’s paintings. We return to the hotel barge for a cruise after lunch to Conflans-St Honorine. Dinner ashore tonight at a local auberge.
Thursday, Day 5 Conflans-St-Honorine to Bougival
After breakfast we cruise to Bougival. In the village you will find reproductions of Impressionist paintings located in the precise locations where these works are deemed to have been painted. This local initiative, launched in 1994 is known as the Impressionists Walk. After lunch we enjoy a visit to the Chateau Versailles or Chateau de Malmaison, a country house formerly the residence of Joséphine de Beauharnais and from 1800 to 1802, the headquarters of the French government. Dinner on board.
Friday, Day 6 Bougival to Paris
After breakfast we cruise to Paris floating past the futuristic La Defense business district with the impressive concrete and glass architecture. On arrival at our mooring, your guide takes you to a selection of Paris sights. There is also plenty of free time for shopping today as well. This evening we enjoy a special cruise through Paris, known as the "City of Lights", whilst enjoying the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board. We moor overnight near the Bastille.
Saturday, Day 7 Paris
After breakfast, disembark the hotel barge and transfer to the **designated drop off point.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
The **designated meeting and drop off point is The Westminster Hotel in Paris