H2olidays

Itinerary

Canal du Nivernais cruise - A voyage of discovery

The beautiful hills and valleys of Burgundy have been famous for wine production for millennia. It has always been a wealthy and important region fought over by empires and kingdoms since Roman times. During your canal and river cruise we will show you the very best Burgundy has to offer. Through water meadows with grazing cattle and unspoilt villages, to bustling market towns with magnificent cathedrals, lively cafés , bars, and restaurants.

The Cistercian order was founded here; there are many abbeys, churches, chateaux, and palaces to visit too.

At the heart of the natural beauty of this fascinating area are the golden slopes of the Cote d'Or and the Morvan national park is a region of outstanding natural beauty.

Travelling waterways along tree lined canals and rivers is the ideal way to see France. Our aim is to achieve a balance that suits you in all aspects of your voyage.

Canal du Nivernais Cruise

During your charter along the Canal du Nivernais you with be able to select from a variety of excellent restaurants, all with their individual charm and character.
Below is our selection of just a few in order to show a fair representation of the cuisine and evening dinning available during your cruise. Character ranges from rustic bistro-grills with open log fires on which your dinner is cooked on in front of your eyes to stylish gourmet Michelin starred restaurants, three of which are within easy reach of the canal. Not, of course, forgetting the Randle’s very own Cordon Bleu chef who will prepare delicious breakfasts and lunches from local produce complimented by fine wines from the vineyards we pass enroute , plus wonderful artisan cheeses of the region. 
For each night’s stop we have selected one or two restaurants, sometimes different ends of the spectrum to give you a flavor of the local character and diversity of dinning available. Other restaurants are also available in the local area giving a wide variety and cultural diversity to your dinning enjoyment.

During your voyage and in addition to the great dining offered by our selected restaurants enjoy an evening’s dining experience at one of Burgundy’s renowned Michelin starred restaurants from along our river and canal route.
Perfect for an anniversary or birthday treat, or any special occasion.

Hôtel de l’Espérance ** Vézelay .
Located in the beautiful village of Saint Père in the heart of Burgundy.
The renowned Hôtel de l’Espérance offers great dining and ambiance and is located within five minutes of the famous and UNESCO listed Vézelay  Basilica St. Madeleine.

La Côte Saint-Jacques *** Joigny .
Arrive by river to the gastronomic restaurant with the highest rated three Michelin stars at Côte Saint Jacques, Joigny . Here at the gateway to Burgundy, Jean-Michel Lorain and his entire team welcome you to his restaurant.
Jean-Michel Lorain has received many accolades during his career, crowning his culinary savoir-faire.

Hostellerie des Clos * Chablis.
Owner Michel Vignaud was born in Burgundy and grew up in the Morvan , a land of forests and farms. His childhood memories of unforgettable natural food and flavors have never faded and he continues to create light and creative meals which are in perfect harmony with the bouquet of the great wines of Chablis. Some of the dishes waiting for you are braised wild turbot, mashed celery with truffle and chicken sauce, sautée of scallops on a caramelized cauliflower cream, Burgundy truffle, Charolais Tournedos, red Irancy butter and more.
*Michelin star rating.

Sunday
Arrive to Clamecy and Welcome Aboard
You are met at Auxerre and transferred by private car to Clamecy for a champagne reception aboard the Randle. Take a short walk into Clamecy to visit the town, the Collegiale de St Martin and also the Logging and Barging Museum. The narrow streets lined with ancient buildings present excellent opportunities for shopping too. There are two great restaurants in Clamecy .

Monday
Clamecy to Lucy Sur Yonne
In the morning we leave Clamecy for a cruise through beautiful countryside which takes us to the tranquil village of Lucy Sur Yonne .
In the afternoon there is a choice or possibilities to visit by car:
Chateau de Bazoches whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lion-heart which was later remodelled by French military architect Maréchal Vauban .
Chateau fort de Druyes , where in 1216 Pierre de Courtenay was offered the crown to the Latin empire of Constantinople
Les Fontaines salees , salt water springs dating from the end of the Neolithic era and site of Gallo-Roman baths
Vézelay , one of Burgundy’s most famous treasures with the Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene; craft shops, restaurants, art galleries, and fine views of the surrounding countryside. Evening dinning is also possible Vézelay with many restaurants to choose from too.

Tuesday
Lucy Sur Yonne to Le Mailly Le Chateau
Today we cruise through the Yonne valley to moor under the cliffs of Le Saussois for lunch, the Saussois cliffs are popular with climbers some of whom may be see practicing their skills, and Falcons too, There is a path to the top to reward you with fantastic view of the surrounding countryside.
After lunch we arrive at Mailly-Le-Chateau ; take a walking tour of the village set on a high ravine, with its fortified church overlooking the beautiful Yonne river valley, roof tops of Mailly-le-Bas and the Nivernais canal. Supper is at the La Castel in the town square for a taste of authentic France.
In the afternoon there is a choice to visits by car Grottes d’Arcy-sur-Cure , amazing illuminated caves with stalagmites, lakes, and Paleolithic cave paintings dating from around 28, 000BC , the medieval fortified village of Noyers-sur-Serein with timber buildings and ramparts from the middle ages, besieged and sacked by king Henry IV in the 17th century after a suspected plot against him.

Wednesday
Mailly-le-Chateau to Accolay
We depart Mailly le Chateau in the morning, and for lunch we stop at a trout farm, originally founded by Crisenon monks and revived in modern times within the walls of the old monastery, fish are caught and served onboard just 30 minutes later. After lunch we cruise on to Accolay to our mooring for the night.
Supper at the superb Hostellerie de la Fontaine, Accolay .
In the Afternoon there is a choice of tours by car.
Escolives saint Camille , site of roman villa and bath house with a museum situated adjacent the old Roman north south arterial route.
Abbey de Regny , a beautifully preserved monastery with country gardens.

Thursday
Accolay to Vincelles
After a morning cruise we arrive at our river side mooring at Vincelles
The choices of afternoon tours by car include;
A visit to the wine caves of William Chariot for a taste of real artisanal wine, Pinot Noir and Caesar, based in the beautiful wine village of Irancy .
A visit to the cave Caves de Bailly where 8 million bottles of Cremant de Bourgogne are stored during the two year maturing process, a guided tour is possible too.
A visit to Chablis to view the Grand Cru vineyards and then into the village to sample wines from the Petit Chablis to the Chablis Grand Cru .

Friday
Vincelles to Auxerre
Twice visited by Jeanne d’Arc and a cathedral citadel since the 5th century Auxerre is dominated by the Saint-Etienne Cathedral
and the Saint-Germain Abbey. Embracing its medieval roots with interesting cobbled streets and half timbered houses, there is more to see and do
than can be possibly fitted into one day, many bars, cafes, and restaurants to choose from authentic bistros to Michelin recommended.

Saturday
After breakfast aboard The Randle at her town centre morning transfer by car for onward journey.

The cruise as detailed above is an example of what one might expect during your cruise aboard The Randle. The Randle does not have to keep to a strict schedule and as such she is very much your own boat for the week, to do as much or as little as one wishes. And as we only whole boat charter you will have a private time aboard too. We welcome your ideas, suggestions. Please enquire regarding bespoke charters too.

Randle is helmed by a very experienced skipper; the second crew member assists at locks and in the general running of the barge and the third crew is a chef. Taking the helm is a great experience and is open to all guests under the expert supervision of the skipper.

Enjoy the relaxed peace of river cruising and visit many interesting sites, towns, museums, abbeys and vineyards. Traveling the serene waterways along tree-lined canals through picturesque villages is the ideal way to see France.

Cruise Highlights
A voyage of discovery

The beautiful hills and valleys of Burgundy have been famous for wine production for millennia. It has always been a wealthy and important region fought over by empires and kingdoms since Roman times. During a river cruise we will show you the very best Burgundy has to offer. Through water meadows with grazing cattle and unspoilt villages, to bustling market towns with magnificent cathedrals, lively cafés , bars, and restaurants.

The Cistercian order was founded here; there are many abbeys, churches, chateaux, and palaces to visit too.

At the heart of the natural beauty of this fascinating area are the golden slopes of the Cote d'Or and the Morvan national park is a region of outstanding natural beauty.

Traveling waterways along tree lined canals and rivers is the ideal way to see France. Our aim is to achieve a balance that suits you in all aspects of your voyage.

By Air
Schedule flights
Book flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France. Serviced by all the world major airlines Charles de Gaulle Airport, is just 1.5 hours transfer to Burgundy. Return TGV tickets are available from around €59.00. The high-speed Train is very fast, efficient and comfortable. Local trains run at a more leisurely pace.

Private Jets & Aircraft
Aérodrome d'Auxerre - Branches; accepts international arrivals and is only 10 minutes transfer from The Randle. Dimensions : 1650 m x 30 m Orientation : 01/19. ILS DME Cat. I. JET A1 AVGAS

By Train
The train system in France has been much admired for it is fast, efficient, and comfortable. The  TGV , the high-speed train, comes through  Montbard  to Dijon and on to  Beaune  and  Chalon-sur-Saône , and via  Sens  to Le  Creusot ,  Mâcon  and on to  Avignon  and Marseille .
You will be able to find a direct train from Paris to  Auxerre  where the captain will meet you. 

By Road
Driving in France is uncongested away from the major cities with cruising at 130 kph permitted on the tool roads. In rural areas traffic is light and the pace relaxed, using your own car is a great way to explore Burgundy at your own pace, the captain can make arrangements for private car hire should one wish.