Rogney-les-Sept-Ecluses

 

Cest La Vie Barge

C'est le Vie

Upper Loire Itinerary

Montargis to Sancerre

Briar Canal and Lateral to Loire Canal

Highlights: Sancerre Winery, Faiencerie of Gien, Chateau of St Fargeau

Montargis, Chateau of La Bussiere and Canal bridge of Briare


 

Sunday:  Welcome to C’est la Vie!

You will be met in Paris by our driver at 3.00 pm, for charter groups your party will be met at one hotel of your choice.

For individual cabin bookings, pick up and drop off is at the hotel Madison 43 Boulevard St Germain 75006 Paris.

After the traditional champagne welcome from the Captain and crew, there is time to unpack and take a stroll, before enjoying the first of many gourmet dinners on board.


Monday: Sightseeing: Chateau of La Bussiere 

After your first breakfast of locally baked croissants and other pastries, now is the perfect time to put on your walking shoes and stroll on the tow path alongside the C’est La Vie as we cruise to the village of Montcresson.

After lunch you will be driven to the Château of La Bussiere, it is a prime example of a medieval fortress built in the 12th Century. Open to the public since 1962, when the Count Henri de Chasseval decided to exhibit his extensive collection of material and pieces of art from around the world about fishing, but it’s not all about fishing, there are the grounds to visit with its 18th Century vegetable garden and a pond with a 300 year old Lebanon Cedar tree standing close by and much more.

Tonight’s dinner is ashore at the 1 star Michelin restaurant “Auberge les Templiers.”


Tuesday:  Sightseeing: Montargis - Cruise to Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses

Before we start our afternoon cruise to Chatillon Coligny, we take a short ride back to Montargis for a tour of this fine town, with its 131 bridges, you can see why its nick name is “little Venice”. With many buildings from 15th & 16th centuries, you will never be short of interesting architecture which will catch your eye. Discover the feudal castle, the half-timbered buildings, shops and cafes. Perhaps buying some Pralines for which Montargis is famous.

Lunch is waiting for your return, before we cast off and start our next part of our journey.

Dinner on board.

Wednesay:  Sightseeing: Faiencerie of Gien - Cruise to Ouzouer sur Trezee

The town of Gien, famous the world over for its splendid tableware is where we are headed this morning, after a visit to the pottery, take a walk through this market town and discover its remarkable history, built on the banks of the Loire river, there has been a settlement here since Romans times.

Returning to the C’est La Vie for lunch and an afternoons cruise, passing the 7 old locks of Rogny (hence its name Sept Ecluses) dating back to the reign of Henry IV, it was a major feat of engineering for its time, we make our way to the town of Ouzouer sur Trézée.

Dinner on board.


Thursday:  Sightseeing: Chateau of St Fargeau - Ouzouer sur Trezee

The town of Gien, famous the world over for its splendid tableware is where we are headed this morning, after a visit to the pottery, take a walk through this market town and discover its remarkable history, built on the banks of the Loire River, there has been a settlement here since Romans times.

Returning to the C’est La Vie for lunch and an afternoon’s cruise, the 7 old locks of Rogny les Sept Ecluses, are a sight to behold, dating back to the reign of Henry IV, it was a major feat of engineering for its time.

Returning on board in time for cocktails and dinner.


Friday:  Sightseeing: Sancerre - Cruise to Chatillion sur Loire

Our final cruise takes us to the town of Chatillon sur Loire. After a buffet lunch we will take a short drive through the vineyards to visit the fortified town of Sancerre. This hilltop medieval site gives you panoramic views over the Loire River and of the neighbouring vineyards of Pouilly Fumé. Take a stroll around the town before you taste some of this exceptional wine, made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape.

Return to the “C’est La Vie” for the Captain’s Dinner, which ends your cruise in style.


Saturday:  Return to Paris

Departure time is 9:30AM after breakfast. You’ll then be chauffeured back to Paris for the end of the morning.


Please note that the cruise itinerary alternates direction each week.

 

Ces't le Vie

Year 2024 Rates in US Dollars

ACCOMODATION
VALUE
REGULAR
Charter 8 guests wholeboat
$56,280
$61,320
Charter 7 guests wholeboat
$52,920
$58,120
Charter 6 guests wholeboat
$47,700
$54,000
Per Person - double occupancy
$7500
$8000
Single Cabin supplement
$4000
$5000

 

DEPARTURE DATES
RATE
ROUTE
April 7, 14, 21, 28
Value
Upper Loire
May 5, 12, 19, 26;
Regular
Upper Loire
June 23, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 28; Aug 4, 11
Regular
Champagne
Aug 25; Sep 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Oct 6, 13
Regular
Upper Loire
Oct 20
Value
Upper Loire

Year 2025 Rates in US Dollars

ACCOMODATION
VALUE
REGULAR
Charter 8 guests wholeboat
$61,600
$66,000
Charter 7 guests wholeboat
$58,100
$62,300
Charter 6 guests wholeboat
$54,000
$59,400
Per Person - double occupancy
$7900
$8500
Single Cabin supplement
$4000
$5000

 

Year 2025 Rates in US Dollars (5 night charter)

ACCOMODATION
CHARTER
Charter 8 guests wholeboat
$60,400
Charter 7 guests wholeboat
$57,400
Charter 6 guests wholeboat
$55,200

 

DEPARTURE DATES
RATE
ROUTE
April 6, 13, 20
Value
Upper Loire
Apr 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25; June 1, 8
Regular
Upper Loire
June 15; Aug 31
Regular
Hauts de France and
Upper Loire
June 23, 29; July 6, 13, 20, 27; Aug 3, 10, 17, 24
Regular
Champagne
Sep 7, 14, 21, 28; Oct 5, 12
Regular
Upper Loire
Oct 19, 26
Value
Upper Loire

 

Cest le Vie
 Cruising the Upper Loire, Burgundy and Champagne Regions of France

The C'est La Vie is a luxury hotel barge which offers you high quality wines, food and hospitality from its experienced captain and crew. Starting life as a commercial barge in 1960 it transported goods across Holland, Belgium and France before being converted in Belgium to a very high standard in 2004.

 

So as one of the newest luxury hotel barges it is fully equipped with all modern amenities. On the upper deck the lounge and dining areas are air-conditioned and numerous windows give you a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

 

Enjoy yourself as we cruise through the centuries-old canals and history-rich waterways of rural France, mooring at picturesque medieval villages and meandering through miles of magnificent countryside spotted with wineries and chateaux. Enjoy, also, the superb wines, bountiful regional cheeses and sumptuous foods that are synonymous with the good life in France and beyond.

Immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of France's countryside and enjoy the relaxed but luxurious surroundings of The Cest le Vie. Sit back and unwind as we cruise into the peace and tranquility of rural France with its ever-changing vistas. Walk or jog or bike on the various paths along the way.

 

Relax on the sun deck and soak up the passing vistas. Explore by bicycle on the riverbank, or roam the picturesque villages beside your route. Stroll along the towpath and meet the boat at the next lock. After dinner, amble around the nearby village. Maybe watch a traditional regional sport.

 

 

Details & Dimensions


    Barge length; 38.77 m (128ft) 4 Staterooms
    Barge width; 5.O5 m (16ft)    King size or twin beds
    Internal headroom    2 bed side tables with reading lamps
    Upper deck 1.97m (6.6ft)    large double wardrobe with full length mirror
    Lower deck 2.05m (6.9ft)    single wardrobe with shelves
    Passengers capacity 8    chest of drawers
    Crew 6 :    writing desk/chair
       Captain    arm chair
       Tour guide    under bed storage
       Chef    safes and luggage racks in all cabins
       2 Hostesses    air conditioning unit/heater
       1 deckhand    220v & 110v sockets
    Lounge    Bluetooth sound system
       2 two seater sofas En suite bathroom
       4 arm chairs    Large corner shower with 4 jets
       3 coffee tables    marbled topped vanity unit with round sink
       shelves with books and games    toilet
       iPod docking station    large mirror
       CD player    bathrobes
       Internet facilities    hair dryer
    Dining Room    heated towel rails
       Table with 8 chairs 220v & 110v sockets.
       fully stocked bar Sun Deck
       cupboards    Teak table
       bookshelves       8 chairs
         Lounger
            side table
         sliding sun canopy
      8 bicycles with 21 gears (helmets are provided)

 

Cabin Cabin Bathroom 1
Cabin 1 Cabin 2 Bathroom
Bathroom 2 Dining Table Dinner
Bathroom 2 Dining Table Dinner
Salmon Guinea Fowl dinner Raspberry Dessert
Salmon Dinner Guinea Fowl Dinner Raspberry Desert
Goat cheese Strawberries Wine
Goat Cheese Fresh Strawberries Wine
Deck chairs Covered outdoor table Covered Sundeck
Sundeck Covered Table on sundeck Covered Sundeck
Briar Canal Martigis Chateau Chaumont
Briar Canal Martargis Chateau Chaumont

 

 

SAMPLE MENU 1 SAMPLE MENU 2

Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke velouté, With a poached Egg and a sprinkling of Goats Cheese

Pan roasted breast of Guinea Fowl, Forest Mushrooms, Sweet Corn purée and Braised Lettuce

Cheese Platter
St Nectaire, Chabichou, Ossau Iraty


Poached fresh local Plums,
With a dark chocolate sauce & homemade vanilla ice cream


Vin blanc
Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru 2013
Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils


Vin rouge
Savigny-les-Beaune les Vergelesses 1er cru 2015
Domaine Maratray-Dubreuil

Veal fillet, Sautéed Onions, Pine Nuts and Curly kale

Fillet of Wild Turbot, Cauliflower Florets, with a Mussels sauce


Cheese Platter
Camembert, Abondance, Valencay


Local Strawberries, Caramelized Almonds with an Almond & Polenta Cake

Vin blanc
Sancerre La Bourgeoise 2014
Domaine Henri Bourgeois

Vin rouge
Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras 2013
Domaine Patrice Rion

Cest le Vie DP