Johanna

Barge Cruises in Champagne France

Champagne tour from Reims to Château Thierry. An enchanting journey between history and vineyards, amidst beauty and delightful bubbles. Visit cathedrals and wine cellars or WWI memorials. Take your time, enjoy your day on the sundeck or cycle along the Marne River and finish your day with a sumptuous dinner on board.

Champagne

7 Days
Reims to Chateau Thierry

The region of Champagne is full of delicious contrasts. On one hand there’s the drink; that gold-hued, sparkling elixir eternally associated with decadence and luxury. Then there’s the countryside; 86,000 acres of sleepy, undulating hills striped with low-slung trestled vines of pinot-noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grapes. They are tended to by families whose members are far more likely to greet you with fresh mud on their boots than adhere to the glamour their champagnes inspire.

Chateau Thierry - Reims: July 19-25 / August 2 - 9

Reims - Chateau Thierry: July 26 - August 1 / August 9 - 15

DAY 1. Reims
Welcome Aboard. Time to view the charming town.

DAY 2. Sillery
After a morning visit to the city of Reims, we sail to the nearby port of Sillery. You can even explore the region by bike on a small tour from Reims to Sillery via the villages of Rilly-la-Montagne, Mailly-Champagne and Verzenay.

DAY 3. Condé-sur-Marne
We continue our journey on the Aisne-Marne canal and after passing the tunnel of Mont de Billy and going down 8 locks, we arrive at Condé sur Marne. Cyclists can follow the towpath or enjoy the vineyards passing trough Verzy, Trépail, and Vaudemange.

DAY 4. Cumieres / Epernay
Today we sail to Epernay, capital city of the Champagne region where the big companies have their cellars. Don’t forget to visit Hautvillers where Dom Perignon invented the bubbly drink. Many small champagne houses welcome you for a personal tasting in a family environment, presenting you very special wines, standing out from the big mass production houses.

DAY 5. Dormans
We finaly sail on the river Marne with the vineyards visible above us. Cycling above the river, crossing the quiet villages of Villers-sous-Châtillon, Châtillon-sur-Marne, Verneuil or Vincelles, you might even spot the Johanna on her journey down the river.

DAY 6. Chateau Thierry
We enter Picardie region, following the meandering Marne to our final destination Château Thierry. 3km to the West is the WWI American Monument. Some 12km NW is the Belleau Wood memorial site. From Dormans to Chateu Thierry, there is a nice cycling route along the north side of the river. At the south side, the champagne route makes a small detour to Conde-en-Brie with it’s historic castle, halles, church and old washing facilities. Certainly worth a visit.

DAY 7. Chateau Thierry
Farewell after breakfast.

Individual Booking - $3275 per person

Rate includes: 6 nights, breakfast, lunch, dinner (3 courses) on boat (1 dinner on shore on your own), beer and wine with meals, bike rental (with helmets) for cycling the area around the barge and listed excursions below.

EXCURSIONS:

• Cumieres and Hautvillers: See the statues in Cumieres depicting all the steps in wine making and visit the place where Dom Perignon invented Champagne production. Tasting in historic wine cellar.
• See the old champagne production at the chateau of Perry and the modern industrial winery of a big house in Epernay.
• You’ll be impressed by the strange forms of the “Faux de Verzy” (beech trees) and the lighthouse in the middle of the vineyards of Verzenay.
• The French escargots” (snails) love vine leafs. So where could there be a better place for a snail farm then in the Champagne region? They taste just delicious!
  
  
• Ever wanted to explore the region in a Citroën 2CV “Ugly Duckling” car from he 60’s? This is your chance, excursion with private driver for 2 to 3 persons per car. (Option, only 2 cars available)
• Hot air ballooning over the Reims mountains and vineyards. Yet another special way to look at the beautiful nature of this region. (option)