What's for Dinner?
* Roquefort souffle on a bed of rocket with homemade sweet chili jam
* Maigret of duck with ceps and Burgundy jus
* Potatoes Dauphinoise with creamed leeks
*Plum and strawberry clafoutis with plum syrup and Creme Anglais
* Cheese plate of Chaource, Epoisses, Valancay
*Coffee, chocolates and liqueurs

Highlights of a
Week on the Nivernais Canal

• The canal itself is one of the oldest in France with curved stone bridges, beautiful wiers and waterfalls and vistas of vineyards and lush green pastures
• Auxerre, the bustling market town of the Nivernais Region
• Burgundy wine village of Chablis with wine tasting in a charming wine cave
• Pretty Burgundian town of Avalon
• Hilltop artisan village of Vezelay with sweeping views and the Basilica of Mary Magdelene
• Chateau de Bazoches, fascinating home of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer
• Pretty villages along the canal to explore
• Plenty of opportunity for walking, biking and playing the French game of petanque
• A friendly, casual yet attentive crew

The Nivernais Canal in Burgundy, France
Auxerre to Clamecy

Sunday
A member of the crew will meet passengers at the Hotel Mansart in Paris at 2.30 pm, followed by the journey to Auxerre in our bus. LUCIOLE is moored on the spectacular city frontage, overlooked by the Cathedral, Parish Church and the Abbey. A Champagne reception welcomes our guests on board.

Monday
A visit to the historic centre of Auxerre is followed by a cruise into beautiful pastoral countryside where we serve lunch on board. The afternoon's voyage, through sweeping reaches of the River Yonne, concludes at the wine-making centre of Bailly.

Tuesday
A visit is made to a wine cave in the vicinity of Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris and Irancy stand nearby, and a rendezvous is made with wine producers in the area - followed by a visit to Chablis itself. After lunch, we cruise up an arm of the canal to the small town of Vermenton.

Wednesday
A morning drive in the bus takes us up the valley of the tumbling River Cousin to the historic town of Avalon - and the lively market in the streets. After lunch LUCIOLE continues southwards to a night-time mooring at the village of Mailly-la-Ville.

Thursday
From Mailly, we make the short journey in our bus to Vezelay, where the spectacular 12th Century Basilica dominates the town. Here St Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade. After lunch LUCIOLE cruises onwards through a region where dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside, to a night-time mooring at the village of Lucy-sur-Yonne.

Friday
Our final visit is to the imposing Chateau of Bazoches. Set on a hillside amidst splendid rolling countryside, this was the 17th Century home of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer. The voyage in the afternoon, through the rich Nivernais landscape, takes us to the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise.

Saturday
An after-breakfast departure for Paris anticipates arrival there at around 12.30 pm. For guests wishing to travel elsewhere from Auxerre, a stop can always be made there again, on our journey through to Paris. 

This itinerary will be run in reverse on alternate weeks and is subject to change.