Champagne barge cruise
Discovering tasty bubbles.
2016: July 10 – September 17, weekly departures.
2017: July 16 – October 7, weekly departures.
Champagne barge cruise on hotelship Johanna 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 and enjoy your barge cruise on the sundeck. Explore the region in the afternoon on your guided minibus tour. Finish the day with a sumptuous dinner on board.
The Champagne region 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.
Route description
- Day 1. Reims: Pick-up at central meeting point and transport to our mooring place in Reims. Welcome on board. Evening visit to Reims’ illuminated cathedral.
- Day 2. Billy-le-Grand: After breakfast, we sail to the tunnel of Billy-le-Grand. Guided visit amidst the vineyards of the Reims mountains to the Phare de Verzenay and the dwarf beeches of Verzy (Les Faux de Verzy).
- Day 3. Condé-sur-Marne: Today we descend into the Marne Valley, going down the 8 locks to Condé-sur-Marne where we arrive shortly after midday. Afternoon excursion to Chalons-en-Champagne with it’s collegiate church Notre-Dame-en-Vaux with a 56-bells carillon, the covered market and the XVII century Sainte-Croix gate.
- Day 4. Epernay: Today your floating hotel barge cruises to Epernay, capital city of the Champagne region. Here the big companies have their cellars. Excursion to Cumières and Hautvillers where Dom Perignon invented the bubbly drink. Visit one of the big cellars and a small champagne house for a personal tasting in a family environment, presenting you very special wines.
- Day 5. Dormans: We sail on the river Marne with the vineyards visible above us. At the foot of the statue of pope Urbanus II, who called for the first crusade, you have a wonderful view on the river Marne with the Reims mountains in your back. At Dormans, we visit a local snail farm and the memorial for the battles of the Marne.
- Day 6. Château-Thierry: We enter Picardy region, following the meandering Marne to our final destination Château-Thierry. To the West is the American WWI Monument. More to the North is the Belleau Wood memorial site. Or you can choose for an excursion to Conde-en-Brie with its historic castle, halles, church and old washing facilities.
- Day 7. Château-Thierry: Farewell after breakfast. Return to central drop-off point in Reims.
On alternating weeks cruising in the opposite direction.
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)