Paris and Champagne Barge Cruises & Tours (2024)

PARIS TO CHAMPAGNE HOTEL BARGE CRUISE

River Seine ~ Rouen ~ Paris ~ Marne Canals ~ Champagne ~ Reims

Cruising up the river Marne from Paris then along the Aisne à la Marne to Reims follows a route whose rural simplicity belies the elegance of its associations. Starting in France’s glamorous capital where the Eiffel Tower, the Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre are among the irresistible magnets that attract the visitor, the hustle and bustle of the City of Light is quickly left behind.

The drowsy beauty of the landscape fringing the Marne has inspired artists from Cezanne to Corot and from Dufy to Pissaro. The river is the longest in France and meanders through golden fields of grain before it reaches the undulating vineyards of the most famous wine growing region in the world – Champagne, and part of the pleasure of the journey is to spot the names of famous producers on marker posts at the end of every row of vines. Epernay is certainly the place to learn about the world’s favourite drink and well-known brands from Moet to Mercier offer cellar tours and tastings. Reims is also a byword for champagne and for more than a thousand years French monarchs were crowned in its ancient cathedral.

There’s more to the region than its sparkling wine: both a succulent brie and a zesty mustard can be found in Meaux and further upstream La Ferte-sous-Jouarre is associated with the production of millstones – there is a different kind of grit to be found here too, at the imposing memorial to British soldiers who died during the Battle of Mons in the First World War.

Your choices for Champagne tastings

► Hotel Barges cruising through Champagne

Getting to Paris/Champagne
Hotel barges usually collect and return guests to a pre-agreed Paris hotel. The primary French international airport is at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. There are also TGV express train stations at Champagne-Ardenne (near Reims) and Chalons; and many other towns in the region have railway connections.

PICARDY HOTEL BARGE CRUISE

The Somme ~ Picardy

Picardy lies in northern France, skirting Paris to the south and the Champagne region to the east. It is forever associated with the First World War, as many of the conflict’s bloodiest battles were fought across its sweeping landscape. The beautiful river Somme winds through cornfields scattered with iconic red poppies and a number of the most evocative sights in the area hark back to those dark days – striking amongst them is Sir Edwyn Lutyens’ magnificent memorial to the seventy three thousand soldiers missing on the Somme, which towers high over the plain at Theipval.

The reach of history goes far beyond the early twentieth century, stretching back to medieval times and the flowering of ecclesiastical architecture. In Amiens, the capital of Picardy, marvel at the thirteenth century cathedral that has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, as well as the former residence of science fiction writer Jules Verne (Around the World in Eighty Days) which has been converted to a fascinating museum. A particular treat for waterway enthusiasts is to sail through the Hortillonages, a network of small canals bordered by fertile market gardens that have been cultivated on reclaimed land since the middle ages. Stretching further back in time, the nearby city of Beauvais was founded by the Romans and claims links with Julius Caesar.

Other highlights include the narrow gauge railway that follows the canal between Cappy and Froissy and as with all French regions, Picardy has its own culinary speciality – delicious macaroons made from almond paste.

► A select few Hotel Barges cruise the Picardy region

Getting There
Hotel barges often collect and return guests to a pre-agreed hotel. The primary French international airport is at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. There are also TGV express train stations at Paris and Lille; and many other towns in the region have railway connections.

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