The Picardy Cruise between St Mammès and Compiègne, on the River Seine and River Oise
SATURDAY - PARIS/ST.MAMMES
We meet in central Paris at 15.00hrs (3pm) and transfer to Anacoluthe moored in the small town of St
Mammes at the junction of the rivers Seine and Loing. After a champagne welcome aboard, you will
have time to settle into your cabin and perhaps take a stroll before dinner is served at 7.30pm
SUNDAY - ST. MAMMES/MELUN
After breakfast on board, a short drive to Moret sur Loing, a small medieval town, once home to Alfred
Sisley, the impressionist painter, you may recognise some them in the unchanged landscape. We return
to Anacoluthe and begin cruising as we enjoy lunch on board and cruise to Melun.
MONDAY - MELUN/PARIS
This Morning, a short drive to Vaux le Vicomte, constructed by Fouquet, the finance minister of the Sun
King and the model for Versailles. There is an exceptionally well furnished interior and the gardens
were designed by Le Notre. As we begin lunch on board, we cast off and cruise to Paris where we will
moor in the heart of the city for the night. After dinner on board, an unforgettable Paris by Night
cruise.
TUESDAY - PARIS/RUEIL MALMAISION
We cruise this morning to the town of Rueil Malmaison, arriving around lunchtime. In the afternoon, an
excursion to the Château of Malmaison, home to Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon 1st where we can
see plenty of memorabilia relating to the daily life of this imperial couple, their artistic tastes, library,
the court dresses of Josephine and the billiard game that Napoleon used to relax with. Afterwards, a
stroll through the delightful town of Rueil where you will find good shopping. Anacoluthe is moored in
the center of the town.
WEDNESDAY - RUEIL MALMAISON/PONT ST MAXENCE
This morning a visit to Giverny, the home and gardens of Claude Monet, the most famous of all the Impressionist
painters. Discover the inspiration for his masterpiece « The Water Lillies », see the Japanese
Bridge. The French government spends in excess of $2 million each year to keep the gardens exactly
as they were before Monet dies in 1926. The simplicity of his house is surprising. Afterwards we
cruise to the delightful riverside town of St Maxence where we find the 14c royal abbey of Moncel.
THURSDAY - PONT ST MAXENCE/COMPIEGNE
After breakfast, a visit to the Château of Chantilly, situated in the heart of 7,800 hectares of of land
surrounded by a large forest. The château dates from the middle ages and has an art gallery of 1,000
paitings, 2,500 designs and 2,500 engravings, second only to the Louvre museum. It is also very famous
for racehorse breeding and has one of the worlds finest stables. The French gardens were designed
by Le Notre, there is also Le Petit Parc, the Anglo-Chinese garden and the English garden, making
this the most beautiful of settings. We return to Anacoluthe for lunch and a cruise to Compiegne.
Here we can have a guided walking tour of the historic town, the Hotel de Ville dates from the 16 c, the
cloisters of the abbey St Corneille from 877 AD. The château here is a magnificent example of French
classical architecture with richly decorated appartments from the 18 c. This was one of the three royal
residences in France along with Versailles and Fontainebleau. We return to Anacoluthe and tonight our
gala farewell dinner will be served at 8pm.
FRIDAY - COMPIEGNE/PARIS
This morning, after breakfast, we return to Paris, arriving before noon.
NOTE THAT ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO FLOODS,
NAVIGATION PROBLEMS ETC.
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