Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
Wine-Dining on the Yonne – Cruising Auxerre to Sens
7 days staying full board at the 3* Ibis Central Hotel in Auxerre
Monday 6th June Monday 13th June Sunday 18th September Monday 26th September
£1,475 Single room supplement only £225
Moored on the Yonne in Auxerre
A week of spectacular river scenery and gastronomic delight as we follow the scenic River Yonne between the fine cities of Auxerre and Sens and sample some of the many fine restaurants of the “Gateway to Burgundy”.
Our cruise route follows the Yonne downstream from Auxerre for some 65km as the river winds its way north- westwards towards its confluence with the Seine at Montereau. Although much of our cruising will be in a rural setting, we pass the memorable backdrop of Auxerre with its skyline dominated by the great Cathedral St- Étienne and the Abbaye St-Germain; and there are more stunning riverside views in mediaeval Joigny further downstream.
We stay throughout at the welcoming and convenient Ibis Central hotel with its wonderful riverside views . Our cruising between Auxerre and Sens comes in three legs which may be cruised in either direction. Our three cruises are as follows:
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
MIGENNES TO VILLENEUVE-SUR- YONNE
To commence our cruising, we board in the pleasure port in Migennes, situated on the Canal de Bourgogne at the Canal’s junction with the River Yonne. From Migennes a deep lock drops us down on to the Yonne and we follow the river westwards, with two locks taking us through mediaeval Joigny, a delightful riverside setting with the old town overlooking from the steep valley-sides to the north. Above the town are vineyards of the appellation Bourgogne Côte St-Jacques, the 30 acres of vines here are the most northerly of all the Burgundy appellations.
As the waterway heads downstream of Joigny we join an intricate 3km canal cut taking us to the lock in the village of St-Aubin, where we rejoin the river. The Yonne now continues a meandering course north- westwards. We will pass the villages of Villevallier and Armeau , with a more distant view of the old village of St-Julien-du-Sault and the neighbouring 12th Century chapel of Vau Guillain overlooking the river from the west. A final stretch of the Yonne brings us into the historic gated town of Villeneuve sur-Yonne where we moor for today.
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
Leaving the Yonne to join the Canal de Bourgogne at Migennes – we will be heading in the opposite direction!
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
SENS TO VILLENEUVE- SUR-YONNE
For our second cruise we re-board in city of Sens, which we will visit for sightseeing en-route to Paris on travel- home day. But this morning we make a prompt start, aiming to be through the four locks on today’s course in good time to arrive in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne for our lunch in the riverside Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes.
Although the Yonne through Sens is a relatively quiet waterway, there has been significant investment in recent years in freight facilities here, and we may see grain and aggregate barges on the move. The industrial port just south of Sens also accommodates huge rolls of steel cable which are shipped by barge from here to Le Havre.
The river valley upstream of Sens is flanked by steep hillside to the west, but on the east side the land is more level and there are occasional views between the trees across arable farmland. The villages of Rosoy, Sérilly, Étigny mark our progress, with a final lock on the approach to Villeneuve-sur-Yonne bringing us into our mooring and a lunch that is always a high-spot for guests on our Yonne cruises. After lunch there will be opportunity to visit the town, which is circuited by a partly intact 12th century wall, built when Villeneuve was one of the residences of the French kings. There are classic entrance gates at each end of the main throughfare and visitors are also drawn to the lovely Gothic Church of Notre-Dame, which has some stained glass windows dating back to the 13th century.
The Natalia moored in Sens
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
MIGENNES TO AUXERRE
Our final cruise leg again opens in Migennes, but after locking back on to the river this time we turn upstream, following a rural course past confluences with two tributaries, first the Armançon, then the Serein. It will take is all morning to reach the northern outskirts of Auxerre, where we pass through the small towns of Gurgy and Monéteau before reaching the city by early afternoon.
Our gentle progress through Auxerre itself opens up one of the great waterway vistas in all of France with the majestic Cathedral St-Étienne and the Abbey of St-Germain marking the position of the old town which overlooks the west bank of the Yonne. Through the centre of Auxerre we pass the pleasure marina and its pedestrian footbridge, then the 700 year-old Pont Paul Bert before we reach the Batardeau Lock, which marks the start of the Canal du Nivernais.
At our pace it would take about three weeks from here to follow the length of the Nivernais all the way to its junction with the Loire navigation at Décize, but on this trip we only take the first lock before concluding in the Parc des Arbres (Park of Trees) just south of the city.
Our three cruise days are separated by two intervening days which we spend exploring more of the “Gateway to Burgundy”.
For our first excursion day we begin by heading just east of Auxerre to visit the great Cathedral-Abbey of Pontigny. Built in the 12th century, this is the largest of all Cistercian churches, 108 metres long with a 4,000 m² floor area. The abbey rests in an estate of 10 hectares planted with century-old trees, and reflects the transition between Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Pontigny welcomed two exiled archbishops of Canterbury, Thomas Becket and Stephen Langton. One of their successors, Edmund of Abingdon, canonised in 1246 and known in France as St. Edme, was laid to rest in the sanctuary. This plaque on the abbey interior explains some of the remarkable history of the cathedral organ.
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
In Pontigny we also meet the River Serein, a tributary to the Yonne, and we will follow this pretty waterway for the rest of the day. From Pontigny we continue along the Serein Valley on quiet D-road to the iconic wine town of Chablis, home to perhaps the best known of all Burgundy wines. We enjoy a light lunch here at the popular Chablis Bar - with accompanying Chablis of course - and with plenty of time for guests to explore the town centre before we move on.
Then in the afternoon we catch-up with the Serein once again in the plus-beaux village of Noyers-sur-Serein. This preserved mediaeval market town is a delight to wander, with its gate towers, cobbled streets, small squares and narrow alleys, half-timbered houses and many historic stone buildings all contained within a loop of the Serein. And of course there are some handy spots at which to relax over an afternoon beverage and just take in the stunning setting. Flat-soled shoes are advisable for this visit!
For our second excursion day we make first for the great underground Caves de Bailly, old limestone excavations now home to Crémant de Bourgogne and the reds of the neighbouring Irancy vineyard. We will enjoy a tasting here before the coach drops us back into Auxerre to spend the rest of the day in private exploration. Guests should be sure to explore both the mediaeval upper town, with its magnificent Cathedral St-Etiénne, Abbey St-Germain, half-timbered houses and horological clock, and at lower level the riverside vista which is truly memorable especially looking across towards the upper town from the opposite bank. A regular free minibus shuttles between the riverfront and upper town and there are many spots to simply relax and watch the world go by. Lunch is not included today and guests will be able to make their own way back to the hotel as they choose.
For two of our cruise days we lunch on board the boat, but on day 4 when we cruise upstream from Sens, we will aim to arrive in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne where we will lunch at the splendid Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes, always a highlight of any of our Yonne cruises.
In keeping with our dining theme we will dine-out on all six evenings. For three of these occasions we will select local restaurants within a short stroll of our hotel on Auxerre waterfront. For the other three evenings we will first travel to Joigny to dine at the excellent Hotel Rive Gauche, twinned with the Michelin restaurant Le Côte St-Jacques on the opposite bank of the river. Next we will visit one of the region’s most popular restaurants, La Beursaudière in the village of Nitry. And for our final dining adventure we head south of Auxerre to enjoy the hospitality of the Hostellerie de la Fontaine in the little village of Accolay, situated on the Canal du Nivernais – another of our cruise routes.
On travel-home day we still have time on our side so after a leisurely breakfast we bid farewell to our hosts at the Ibis in Auxerre and return to Sens where we allow ourselves the late morning and lunchtime to see something on this historic city. Sens still has many traces of its medieval past. Its 12th-16th century cathedral of St. Stephen is one of France's great Gothic cathedrals and much visited for its magnificent stained-glass windows, and the old city centre and nearby garden boulevards are a delight to visit. There is time for guests to choose a bite to eat in Sens before we set off again for Paris and our return Eurostar.
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
THE PROGRAMME – ALL DEPARTURES
Cruising between Auxerre and Sens staying at the 3* Ibis Central, Auxerre
Day Embark Disembark Km/ Lunch Excursion Dinner Hotel Locks ETD/ETA 1 Report to St Pancras by 09:00 for late morning Eurostar Departure by. Local transfer by coach from Gare du Nord for late afternoon hotel check-in. Group restaurant dinner in Auxerre (walkable from hotel) 2 Migennes Villeneuve- 24/6 On board All-day cruise Hotel Le Rive 09:00/16:00 09:45 sur-Yonne Gauche, Joigny 18:30/22:00 15:00 3 Morning visit to the Abbaye de Pontigny 10:00-11:30, light lunch at the Chablis Bar with Restaurant in 09:30/17:30 time for sightseeing 12:00-14:30. Continue to Noyers-sur-Serein for afternoon visit Auxerre 15:00-16:30 4 Sens 09:30 Villeneuve- 17/4 Auberge La Afternoon free time to Restaurant La 08:30/16:00 sur-Yonne Lucarne aux sightsee in Villeneuve-sur- Beursaudière, 18:00/22:00 12:30 Chouettes Yonne, returning to hotel Nitry Villeneuve s- for 16:00 Yonne 5 Morning visit and tasting at the wine caves of Bailly 10:00-11:00, then free for Hostellerie de la 09:30/11:30 sightseeing in Auxerre 11:30-16:30. Lunch not included today Fontaine, Accolay 6 Migennes Auxerre 24/11 On board All day cruise - guests asked Restaurant in 09:00/16:15 09:45 16:00 to walk to hotel from Auxerre disembarkation – about 400m 7 Coach transfer to Sens for sightseeing and shopping and with time for lunch, departing for Paris at 13:30. ETD 09:30 Eurostar check-in at 16:00 for early-evening departure
What’s Included:
• Eurostar Transfers London-Paris • Local coach transfers for cruise days and local excursions • Hotel stay (6 nights) at the 3* Ibis Auxerre Centre, with breakfast • On board lunches whilst cruising (2 days) • Lunch at the Wine Bar in Chablis and the Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne • Complimentary bar throughout cruising • 3 Group evening in restaurants in Auxerre with drinks package • Evening meals at the Hotel Rive Gauche, Joigny, the restaurant La Beursaudière, Nitry, and the Hostellerie de la Fontaine, Accolay • Three days of cruising 65km of the River Yonne between Auxerre and Sens • Book-guided visit to the Abbaye de Pontigny • Tasting of Crémant de Bourgogne at the Caves de Bailly • Visit to the plus-beaux village of Noyers-sur-Serein • Free time in Auxerre, Sens, Chablis, Villeneuve-sur-Yonne
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
The Natalia approaches the Pont Paul Bert in Auxerre heading upstream. Our hotel is visible just to the right of the bridge
Guests should please budget separately for:
• Travel to or from London St-Pancras • Any overnight accommodation required in UK preceding or following our Eurostar transfer • Lunches on the two travel days, and on the day we visit Auxerre • Travel and Health Insurance
Eurostar Journey Times
[Awaiting post-pandemic timetable]
TRAVELLING DIRECT
Guests wishing to join the tour in Auxerre by travelling direct will be welcome to do so. In this case the tour price will be abated by the cost of our Eurostar transfers. Please ask for further information if required.
Our Hotel and Meal Plan:
Booking Codes G104, G106, G116 & G118
The Ibis Auxerre Centre is located on the east bank of the Yonne adjacent to the Pont Paul Bert and pleasure port moorings. The hotel is recently refurbished and has 50 air-conditioned and sound-insulated rooms with flatscreen TV, free wifi and a 24hr bar/snack meal service.
Continental breakfasts are served in the hotel but there is no evening restaurant so our evening meals will be taken in a selection of local and out-of-town restaurants.
The tourist office and upper town shuttle bus stop are just a few minutes walk away, likewise Auxerre Railway Station.