| La Chouette |
Rating  : Deluxe
Number of Passengers: 6
Number of Cabins: 3
Size of Vessel: 100 ft in length
Number of Crew: 4
Cruise Region: Champagne
Other Regions Sailed: Northern France, Northern Burgundy
Whole Boat Charters starting at $21,000
Individual Cabin Bookings Available Upon Request
Charter Pricing for 4 & 5 Passengers Available
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For More Information or to Book Your Journey
1.800.549.2575
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 La Chouette |
La Chouette is a traditional Dutch motor barge built in 1934 for carrying cargoes along the inland waterways of Europe. She has now been
lovingly and professionally converted into a luxury charter barge for only six guests in the space often devoted to twice that number.
The owners of La Chouette, Bob and Bobbie Marsland, aim to help you have a vacation to remember. While you relax on board the barge journeys along the tranquil
waters of a canal and river system steeped in history. Sleepy waterside villages will unfold their secrets to an enquiring explorer.
Majestic châteaux will enthrall you, and the warmth of welcome you will receive from the friendly local people will captivate you.
The interior is carpeted throughout and decorated in traditional style with extensive use being made of mahogany
paneling and brass fittings. This, together with the tasteful soft furnishings, creates a charming and
restful atmosphere.
The thoughtful design of La Chouette lets you be a part of or apart from the rest of the party as you choose. There are comfortable lounge, dining
and bar areas where you can relax with a book or listen to your favorite music. There is a small library on board, a TV with video and a selection
of games. Up above there is a vast sun-deck on which to laze and soak up the sun and where lunch is usually served beneath the
cooling shade of a giant parasol.
The French take their food and wine very seriously and so does the crew of La Chouette. While aboard, you'll dine royally. They will
also take you to their own selection of local restaurants as they believe that is the sure way to enjoy the French way of life.
A specialty of a cruise on La Chouette is eating out. One meal per day will be taken ashore, sometimes lunch, sometimes dinner.
Bob and Bobbie personally will accompany you to a wide variety of typical French restaurants
chosen for the quality of their food, wine and service. Many are featured in guidebooks and some are Michelin starred.
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Each spacious stateroom offers a double bed which can also be converted to twin beds if preferred. Cabins also
feature a dressing table as well as plenty of wardrobe space.
The cabins are heated and also feature localized air conditioning units. The en-suite bathrooms include a shower,
sink, and toilet.
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- A unique dining experience -
- All breakfasts taken on board the vessel
- Lunches served on board include quiches, soups, salads, and more
- Five-course dinners featuring delicious homemade cooking
- One meal (lunch or dinner) ashore daily with the owners
- Open bar and wines with meals
- Hair dryers provided in each cabin
- 220 volt outlets on board
- Central heating and air conditioning units in each cabin
- Sundeck with chairs and tables
- Touring bicycles
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Thursday - Your captain will meet you at your Paris hotel and escort you directly to La Chouette moored nearby. Marvel at the sights
of Paris from the magnificent River Seine. Today you'll see Paris in an unforgettable way, "Under the Bridges of Paris" on board La Chouette
with a glass of champagne in your hand.
The barge cruises upstream out of the city for just a few miles before leaving the hustle and bustle of the Seine for the peace and
tranquility of the River Marne. The mooring for the night is in the quiet town of Le Perreux where you'll enjoy your first gastronomic
dinner at the charming restaurant Les Lauriers.
Friday - The morning cruise takes you into the narrow canal sections of this navigation which by-pass parts of the river, which are
too shallow to cruise. On to the magnificent city of Meaux dominated by its impressive cathedral. After lunch on board you'll take a trip
in La Chouette's mini-bus to the Abbaye de Chaalis. Dating back to the twelfth century, this former Cistercian monastery now houses the
Jacquemart-André museum of furniture and works of art of all kinds.
Then you'll re-join La Chouette in plenty of time to enjoy an aperitif before taking dinner in the exquisitely converted watermill
restaurant, Le Moulin de Poincy.
Saturday - There is a fascinating market to visit, part of which is situated on the bridges over the river. Then you can visit the
Salle d'Exposition de Brie de Meaux to hear all about the history and manufacture of this world famous cheese. You can take the opportunity
of tasting the cheese with a fine red Givry wine. This is followed by a guided visit to Meaux Cathedral.
After lunch on board you'll take a leisurely cruise onboard to La Fert sous Jouarre and moor for the night right next to the excellent
restaurant, Au Bec Fin, where you will enjoy dinner.
Sunday - Today's cruise is to Château Thierry through the most delightful Marne Valley countryside. The barge stops at
Nanteuil-sur-Marne for lunch and a short walk around this typically French village. Today's restaurant is the Auberge de Lion d'Or
which gives you the golden opportunity to enjoy the traditional French family Sunday lunch. This is the first village in the Champagne
region. From now on it's vines all the way.
On arrival at the mooring site, you can take a trip to Hill 204, where a massive American Monument stands and surveys the valley below,
and Belleau Wood, the scene of the last major engagement in World War 1 and where there is an impressive American cemetery.
Supper tonight is taken on board.
Monday - After an early start, you'll cruise past mile after mile of champagne vineyards meticulously cultivated in their serried ranks up
the hillsides.
The captain will choose a mooring convenient from where to take a van ride into Reims. Here you can visit the Cathedral, taste champagne in a
cellar or two, see the Surrender Museum, where Eisenhower signed the treaty in 1944, go shopping and much more. Lunch is in a 1925 art-deco
brasserie which is a favorite meeting place of the Rémois (citizens of Reims).
Back to La Chouette in time to sit out on deck with something to sip before preparing for dinner at the Michelin starred Auberge le
Relais just over the river.
Tuesday - After breakfast La Chouette meanders up the valley towards Épernay passing through Dormans, dominated by a towering national
monument built by Marshal Foch to commemorate the Marne victories and Chatillon sur Marne with its impressive statue of Pope Urbane II,
born there in 1040 and instigator of the First Crusade.
Next you'll see Hautvillers upon the hillside to your left. This is where Dom Pérignon, reputed to have discovered the "Methode Champenoise",
lived and worked as the cellar-master in the Benedictine Abbey for forty-seven years.
Cumières is the mooring site and from where you'll take a trip into Épernay, first "capital" of Champagne. Here you'll enjoy a tour of the town
and visit one of the prestigious champagne houses where you'll learn how champagne is made in a tour of the cellars and taste the end product,
followed by a visit to the charming village of Hautvillers.
Dinner tonight is at Épernay's La Cave à Champagne (Michelin) with a different champagne for each course!
Wednesday - After breakfast you'll be transferred to the Épernay railway station where trains depart for Paris.
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1.800.549.2575
