Luciole
Barging in Burgundy

Guests: 14
Size: 100 feet long
Last Visited: 2009
Rating: First Class, A/C, Families

2011 LOW SEASON Rates Spring

Whole Boat Charter: $40,000
Double Cabin:$3,550
per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin:$3,650

2011 LOW SEASON Dates - Spring

April 3 - 9	April 17 - 23
April 10 - 16	April 24 - 30

2011 Mid SEASON Rates

Whole Boat Charter: $45,000
Double Cabin:$3,850 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin:$3,950

2011 Mid SEASON Dates

May 1 - 7	May 29 - June 4	June 26 - July 2
May 8 - 14	June 5 - 11	July 3 - 9
May 15 - 21	June 12 - 18	July 10 - 16
May 22 - 28	June 19 - 25	July 17 - 23

2011 LOW SEASON Rates Summer

Whole Boat Charter: $40,000
Double Cabin:$3,550 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin:$3,650

2011 LOW SEASON Dates - summer

July 24 - 30	August 14 - 20
July 31 - August 6	August 21 - 27
August 7 - 13

2011 high SEASON Rates

Whole Boat Charter: $48,000
Double Cabin:$3,850 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin:$3,950

2011 high SEASON Dates

August 28 - September 3	September 18 - 24	October 2 - 8
September 4 - 10	September 25 - October 1	October 9 - 15
September 11 - 17

2011 Low SEASON Rates - Fall

Whole Boat Charter: $40,000
Double Cabin:$3,550 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin:$3,650

2011 Low SEASON Dates - Fall

October 16 - 22
October 23 - 29
October 30 - November 4

Six night/seven day cruises depart from Paris every Sunday and return to Paris the following Saturday.

We love to visit LUCIOLE and were delighted to be aboard in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

LUCIOLE is the inspired creation of barging “pioneers” John and Penny Liley. Luciole cruises on the divinely beautiful Canal du Nivernais, cruising between Auxerre and Clamency. This vessel has a “country French” ambiance: dark green carpet sets off Provençal print fabrics on the casual furnishings, both inside and out. Luciole is known for an extremely personalized on-board atmosphere.

We met several members of senior crew, including Guide Neil, a superb guide who has taken care of our guests on other vessels. He will be back for his third season in 2010. Our fellow guests were a delightful collection of Americans and Brits. As is usual on LUCIOLE, they had relaxed and bonded. There was a lot of laughter at dinner that night, although we all fell silent when our dessert of Creme Brulee was placed before us and then DEVOURED!

In fact, Sophie's entire dinner was absolutely delicious!


Barge Lady's Debbie and Nicole Vaci cruised in June, 2007 and took many of the wonderful photographs on our site. For Debbie's cruise diary, go to The Barge Lady Blog and see her day by day account and more photos.

Luciole

Burgundy Barge Cruise Itinerary

Auxerre to Clamecy on the Canal du Nivernais

Sunday: Paris to Auxerre
Savor the sunset at our Delightful Mooring!

Our guests will be met at 2:30 pm in Paris at the Hotel Mansart, elegantly located off the Place Vendome on the Right Bank . (From 1:45 pm on, leave your luggage and enjoy tea and snacks in our private room.) You’ll then be chauffeured to the Luciole moored right on the Quai in Auxerre, a lovely town in the heart of the Burgundy vineyards. Enjoy the traditional Champagne Welcome and introduction to crew, then relax on deck as the sun sets over the old churches and cobblestoned streets of Auxerre. The first of many dinners on board introduces you to both your fellow guests and the high standard of cooking you will enjoy all week on Luciole!

Monday: Auxerre to Bailly
Exploring in Auxerre
A visit into the historic centre of Auxerre, pictured at right, is followed by a cruise out of the city into beautiful pastoral countryside. Now is the perfect time to walk or bicycle along the towpath which lines this gorgeous canal. Lunch on board will be taken at Champs, one of several attractive villages on the way. The afternoon's cruising through attractive reaches of the River Yonne concludes at the wine-making centre of Bailly.

Tuesday: Bailly to Vermenton
Wine! Wine! Wine!
A morning visit is made to one of the wine caves in the vicinity of Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris, Irancy and Escolives all stand close beside the waterway in wonderful surroundings, and a rendezvous will be made with one of the wine producers in the area. After lunch, we'll cruise through gorgeous scenery to our mooring at Vermenton.

Wednesday:
Vermenton to Mailly-la-Ville
Shop in a beautiful village
Today's excursion is to Noyers-sur-Serein, pictured at left, considered to be in the top 100 prettiest villages in France. Enjoy a cheesetasting in the market; then visit a local potter and tour his shop. Many Luciole guests are finding delightful momentos to take home! After lunch Luciole continues southwards along a waterway in which winding stretches of canal mingle with sparkling river sections, before our arrival at the village of Mailly-la-Ville. Now is the perfect time to walk or bicycle along the tow path and enjoy the spectacular countryside as it floats by.


Thursday: Mailly-la-Ville to Lucy-sur-Yonne
Imposing Chateau
Cruising ever deeper into the countryside, Luciole enters a region in which dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside, with many opportunities for cycling, strolling - or simply enjoying the scenery from the sun-deck. Visits during the day can include the hill town of Mailly-le-Chateau, or the imposing chateau of Bazoches, pictured at right, home in the 17th Century of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer.

Friday: Lucy-sur-Yonne to Clamecy
Basilica at Vezelay
From an overnight mooring at the village of Lucy-sur-Yonne, we make the short journey in our bus to Vezelay, to visit the spectacular 12th Century Basilica, which dominates the town. Here St. Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade and from this hillside a swathe of rural Burgundy can be seen. Traveling onwards, Luciole then reaches the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise.

Saturday: Clamecy to Paris
A Sad Farewell
Depart at 9:30 for your chauffeured transfer to Paris . (We can stop in Auxerre to drop off guests picking up a rental car.) Expected arrival back at the Hotel Mansart is at 1:00 pm. The crew will help you and your luggage into a waiting taxicab. For those wanting to fly out of Paris on the last day of the cruise, do not book a flight before 4:00 pm. Bon voyage! We hope you will reap a lifetime of memories on the Luciole.


Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks.Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Barge cruises in Burgundy Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Luciole

Guest Book

"The Luciole was a great experience!  We enjoyed the lavish and personal attention of the crew, the beautiful Burgandian scenery and the marvelous gourmet meals.  The tours were excellently done with attention to details and concern for the passengers.  We enjoyed meeting some new friends and sharing this wonderful week with them!"
-Kathleen Sands, 2010

"The Luciole was perfect.  If you want a great staff, relaxation, a chance to meet interesting people, go to places you might not be able to get on your own, all while experiencing amazing foods, wines, and cheeses, you MUST try the Luciole!  You will be taken care of all the time by lovely people and if you are lucky enough to have Neil as your guide and driver, you will know lots more about places you and laugh a lot - the perfect escape!  PS - this was our second barge, and we look forward to our third."
- Elisa and Michael Seidman, 2010

"A perfectly delightful experience, shared with 12 other very interesting and well-traveled passengers from England, New Zealand, and the US.  Great food and wine, enjoyed biking along the canal and swimming in the river.  The vacation was very relaxing, with time to read a few books and enjoy good conversation with our new friends aboard.  Now back from our travels, we are corresponding and swapping photos!"
-Marty and Nancy Rosenfeld, 2010

"Excellently planned and executed.  Delightful."
- Bill and Emma Louise Fanning, 2010

"Barging on the Luciole was a trip to be remembered for its wonderful relaxed atmosphere, great food, gracious staff, and fun guests!  We could not have asked for more or better - even the weather cooperated.  The captain and crew made us all feel special.  Our thanks to the crew for making this an exceptional experience."
- Linda and Larry Spivack, 2010

"The trip was everything we hoped it would be and more.  Absolutely idyllic.  The attentions of the crew left absolutely nothing to be desired.  Food, cheese, and wines were sensational"
- Ted and Gloria Feit, 2010

"We were fortunate to have fellow travelers where we all enjoyed each other!  Staff was friendly and helpful!  Relaxing travel being "on the go" only 3 - 4 hours a day.  We saw a swan on a nest which was magnificent and a surprise as we were going down the canal."
-George and Ella Sue Baughman, 2010 

"Our holiday on the Luciole was one of the best ever!  The barge is well and comfortably appointed, the pace of the trip was comfortable, the food (the cheeses and the wines) was of a very high standard and nicely varied, as well as beautifully served.  The crew did all they could to meet our every request, and even the weather was perfect.  There was a nice balance between onboard activities, excursions and walking/cycling at will.  The group of passengers (including 12 strangers) and the crew were very compatible.  I highly recommend this trip!"
-Bob and Janet King, 2009

"This was my third barge trip in France, and if the owners had another barge, I would go again.  Wonderful and peaceful.  I was treated like a king!  Thank you so much for all your help."
-Burt Eikleberry, 2009

Luciole Floor Plan

100 Feet long
- 6 cabins (107 sq ft) with twin or double beds, 2 single cabins.
- Large picture windows in salon and dining area.
- Sundeck with tables, chairs, and umbrellas.