ULTIMATE DESTINATION GUIDE

L’Art de Vivre

L’Art de Vivre started life as a Scottish lumber carrier and has been carefully transformed by skilled craftsmen into a floating celebration of the Burgundian…

About L’Art de Vivre

L’Art de Vivre started life as a Scottish lumber carrier and has been carefully transformed by skilled craftsmen into a floating celebration of the Burgundian “good life”. The recently refitted cabins have modern en suite bathrooms and the delightful saloon combines contemporary leather with more traditional furnishings.

There is a sun deck to relax on with a glass of wine as you glide through the pretty Burgundy countryside, a relaxing spa pool and, of course, bicycles for exploring along the towpath before rejoining the hotel barge at one of the locks up ahead.

Your crew of four comprises a Captain, Master Chef, Tour Guide and Hostess, all with a love of the Nivernais Canal and secure in the knowledge that their vessel represents “L’Art de Vivre” itself. The region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey back in time along a magical waterway.

L’Art de Vivre is also available for ‘Tandem Cruises’ with the 12 passenger La Belle Epoque for larger groups of up to 20 passengers.

Ship Facts

Language	Length	Currency	Capacity	Crew count	Deck count	Cabin count	Electrical plugs
en-GB	30.5 meters	EUR	8	4	1	4	types: adapters provided: false

Accommodation

Staterooms

All hotel barges in the fleet benefit from an annual refurbishment and this may vary from redecoration and refurnishing of the accommodation or public areas of a vessel, to a complete refit of bedroom suites and their en suite facilities.

The accommodation on each hotel barge ranges from charming twin and double-bedded staterooms to suites with sitting areas – but all with closet and drawer storage and private en suite shower rooms. For any cruise, you can select a specific cabin, particularly if you book early.

Entertainment

Onboard Entertainment

Each hotel barge has a library, games and a CD player/iPod dock and some of them a spa pool on the sun deck, TV/DVD, or computer with internet access, often WiFi. Some even have a telescope for an after-dinner gaze into the night sky. There is also, of course, an open bar stocked with a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Dining

Cuisine & Dining Onboard

Before you wake each morning, a crew member has visited the local patisserie to collect newly baked breads, buttery croissants and a variety of fresh pastries, which will be laid out in the saloon with an array of fresh fruit and other accompaniments. Together with the aroma of fresh coffee brewing, the day has just begun and you may want to enjoy your breakfast on deck.

Luncheon may be a colourful arrangement of salads, pâtes, savoury quiches and of course, a selection of cheeses, all accompanied by an excellent choice of wines from the barge cellar. This daytime feast is often enjoyed on the sun deck, perhaps while cruising.

Dinner is the culinary highlight of each day. Served by candlelight, each course is a delicious creation, complemented by fine wines. Your chef will use the best fresh ingredients, bought from the wonderful local markets and pick fresh herbs from the small onboard herb garden to skilfully produce mouth-watering regional and national dishes that are full of flavour.

Image by Jeri Gintert.

Enrichment

L'Art de Vivre does not offer any dedicated enrichment facilities. She however visits many locations of historical or cultural importance. See below for more information on the Lower Nivernais Canal & River Yonne in Burgundy.

Burgundy

France is perhaps the most popular country for luxury barge cruises, due in no small part to the myriad waterways which cross not only its scenic countryside, but also some of its major cities. And while a Burgundy barge cruise may not be at the top of the list of options for holidaymakers visiting this European country, those who do choose to take a chance and go barging in Burgundy are sure not to be disappointed.

In fact, taking a Burgundy barge cruise down one of the region’s canals is a wonderful experience. Burgundy boasts some of the world’s finest wines with around 60,000 acres of sunlit vines and arguably the prettiest canals in France. The Burgundy Canal winds its way in smooth curves through the heart of renowned vineyards, medieval towns, elegant châteaux, magnificent cathedrals, picturesque villages and wonderful local markets. Barging in Burgundy guarantees our clients a wealth of sightseeing opportunities.

This is a region with a vast variety of cheeses, in all shapes, sizes and colours, strong in character or mild and fresh and all can be enjoyed with full-bodied red Burgundies, or perhaps with lighter white Chablis wines. Burgundy’s gastronomic tradition is certainly rich and diverse and a sedate Burgundy barge cruise along one of its delightful waterways will allow you to indulge in good food and wine: two of life’s essential pleasures.

Lower Nivernais & River Yonne Cruise Highlights

Explore enchanting Auxerre and its magnificent cathedral
Wine tasting of Chablis and Petit Chablis in the cellars of a renowned Domaine
Tour Noyers-sur-Serein, one of the most beautiful villages in Burgundy
Visit the picturesque village of Vezelay and its hilltop basilica
Visit elegant Château de Bazoches
Optional hot air ballooning
Excellent towpath for walking and cycling

Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness Facilities

L'Art de Vivre does not offer any dedicated Health & Fitness Facilities. However, a Sun Deck and Spa Pool are located at the rear of the barge. 8 touring bikes are also available for anyone looking to cycle through the areas visited.

Deckplans

Deck

Crew
Wheel House
Galley
Saloon
Dining Area
4 Staterooms: Merlot, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir
Spa Pool
Sun Deck
Crew

Cruise Trade News

L’Art de Vivre

About L’Art de Vivre