Cruise Alsace-Lorraine on 'Lorraine'
'Lorraine' cruises through the borderlands of Alsace-Lorraine, where the history, cuisine and character of eastern France mingle with the traditions of neighboring Germany. A journey through this rich region is a voyage of endless discovery, as treasures of art and architecture, food and wine, history and heritage appear around every corner.
Itinerary:
SaturdayWe meet at 2.30pm at the Strasbourg rail station or for those who have taken the transfer option at 9:00am in the lobby of the Hôtel Régina, 192, Rue de Rivoli in Paris. From Strasbourg, coach transfer to the boat moored in Xouaxange, a small rural community. As the luggage is taken to the cabins, the crew will welcome us aboard with an apéritif. We cruise through a wooded area and moor this evening in the quiet village of Hess, near a large lake which serves as part of the water supply for the canal. Sunday After breakfast we take the coach for a drive of about a half hour to the small town of Sarrebourgh to visit the chapel of the Cordeliers. Here we will see the delightful stained glass window created by Marc Chagall called “Peace”, a truly moving sight. We return to the Lorraine in Hess for lunch and cruise through the afternoon past a number of typical villages such as Niderviller before coming to Arzviller. Here the inclined plane allows us to bypass 17 locks with a counterbalanced barge lift which lowers us 150 feet to the valley of the Zorn below. We continue cruising along a delightful stretch of the canal to the fairytale town of Lutzelbourg. Monday After breakfast we make a short drive to visit a crystal glass factory to see how some of the most famous products of this area are still individually blown and fashioned by hand. We return to meet the Lorraine at the end of the morning, cast off while we have lunch and cruise to Saverne, a bustling market town of some ten thousand inhabitants. The numerous locks and an asphalt-covered towpath give excellent opportunities to walk or cycle. The attractive red sandstone palace built by the Rohan family in the eighteenth century is in full view across the canal and the typical Alsatian architecture and narrow, winding main street make this a delightful town for a stroll. We rejoin Lorraine and cruise to our overnight mooring of Waltenheim. Tuesday After breakfast a visit to Hochfelden where ancient documents prove that there was a brewery here as early as 870A.D.we visit to the Meteor brewery which carried on this ancient tradition . We return to the Lorraine for lunch and cruise through the afternoon past several typical villages arriving into Strasbourg for our overnight mooring. Wednesday This Morning, after breakfast,a guided walking tour of the principal sights including the picturesque “petite France” riverside district and the remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant gothic spire. Afterwards there will be time free to explore the capital of Alsace, its museums and shops before returning to the Lorraine at her nearby mooring We will make a circular cruise around this delightful city in the late afternoon. Thursday We will leave Lorraine after breakfast to visit Colmar and a guided tour of the city centre with its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th century collegiate church and waterside “little Venice” area. Afterwards there will be free time to explore the city further, its shops and museums, particularly the Unterlinden museum, famous for its collection of Renaissance art works and specifically for the masterpiece of Mathias Grünewald, the Issenheim altarpiece. Towards the end of the afternoon we shall head back northwards along the “route de vins” and make a short stop at the famous beauty spot of Riquewihr for a visit to a wine cellar to taste some local vintages. We return to the Lorraine and cruise in the afternoon to our final mooring and the farewell gala dinner served on board this evening. Friday Disembark after breakfast for transfer to Strasbourg Railway Station for the 9.50am train to Paris. Cost of this trip:Price per person per night is $315Child under 16 sharing a cabin is $189 Children under 10 are only allowed on Family Sailings |
