Loire Valley
Nymphea ITINERARY* Sunday, Day 1 Moulin de Nitray
Guests are met near Tours and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to hotel barge Nymphea where the crew and a Champagne Welcome await you at our mooring opposite the 17th century Moulin de Nitray. Dinner on board.
Clos Lucé - home of Leonardo Da Vinci
Monday, Day 2 Moulin de Nitray to Larcay
A morning cruise through two locks takes us to the quaint town of Larcay where we moor under the weeping willows for lunch. In the afternoon we enjoy an excursion to Château de Villandry, the last of the great Renaissance châteaux to be built on the banks of the Loire. The château is world-renowned for its amazing array of ornamental, water, vegetable and herb gardens. Dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 Larcay to Vallet
After a morning cruise past some charming private châteaux, we tie up opposite the hamlet of Vallet, a cluster of classic Tourangeau architecture grouped around its 18th century mill. From there we drive to Amboise on the banks of the Loire, where we visit the Royal Château d’Amboise, a royal residence of the Kings of France for 200 years. We also visit Château du Clos Lucé nearby, Leonardo Da Vinci’s home for the last 3 years of his life. Dinner on board. Château d'Amboise
Château de Villandry
A Small Selection of the Wines Served Aboard
Wednesday, Day 4 Vallet to Chissay-en-Touraine
Cruise Highlights l
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Domaine Baudry Dutour, Rosé de Chinon Cuvée Marie-Justine
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Château de Chaintres, Saumur Champigny
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Domaine de la Renaudie, Touraine Blanc
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Château de Fontenay, La Reserve de Jean
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Lycée Viticole d’Amboise, Cabernet Franc
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Château de la Grille, Chinon
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Cruise under the famed Château de Chenonceau Visit a Troglodyte cave dwelling and see the silkworm nursery
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Excursion to the Château d’Amboise and Château du Clos Lucé
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Private wine tastings at Montrichard and the Domaine de Fontenay
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Visit to Château de Villandry and its magnificent gardens
Domaine de la Grange, Les Buissonnets
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Colourful street markets
Château de Nitray, Cabernet Franc, Les Meuriers
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Optional hot air ballooning
Whilst cruising in the morning we may pull in to the tiny landing stage next to Domaine Bruno Currassier. A two-minute walk brings us to the courtyard where we can taste their range of Touraine wines as an aperitif before lunch. In the afternoon we cruise under the 5-arch bridge of the impressive Château de Chenonceau and moor at Chisseaux. From there we take a short drive in the air-conditioned minibus to visit Chenonceau, often called ‘the ladies château’, after those such as Henry II’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who added the bridge over the River Cher and the beautiful gardens. Upon our return we cruise upstream to Chissayen-Touraine and have dinner tonight in one of the local restaurants specializing in Loire regional cooking.
Thursday, Day 5 Chissay-en-Touraine to Montrichard
A morning cruise takes us towards the troglodyte village of Bourré and we moor near one of the more unusual dwellings, La Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family have grown up in this hillside troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn a wine cellar, a quarry for the tuffeau stone, and lastly, a silkworm nursery. After lunch we drive to Valencay, one of the most splendid châteaux of the Loire. We then cruise to Montrichard where we moor for the night. Dinner on board.
Friday, Day 6 Montrichard to Moulin de Nitray Deck Plan Cheverny Cheverny
Galley Crew
Twin
Chambord Chambord
Chenonceau
Twin
Upper Saloon
Twin or Double
Dining Saloon
Chenonceau ●
80 Feet Long
80 Feet Long ● 6 Passengers l 6 Passengers ● 2/3 Crew l 2/3 Crew ● l
TV/DVD Player
2 Twin Staterooms l (65 – 75 sq ft incl. en suite) l (65 – 75 sq ft incl. en suite) ● 1 Twin/Double Stateroom l 1 Twin/Double Stateroom l (91 sq ft incl. en suite) (91 sq ft incl. en suite) l
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2 Twin Cabins
● Air-Conditioned Air-Conditioned ● Upper Sun Deck Upper Sun Deck ● Wi-Fi (Subject to Wi-Fi (Subject to Local Reception Local Reception)
Note: The forward cabin is accessed separately from the deck, down steep steps.
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Air-Conditioned
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6 Touring Bikes
Air-Conditioned Minibus Minibus l 6 Touring Bikes l
Following breakfast, a short stroll takes us to the heart of Montrichard and into one of the largest street markets in Touraine. We also explore the 11th century château overlooking the medieval town square. Before lunch we can visit the local vineyard of the Meriau family, to taste the regional Touraine vintages. In the afternoon, we enjoy another passage under Chenonceau and arrive at the hamlet of Nitray in time to visit the château and rose garden. Enjoy an aperitif from their vineyards before the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Moulin de Nitray
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the drop-off point near Tours. *This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. Nymphea is operated by Leigh Wooton.
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