The Art & History of France: A Barge Voyage on the Yonne & Seine

After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to Road Scholar exclusive lectures, field trips, and activities, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events offered by the cruise line that are separate from Road Scholar. Routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions including water levels could require altering the itinerary and/or the progress of the riverboat, making it run late and sometimes miss ports if it cannot dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. Whenever possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times (subject to change by the cruise line). This may mean that free time in port is limited. Regardless of the time in port, Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program. On 'Chartered Exclusively for Road Scholar' programs there will be other Road Scholar program(s) on board the vessel. If another group's Group Leader is giving a lecture during the cruise when your group does not have planned activities, please feel free to attend the lecture. When a program is not ‘Chartered Exclusively’, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events on board the ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program.

At a local restaurant, we'll have a plated meal with water and a glass of wine; other beverages available for purchase. French restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons expect to take their time, savor every bite, and set the pace of the meal, requesting “l’addition” — the check — only when they are ready. Meals are accompanied by complimentary “pain” (bread) and “eau” or “l’eau” (water), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered, it is customary to fill your glass only half way so the wine can breathe and to be sure everyone has a share. Servers wait until everyone at the table has finished their dish before clearing and bringing the next course. To indicate that you have finished your meal, place your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate.

At leisure. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are long motorcoach transfers during this program. Due to ecological regulations in France, new motorcoaches do not have restrooms on board. Older models have restrooms, but they are not available for use. A rest stop will be made along the way for rides longer than 90 minutes. The Group Leader will announce when rest stops will be made; speak with the Group Leader if additional stops are needed. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.

At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet with a variety of foods and beverage choices of coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will meet our motorcoach and travel to Essoyes, in the Champagne region. Upon arrival in Essoyes, we will join local experts for a walking tour that will explore the intimate life of the painter Pierre Auguste Renoir and his family. Discover the sites that presided over the paintings of his most famous works.

At a local restaurant

We will visit Renoir's studio and house with a local expert. Afterwards, enjoy a champagne tasting at a local cellar. In the late afternoon we will board our motorcoach and transfer to Sens to embark the MS Deborah.

On board our barge, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of wine, water, beer, juice, tea, coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

On board our boat, we’ll have a buffet with a variety of foods and beverage choices of coffee, tea, water.

This morning we will set out on foot to explore the city of Sens, home to a variety of historical buildings with impressive architecture. The cathedral in Sens was the first of the great Gothic cathedrals in France and was the inspiration in layout and design for many others, including Canterbury Cathedral in Great Britain. Strolling through the street and along the promenades, you’ll take in the remarkable homes, buildings and wall fronts that are testimony to the town’s rich past. Take some time to browse in the market and taste the local products.

On board our ship, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of wine, water, beer, juice, tea, coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Cruising on the Yonne River, a tributary of the Seine, we'll pass by several lakes and ponds. As we sail, enjoy a special presentation on the region of Burgundy by your Study Leader. We’ll arrive in Montereau-Fault-Yonne in the late afternoon.

On board

At leisure.

On board

As we sail towards Moret sur Loing, learn about Rodin and Camille Claudel during a lecture from our study leader.

On board

In the afternoon, enjoy an expert-led field trip to the Musée Camille Claudel in Nogent sur Seine. It has been awarded the "Musée de France" quality label and offers the largest collection of Camille Claudel's works.

On board

At leisure.

On board.

We will board our motorcoach for a visit to the Palace of Fontainebleau and its magnificent gardens. All the kings and queens of France passed through Fontainebleau at one time or another. The château is a unique example of a residence that was inhabited regularly for more than eight centuries. The French gardens, fountains and flowerbeds will transport you back to the palace’s days of glory.

On board.

This afternoon as we sail towards Melun, learn about Napoleon and why he left his mark so deeply in the French history during a lecture from our study leader.

On board.

At leisure.

On board.

As we cruise towards Evry, enjoy a lecture about the Barbizon School and their search for light and plein air painting that paved the way to the Impressionists.

On board.

In the afternoon, we'll travel by motorcoach to the village of Barbizon. Around the year 1820, Edmée and François Ganne set up a grocer’s shop in the hamlet of Barbizon. In 1827, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot discovered the village, paving the way for other painters to come here, including Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet. A whole generation of young artists decided to paint “from nature”, leaving their studios to work in situ, like their two great English precursors, John Constable and Turner. Stroll through the cobbled streets and explore the small shops and art galleries.

On board.

Enjoy an evening of French and regional trivia.

On board.

We will board a motorcoach with our Group Leader and Instructor and travel to the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, possibly the most magnificent private residence in France. It was built by Nicolas Fouquet (1615-80). The ambitious Fouquet ascended politically and became a patron of the arts. Rising from a member of the Parisian Parlement to Louis XIV’s Superintendent of Finances in 1653, he commissioned the grand baroque estate and set a precedent for French architecture and design. Combining architecture, interior design, and landscape into a unified masterpiece, magnificent Vaux-le-Vicomte was the inspiration for the even more elaborate palace of Versailles.

On board.

As we cruise towards Paris, enjoy a lecture on the history of Paris.

On board.

This evening we'll cruise through Paris to take in the romantic City of Light at night (depending on water level of the river).

On board.

Disembark ship. We will then travel by motorcoach to the Musée d'Orsay, where we will have an expert-led visit, followed by time to see what interests you most. The first work of art is the building itself, the former Gare d’Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The collections of painting, sculpture, and decorative objects show the tremendous diversity of artistic creation in the western world from 1848 – 1914, showcasing many of the most remarkable works of the early modern era including the Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and Art Nouveau movements.

At a local restaurant.

We continue via motorcoach for a field trip to the Basilica of Saint Denis to learn about the legend of this Saint and the famous burial site for French royalty and nobility, comparable to Westminster Abbey in London. The design and construction of this basilica was first mentioned in 754 and records show it was completed in 1144. It is believed to be the first Gothic church. Saint Denis is the final resting place of all but three kings of France from the 10th century until the French Revolution. What could be found of the bodies of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were moved from a mass grave to the Basilica after the restoration of the monarchy in 1814. Afterwards, we will continue on to the hotel for check in.

On your own to explore local fare.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will board our motorcoach for a field trip to Giverny. En route, learn about Monet, his life, his work, and why he settled in Giverny. Once we arrive we will visit the beautiful gardens and Monet's house.

At a local restaurant.

We will travel by motorcoach to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise. En route, learn about Van Gogh, his life, his work, and his short stay in Auvers-sur-Oise before he died. In Auvers-sur-Oise we will discover some of the sites that inspired Vincent Van Gogh's genius. Led by our Group Leader, we'll stroll up to the cemetery where Van Gogh and his brother are buried. We will also have the opportunity to see Van Gogh's bedroom at the Auberge Ravoux where he spent the last days of his life. In the late afternoon we will return to Paris by motorcoach.

Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!