nted guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town.My most vivid memory of our luxury barge through France is of arriving in the little medieval market town of Clamecy in the Burgundy Region at the end of our week-long canal and river voyage on the luxury hotel barge 'Luciole'. There were fourteen of us, looked after by a crew so friendly -- and yet so capable -- they were part of the party, too.

All the way up the picturesque Nivernais valley in Western Burgundy, as the barge 'Luciole' nosed her way along, we were struck by the dazzling scenery all around. Starting from the spectacular city of Auxerre, where the medieval Cathedral towers above the waterway, we had entered the countryside quickly. Giles, our Captain, pointed out the sights as we went, and with Armelle, our talented guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town.

yage on the luxury hotel barge 'Luciole'. There were fourteen of us, looked after by a crew so friendly -- and yet so capable -- they were part of the party, too.

All the way up the picturesque Nivernais valley in Western Burgundy, as the barge 'Luciole' nosed her way along, we were struck by the dazzling scenery all around. Starting from the spectacular city of Auxerre, where the medieval Cathedral towers above the waterway, we had entered the countryside quickly. Giles, our Captain, pointed out the sights as we went, and with Armelle, our talented guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town.

e picturesque Nivernais valley in Western Burgundy, as the barge 'Luciole' nosed her way along, we were struck by the dazzling scenery all around. Starting from the spectacular city of Auxerre, where the medieval Cathedral towers above the waterway, we had entered the countryside quickly. Giles, our Captain, pointed out the sights as we went, and with Armelle, our talented guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town.Auxerre, where the medieval Cathedral towers above the waterway, we had entered the countryside quickly. Giles, our Captain, pointed out the sights as we went, and with Armelle, our talented guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town.nted guide, we visited the wine center of Chablis - the real Chablis, from where the finest wines originate, with a private tasting of Premier and Grand Crus in a cellar within the town. We also visited, in the barge's own bus that accompanied us for the entire week, the magnificent 12th century Basilica of V?zelay that dominates this hilltop city, where Saint Bernard preached the Second Crusade back in the 12th century, and then the bustling market town of historic Avallon, where a lively street market adjoins the ancient fortifications on the town's cliff-top site. Our final visit was to the imposing Ch?teau Bazoches. Set on a hillside amidst the splendid rolling countryside, this was the 17th century home of Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer.

Many of us explored the delightful villages along the way on the bicycles that the barge provides for passengers' use. We also walked and bicycled on