The route in reverse direction: Montargis to Chatillon sur Loire

Day 1 Monday: Arrival Welcome and Check In
You will be collected at 4.30pm from the main railway station in Montargis and transferred to Hotel Barge Maria, moored in the town nearby. Transfer time is approximately 15 minutes.

Over a glass of the local "Cremant de Loire" the captainwill explain features of the barge and if you wish, arrange to take you to the local supermarket to buy provisions for the first few days of your stay, before leaving you to enjoy your first night aboard.

Day 2 Tuesday: Montargis to Montcresson

The cruise itinerary begins with a cruise to an idyllic remote mooring close to the village of Montcresson. The canal here follows the line of the River Loing (which supplies the water for the canal) as it winds through open meadows and fields.

The first cruise reveals just how peaceful and relaxing barge cruising can be as we pass several locks, float through quiet hamlets and generally escape the bustle of everyday life.

Day 3 Wednesday: Montcresson to Chatillon Coligny

Cruise the longest section of the Canal with no locks before beginning the steeper climb through the deepest locks of the week en-route to Chatillon Coligny.

At Montbouy, the canal passes the Gallo Roman amphitheatre which stands as a monument to the history of the region. The 11th century church here dominates the village of Montbouy and our passage may coincide with the tolling of the church bells - renowned as the loudest and most melodic in the region.

The overnight mooring is at Chatillon Colign where you are free to explore the town at your leisure or to walk, cycle or visit any of the nearby excursions.

Day 4 Thursday: Chatillon Coligny to Rogny Les Sept Ecluses

The cruise continutes today to the village of Rogny Les Sept Ecluses, famed for its seven "star-case locks", built in the 17th century to allow boats to pass the summit level of the canal. The village offers restaurants, bars, shops and the all important bakery and is well placed as a base for excursions to local attractions or to venture further afield.

The village "Petanque" (or Boules) pitch - scene of many local championship boules matches - is right alongside the canal where the locals can often be seen sipping a cool beer from the quay-side bar whilst disputing (in a mainly good-natured way) the winner of the days match.

Day 5 Friday: Rogny Les Sept Ecluses

Rogny is the half-way point of our cruise route so today the barge remains in the port without cruisining to allow a truly relaxed day of rest.

There are many excursion opportunties plus great walking and biking routes or, if you prefer, take time to simply relaz and watch the world go by from the comfort of Maria's sundeck.

Day 6 Saturday: Rogny to Ouzoeur sur Trezzee

Today's cruise will take you over the highest point of the canal as we cross from the Loing Valley into the valley of the River Loire and begin our descent towards Ouzoeur Sur Trezee. Having quickly risen to the summit level via the flight of locks in Rogny, the descent is more sedate as we pass the six deep locks into the valley of the River Trezee before mooring in the oldest village on the canal.

Here you have time to explore the charming village with its narrow streets dating back to the 16th century, whilst there are also Grand Chateaux to be visited a short distance away or the regional town of Gien (a Loire River bankside town, famed for its fine china) nearby.

Day 7 Sunday: Ouzouer Sur Trezee to Briare and Chatillon Sur Loire

Our cruise today takes us through the heart of the town from where the canal takes its name. In earlier times, the Merchants bringing wine and produce from the rich farming lands of the Loire Valley would transfer their wares onto boats for delivery via the canal to Paris and beyond.

We still see evidence of their trade in the town with many memorials, museums and much of the canal infrastructire still operational.

Briare is also home to the reguins very own wine label - "Coteaux de Giennois" and several winemakers ply there trade in town or nearby so today could be the day to discover the regional wines.

The line of the canal was altered in the 1890s to allow non-stop passage across the River Loire through the creation of one of the greatest waterway landmarks in the world - the 600 metre long Pont Canal de Briare (the longest aqueduct in Europe), built by the engineer Eiffel, more renowned of course, for his famous Parisian tower.

Leaving Briare we move onto the Canal Lateral a la Loire for the final lef of our cruise to the town of Chatillon Syr Loire on the banks of the River Loire. As we leave the town of Briare behind us, we cross the magnificent Pont Canal Briare which takes us to the opposite banks of the Loire River the journey southwards to Chatillon Sur Loire.

The charming town of Chatillon stands above the canal and was an important river crossing point for the commerce which traded on the river in centuries past.

Day 8 Monday: Departure

Check out today is before 9.30am for the return transfer or onward travel. Those traveling by train will be returned to Montargis railway station in time to catch a train to arrive in Paris for around midday.