Grand Chateaux, French Artistry and a Private Seine Cruise

We depart Paris this morning at 9:30 am. From here, we travel to Chateau de Malmaison, former home of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. An avid collector of roses, Josephine’s extensive garden became a compelling symbol and shaped how future generations would feel about roses. This afternoon, we travel to Giverny to visit the home and gardens of the French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Monet lived here for more than four decades, and his ponds and flower gardens are immortalised in some of his paintings.

Depart the peaceful countryside and journey south to the enchanting Loire Valley. Along the way, we stop to visit the magnificent Chartres Cathedral, widely regarded as one of the finest and best-preserved masterpieces of French Gothic architecture. Continue across the undulating countryside, through charming villages, enjoying glimpses of rural French life, before arriving at Chateau de Chambord. Renowned as the largest and most spectacular chateau in the Loire Valley, Chambord is a masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture, celebrated for its grand scale and elegant design.

Today begins with a visit to Villandry, home to some of the Loire Valley’s most beautifully designed gardens. Continue to the charming village of Chedigny, one of just two French villages to receive the prestigious ‘Remarkable Garden’ designation. Wander its flower‑lined streets and enjoy free time for lunch. This afternoon, explore the elegant Chateau de Chenonceau, known as the “Ladies’ Chateau”, for the remarkable women who shaped its graceful architecture and history.

See the superb garden displays created by teams of artists, landscape architects and designers today at the International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire.

This morning, explore the museum at Clos Luce, the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci. See his inventions and artistry come to life, courtesy of several models that recreate his innovative experiments. Continue to Paris, where we board the canal boat, MS Deborah, early this evening. Settle in and unwind as we begin a six‑night cruise along one of the quieter, less‑travelled sections of the River Seine.

Spend a leisurely morning cruising the Seine, drifting through the heart of Paris with inspired views of the city’s celebrated riverside landmarks. We arrive in Evry early this afternoon before visiting the magnificent Chateau de Vaux‑le‑Vicomte, whose harmonious blend of architecture, lavish interiors, and sweeping formal gardens famously inspired Louis XIV to create Versailles. Designed by the renowned creative trio of Louis Le Vau, Charles Le Brun, and Andre Le Notre, Chateau de Vaux‑le‑Vicomte set the standard for French grandeur and became the model for the king’s future palace.

Cruise toward Melun this morning, while watching the Seine’s riverbanks and peaceful villages drift by. There will also be an opportunity to disembark and board a coach to the renowned Fontainebleau Market. Browse its rare spices, gourmet truffles, and exotic delicacies, whose stalls sit alongside artisanal butchers, charcutiers, cheesemongers, florists, and other vendors offering fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. This afternoon, wander the storied streets of Barbizon. It was from here that the Barbizon School emerged, with painters such as Corot, Rousseau, and Millet breaking from academic tradition to paint scenes of everyday rural life; their landscapes capturing the natural light and paving the way for the Impressionists who would follow. While wandering Barbizon’s cobbled lanes, we encounter boutique ateliers, galleries, and historic inns that continue to echo the spirit of these early innovators.

Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising from Melun to Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Palace of Fontainebleau, one of the most extraordinary royal residences of France. For more than 700 years, French monarchs walked these halls; its grand galleries, Renaissance frescoes, and sweeping formal gardens evoking the splendour of the court across generations. While here, we also take the opportunity to explore the elegant town which gradually established itself around the chateau.

We begin our morning with a guided tour of Moret‑Loing‑et‑Orvanne. The one-time royal town sits at the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, whose landscapes were famously painted by Alfred Sisley. Explore the town’s fortified medieval gates, elegant Renaissance facades, and the graceful Notre‑Dame of the Nativity church. Afterwards, enjoy free time to wander at your own pace; perhaps browse the boutiques or simply soak up the riverside atmosphere. You may wish to stop in at the historic barley sugar shop, where the sweet treat was created during the reign of Louis XIII. This afternoon, MS Deborah sails us toward the peaceful riverside hamlet, Cannes-Ecluse.

Our morning is spent cruising the Yonne River, a graceful tributary of the Seine. Enjoy the gentle pace of rural Burgundy as its peaceful riverside scenes unfold before us. Arriving in Sens this afternoon, we discover the extraordinary collection of historic architecture making up one of the oldest towns in France. The town’s crowning jewel is Sens Cathedral, the first of France’s Gothic cathedrals and a groundbreaking masterpiece which later inspired the design of England’s Canterbury Cathedral. Stroll through the town’s promenades and medieval lanes, encountering elegant townhouses, ancient walls, and striking facades. Tonight, we celebrate our journey during a gala dinner.

Disembark MS Deborah in Sens this morning, before we make our return to Paris by road. Our tour then concludes with a drop off to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:00 am or at the post-tour hotel at approximately 12:00 pm.