Saturday - Krafft
For those who have chosen our rail transfers we meet in the lobby of the Hotel Regina, 192, Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Train transfer to Strasbourg and motorcoach transfer to the boat moored in the village of Krafft, some twenty-five kilometers to the south of Strasbourg, close to the junction of the canal with the river Rhine. For those passengers who do not have our train transfers we meet at the Strasbourg rail station at our designated meeting point. The crew will welcome you aboard with aperitifs as your luggage is taken to your cabin. Dinner will be served at 7:30pm this evening.

Sunday - Krafft to Strasbourg
Morning cruise during breakfast on the Canal du Rhone au Rhin, a peaceful waterway that has seen little use since the building of the Grand Canal d'Alsace (the canalization of the Rhine) in the 1950s. After breakfast we leave the boat at a lock and travel by bus to visit Colmar (guided tour of the city center). With its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th century collegiate church and waterside 'little Venice' area. Lunch today is in a local restaurant and we have free time to explore the shops and museums, particularly the Unterlinden Museum, famous for its collection of Renaissance art works and specifically for the masterpiece of Mathias Grunewald, the Issenheim altar piece. Towards the end of the afternoon we shall head back northwards along the 'Route des Vins', a small road running at the base of the foothills of the Vosges parallel to the Rhine through the famous vineyards of Alsace, here we will have a private wine tasting in Riquewihr before returning to the Lorraine now moored in Strasbourg.

Monday - Strasbourg to Hochfelden
We cast off early and cruise during the morning today. Disembark after lunch for a guided walking tour of the principal sights of Strasbourg including the picturesque 'Petite France' riverside district and the remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant Gothic spire. Afterwards, there will be free time to explore the capital of Alsace and perhaps visit one of the museums, take advantage of the excellent shopping, or just stroll through the cobbled streets of timbered houses before returning to the Lorraine for lunch. We return to the boat which will be moored in Hochfelden.

Tuesday - Hochfelden to Saverne
We disembark this morning after breakfast to visit a microbrewery in the town of Uberach. After the visit we will return to the boat for lunch and begin cruising towards Saverne. You will have a lot of opportunities today to walk and cycle along the towpaths. The boat will be moored in front of the red sandstone chateau built by the Rohan family during the eighteenth century.

Wednesday - Saverne to Lutzelbourg
This morning we cruise along the beautiful valley of the Zorn river to Lutzelbourg. After lunch we will make a short drive to visit a crystal workshop and see how some of the most famous products of this area are still individually fashioned by hand.

Thursday - Lutzelbourg to Xouaxange
Cruise over the border into Lorraine where the canal still follows the steep sided, tree-lined valley of the river Zorn to the famous inclined plane of Arzwiller. Here a ladder of seventeen locks has been replaced by a counterbalanced barge lift that hauls us up nearly 150 feet to the summit level of the Marne to Rhine canal. We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges Mountains before mooring for the evening at a quiet spot near the village of Xouaxange. Enjoy an afternoon drive to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel of the Cordeliers where we can see the stained glass window created by Marc Chagall. We will have time for a stroll in town before returning to Lorraine for our Farewell Gala Dinner.

Friday - Xouaxange
Depart the Lorraine after breakfast and transfer to the Nancy train station in time for the return train to Paris.

Note: This is a sample itinerary and it is subject to modification in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as canal closures. The boat cruises in the opposite direction on alternate weeks.