DESTINATIONS NORTHERN FRANCE EUROPE French


SIP SOME CHABLIS Chablis is a famous wine region in Burgundy, producing its wine from the Chardonnay grape. Customers on Saga’s seven-night Rivers of Wine itinerary will have the chance to visit a vineyard in the town of Chablis to sample it for themselves. The cruise also features visits to other vineyards in the area, including in the villages of Joigny and St Florentin. Tours depart on June 8 and July 27. travel.saga.co.uk


What else can you do on a Backwaters Cruising tour? Natalie Marsh lines up the landmarks


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VISIT A MEDIEVAL ABBEY Visit Fontenay Abbey, the world’s oldest-preserved Cistercian abbey, on Saga’s seven-night Waterways and Châteaux itinerary. Located in Burgundy, the 12th-century abbey and its gardens sit within a 1,200-hectare valley. Guests will travel to the abbey, which became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1981, from their hotel in Auxerre. Tours depart on June 15 and August 3. travel.saga.co.uk


ABOUT ANTIQUES FROM AN EXPERT


LEARN


Backwaters invites antiques expert Michael Hogben, who has appeared on Bargain Hunt, on board for its Creeks and Antiques itinerary in the Burgundy region. The cruise passes down the Canal du Nivernais, with guests staying in Auxerre. Tours depart on July 7 and September 29.


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ENJOY LIVE CLASSICAL AND JAZZ MUSIC Backwaters is offering passengers on two itineraries the chance to chill out to live music. The Cruising with the Radnor Trio cruise will feature music from the classical group, with tours departing August 11 and October 12. Meanwhile, the Cruising with a Twist of Jazz itinerary, departing on October 5, will see evening entertainment provided by John Beckingham and his JB’s Swing Band. Both itineraries will cruise from Auxerre to Clemency, stopping at Unesco sites and quaint villages on the way.


SEE THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE


The Romanesque Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene in the town of Vézelay in Burgundy has become a famous landmark in the Christian religion. The town is also a starting point for the St James’s Way pilgrimage, which guests on Saga’s The Classic Nivernais itinerary get to explore. The tour, which departs on August 31, includes a visit to the limestone caves of Arcy-sur-Cure and a dinner in a wine cellar. travel.saga.co.uk


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48travelweekly.co.uk9 May 2019


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; BACKWATERS/LILY WOODS; NATALIE MARSH


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