Alsace & Lorraine Classic Cruise

Guests are met in Strasbourg* and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Panache for a champagne welcome and the first opportunity to meet your crew. Perhaps there is time for a walk or cycle ride before dinner on board.

Our day starts with a morning cruise, past the Gran Ried wetlands and on to our mooring at the historic city of Strasbourg. Later, we enjoy a tour of the beautiful ‘capital city of Europe’ including, of course, a visit to the 12th century Gothic pink sandstone cathedral, home to an astronomical Renaissance clock and soaring spire. We visit Place Gutenberg and explore La Petite France, a pedestrian area brimming with half-timbered houses, boutique shops and cafés. Dinner on board.

After breakfast, our cruise takes us past the impressive European Parliament building on the outskirts of Strasbourg and on through the Brumath Forest to our picturesque mooring at Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. This afternoon we enjoy a scenic drive into the rolling Vosges hills on the Route des Vins d’Alsace, where the finest wines of Alsace are produced, and a private tasting of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling wines at the long-established family-owned winemaker, Domaine Lissner. Dinner ashore this evening at a traditional Alsatian restaurant.

This morning, Panache cruises further along the canal, with good walking and cycling opportunities, to the enchanting town of Saverne where history traces back over 2,000 years to the Gallo-Roman Times, mooring at the foot of the Château de Rohan, also known as the ‘Versailles of Alsace’. We take a walking tour of the town and drive up to Château Haut-Barr to enjoy the wonderful views. Dinner on board.

This morning, perhaps after a visit to Saverne’s market, we enjoy a cruise to our mooring in the picture postcard village of Lutzelbourg, surrounded by hills and overlooked by the ruins of the medieval castle. In the afternoon, we visit the mountaintop town of La Petite Pierre, then tour the outstanding René Lalique collection and see over 500 exceptional examples of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware. Nearby Wingen-sur-Moder is also the World War Two battleground where American infantry fought with distinction. Before dinner on board, time for aperitifs and perhaps some traditional Alsatian ‘Flammekueche’ prepared by your chef.

For early risers, there is an optional visit to a local bakery to watch skilled patissiers preparing their delicious creations, before we cruise through beautiful Alsatian countryside, stopping to see artisan glassblowers en route. We then ascend the unique Arzviller boat elevator that carries Panache 450 feet up the mountainside in minutes and enjoy a candlelit cruise through the two Arzviller tunnels to our final mooring at Niderviller. After lunch on board, we set off on a tour of Sarrebourg, including visits to the 13th century chapel containing Marc Chagall’s remarkable stained-glass window and the impressive museum of Roman and Medieval artefacts. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Strasbourg**.
*This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change
On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction
**Other locations available for Private Charter bookings