Day 1 Strasbourg | Embark
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.
Day 2 Krafft to Strasbourg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your day starts with a morning cruise, across the Gran Ried wetlands and home to an abundance of birdlife, to arrive at the historic city of Strasbourg. Later, you'll 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. You will visit Place Gutenberg and explore La Petite France, a pedestrian area brimming with half-timbered houses, boutique shops, and cafés.
Day 3 Strasbourg to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, your cruise takes you past the impressive European Parliament building on the outskirts of Strasbourg and on through the Brumath Forest to the picturesque mooring at Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. This afternoon you will enjoy a scenic drive into the rolling Vosges hills on the Route des Grands Vins, where the finest wines of Alsace are produced, and a private tasting of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling wines at a long-established winemaker, such as Domaine Pfister. Dinner ashore this evening at a traditional Alsatian restaurant.
Day 4 Waltenheim-sur-Zorn to Saverne
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning you will take a guided tour, with an optional beer tasting, at the Meteor Brewery, founded in 1640 and the last privately-owned brewery in Alsace. Returning to Panache, you will cruise 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’.
Day 5 Saverne to Lutzelbourg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning, perhaps after a visit to Saverne’s market, you will enjoy a cruise to the mooring in the pretty village of Lutzelbourg, surrounded by hills and overlooked by the ruins of the medieval castle. In the afternoon, you can visit the mountaintop village 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.
Day 6 Lutzelbourg to Niderviller
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
For early risers, there is an optional visit to a local bakery to watch skilled patissiers preparing their delicious creations, before you cruise through the beautiful Alsatian countryside, visiting the Lehrer Crystal glassworks en-route. You will 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 your final mooring at Niderviller. After lunch on board, you will 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 artifacts. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7 Niderviller | Disembark
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Strasbourg.