7nt Jarnac RETURN via Saint-Savinien

Explore Jarnac

5pm – 7pm

Before dinner, you could take the opportunity to stock up on provisions for the week. There’s a choice of three large supermarkets in Jarnac, each just a four-minute drive from the base. Or take a stroll along the river into the centre of town and find Pâtisserie Christophe, a superb patissier and choclateir that is sure to start a your holiday off with a smile.

Dinner at Le Verre y Table, Jarnac

7:30pm – 9:30pm

This trendy and colourful restaurant has a bistro vibe and serves excellent dishes all made from beautifully fresh, local produce. It’s located just a 2 minute drive from our base, although the wine list is excellent and they have a fantastically extensive menu of cognacs – so you may wish make a 15 minute journey by foot instead! We recommend you book in advance.  +33 (0)5 45 35 07 28 | leverreytable.fr

Jarnac > Cognac

9am – 12noon

Approx. 3hrs | 3 locks

Lunch at La Courtine, Cognac

12noon – 1:30pm

Enjoy a traditionally prepared French feast at La Courtine restaurant, conveniently situated just along the Charente River bank. Dine on their shaded terrace or in their welcoming dining rooms, resplendant with fine wooden decor. You can moor directly at the restaurant’s pontoon. Reservations are required: +33 (0)5 45 82 34 78 | restaurant-la-courtine.fr

Explore Cognac

1:30pm – 6pm

Cognac is known internationally for its namesake Cognac production. Near the marina, several big Cognac trading houses offer visits and tastings. We recommend a visit and tour around the renowned Baron Otard distillery, which is housed inside the Chateau de Cognac, where François I was born. There are a range of tour ‘experiences’ available, ranging from 30 to 90 minutes. Booking recommended: +33 (0)5 45 36 88 86 | chateauroyaldecognac.com

Château Royal de Cognac offers preferential rates on their tours to le Boat customers.

Alternatively, for the true cognac afficiandos, try the Henessy Cognac house, whose tours & tasings range from 90 minutes to a half day. Booking recommended: hennessy.com

Dinner at La Scala, Cognac

7:30pm – 9:30pm

Ideally located on the banks of the Charente, at the foot of the Château de Cognac, La Scala has a lovely shaded terrace on which to enjoy amazing flavours of Italy. +33 (0)5 45 36 59 11 | lascalacognac.fr

Cognac > Dompierre-sur-Charente

9am – 11:30am

Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 1 lock

Dompierre-sur-Charente > Saintes

1:30pm – 4pm

Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 1 lock

Explore Saintes

4pm – 6pm

Explore this historic city and discover the Gallo-Roman arena that would once seat 15,000 people, the Abbaye aux Dames and the St. Eutrope Church, all unique masterpieces of Romanesque art. If you visit the Abbey, take a ‘Sound Voyages’ tour where, equipped with 3D sound headphones, you’ll guide yourself via a journey of music around the Abbey, including the cloister and the the bell tower.

Abbaye aux Dames offers preferential rates for ‘Sound Voyages’ to Emerald Star customers.

Saintes > St-Savinien

9:30am – 12noon

Approx. 3hrs | 0 locks

Taxi or train to Rochefort

12noon – 12:30pm

Order a taxi to spend the afternoon in Rochefort. Or you can take the train (approx 30 minutes | 6€). The train station is just 300 metres from the moorings in Saint-Savinien.

Lunch at Les Béatilles, Rochefort

12:30pm – 2pm

Rochefort is a smart and elegant looking town, not very far from the Atlantic Ocean, so the fish and shellfish here are as fresh as they can be. We recommend lunch at Les Béatilles, situated just 3 minutes away from Place Colbert. Don’t forget to try La jonchée rochefortaise, a traditional cheese dessert. +33 (0)5 46 88 23 74 | https://restaurantlesbeatilles.hubside.fr/

Explore Rochefort

2pm – 6:30pm

The town was developed around Louis XIV’s naval base in the 17th century – the restored arsenal can be visited to learn about the town’s ship building heritage. Nearby is the Corderie Royale (the royal ropery) which explains hemp cultivation and will show how those fibres were twisted into 200-metre lengths of rigging. Not far away, the Musée de la Marine has a collection of sailing and steam-boat models and other maritime paraphernalia. Just outside the museum, the Jardin des Retours has individual gardens with maritime themes, including a magnolia garden in honour of the man who first brought these seeds to Europe and the Jardin des Amériques, which has a yew-tree maze commemorating legendary French naval battles.

Taxi or train back to Saint-Savinien

6:30pm – 7pm

Explore Saint-Savinien

9am – 11:30am

Saint-Savinien is a picturesque old town with narrow streets just waiting to be leisurely ambled down. The 12th century Church of Saint-Savinien dominates the skyline of the town – its clocktower was added later in the 14th century. While exploring the streets between the river and the church you will also come across the towers and high stone walls of the Château de La Cave.

Saint-Savinien > Port-d’Envaux

11:30am – 12:30pm

Approx. 1hr | 0 locks

Explore Port-d’Envaux

2pm – 4pm

If you’ve added them to your booking, take the bikes (4 minutes from Port-D’envaux) or walk (15 minutes) to admire the magnificent sculptures of the Lapidiales site. A constantly evolving art space where sculptors from all over the world are working on impressive pieces of art.

Port-d’Envaux > Saintes

4:30pm – 6:30pm

Approx. 2hrs | 0 locks

Dinner at L’insolite, Saintes

7:30pm – 9:30pm

This restaurant is always busy and is set in a lovely cobbled street in central Saintes. It serves superb French cuisine but always with a creative twist, with great attention to detail and with lovely textures and flavours. It’s fine dining, but without the formality. Booking recommended: +33 5 46 97 70 69

Explore Saintes

9am – 11am

Another chance to explore Saintes and to see anything you missed on your first visit. In the Middle Ages, Saintes had the only bridge over the lower Charente, and was used by pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela. The only remaining part of the bridge is the Arch of Germanicus, a well-known landmark of the city. Saintes was the first Roman capital of Aquitaine; the surviving sculptures and artefacts from that era can be discovered in Mediolanum, Archaeological Museum  +33 (0)5 46 74 20 97 | ville-saintes.fr/decouvrir-sortir/culture/musees/musee-archeologique

Saintes > Chaniers

11am – 12:30pm

Approx. 1hr 30mins | 0 locks

Lunch at Le Moulin de la Baine, Chaniers

12:30pm – 2:30pm

Formerly a water mill, which makes a relaxing and beautiful setting to enjoy good quality food by the river. It’s just a 10 minute walk from the moorings in Chaniers, beside Baine lock. +33 (0)6 56 80 24 91 | moulin-baine.com

Chaniers > Cognac

2:30pm – 6pm

Approx. 3hrs 30mins | 2 locks

Cognac > Bourg-Charente

9am – 11am

Approx. 2hrs | 2 locks

Lunch at La Ribaudière, Bourg-Charente

12noon – 2pm

Why not try something extra special for lunch? This Michelin-rated restaurant is a true “ambassador of the region”. Their modern menu is inspired by local specialities and the finest selections of wines & spirits in France. Due to high demand, we would recommend booking in advance. +33 (0)5 45 81 30 54 | laribaudiere.com

Bourg-Charente > Jarnac

2pm – 3pm

Approx. 1hr | 1 lock

Please note: The waterways authorities are making repairs to the quayside in Jarnac, resulting in reduced capacity of boats that are allowed to be moored with passengers on board. To enable us to continue operations, overnight moorings are not permitted at our base. As such, we recommend you continue past our base and moor along the river bank on the west side of Jarnac Lock – which is approximately 25 minutes cruising from our base (including time to pass through the lock). Please allow time tomorrow morning to pass back through the lock and reach our base and disembark your boat by 9am.