The Itineraries
The cruise alternates direction on a weekly basis. Custom itineraries are also available for private charters. Below is a sample itinerary.
Day 1: Sunday Afternoon
Arrival aboard Nymphea
We meet in Rennes in the late afternoon and transfer to the barge in Redon, where the waterways of Brittany meet. A champagne welcome awaits as you step aboard and settle in.
Redon sits at the junction of the River Vilaine and the Nantes-Brest Canal, a historic crossroads that once shaped trade and travel across the region.
It's an important historical town with many riches, particularly in the old town. The Saint-Sauveur Abbey, founded in 832 by the monk Conwoin, brought the town centuries of cultural and economic importance.
Redon is also home to the Musée de la Batellerie, which traces the history of inland waterways and the commerce that once shaped them, a fitting introduction to the journey ahead.
Dinner is served on board.
Where we meet
Meeting point: Rennes TGV Station
Time: 16:30 (an example train time and subject to change).
Transfer: Private transfer in a minibus to the barge in Redon
TGV is a high-speed train that operates all over France. (Train à Grande Vitesse)
Day 2: Monday
Visit a town, rich in craft, gardens, and culture.
We leave Redon, cruising gently along the River Oust. The waterway winds past Île aux Pies (Magpie island), where the river has carved a narrow valley, its rocky cliffs rising sharply from the water’s edge. From here, we continue upstream on the River Aff, reaching the furthest navigable point at La Gacilly.
La Gacilly is a lively and creative small town, known for its craft and artisan workshops lining the high street. The town also leads into botanical gardens whose plants are closely linked to the locally based Yves Rocher cosmetics. Each year, La Gacilly hosts France’s largest outdoor photography festival, with large-scale exhibitions woven throughout the streets and riverbanks.
Dinner is served on board.
Day 3: Tuesday
Tasting cider made in the Breton tradition.
We follow the River Aff back downstream until it meets the Canal de Nantes à Brest. After passing through three locks, we tie up after lunch in the centre of the village of Saint-Martin.
From the mooring, it’s a short walk to the Clos de la Ruaudaie cider house. During a relaxed tasting, the producers explain their approach to cider-making and apple juice, rooted firmly in Breton tradition and a strong sense of local terroir.
Dinner is served on board.
Day 4: Wednesday
SAINT-MARTIN-SUR-OUST TO MALESTROIT
Dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
A morning cruise, passing through several locks, brings us to Malestroit, a small town known for its Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Time ashore allows for a stroll through its historic centre, where carved half-timbered houses line the streets and reflect the town’s medieval past.
From here, we travel by road to Rochefort-en-Terre, dramatically set on a rocky outcrop and frequently listed among France’s most beautiful villages. Its carefully preserved centre is home to a lively community of artisans, with workshops, galleries, and streets richly decorated with flowers throughout the season.
Dinner tonight will be in the village of Guer, at Maison Tiegezh, where chef Baptiste Denieul offers a refined take on Breton cuisine at his Michelin-starred restaurant.
Day 5: Thusrday
From canal-side stillness to ancient mysteries.
Today’s cruise passes a succession of small and beautiful villages before we moor beside the church of Saint-Laur with its stone fountain.
From here, a short drive takes us to the Menhirs de Monteneuf, a remarkable group of standing stones dating back to the Neolithic period.
Forty-two blocks of purple schist rise from the landscape, and the visit offers insight into how these immense stones were transported and raised. A reconstructed dwelling, complete with period tools, helps bring the daily life of the original craftsmen into focus.
Dinner is served on board.
Day 6: Friday
MONTERTELOT TO JOSSELIN
A town shaped by castle and river.
On the banks of the Oust, Josselin lies at the heart of the region. The town’s story is closely linked to its château, and we tie up beneath its high stone walls.
The castle, built in the flamboyant Gothic style, reflects the transition from medieval fortifications to Renaissance elegance. First established in the early 11th century, it is still lived in today by the Rohan family, descendants of its original founders.
From here, there's time to wander through the château gardens, designed by landscape architect Achille Duchesne, whose work can also be seen at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Captain’s Farewell Dinner onboard
Saturday departure after breakfast
Guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Redon TGV Station.
