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Barging in France: Ile de France Cruise

Seine & Oise Rivers Between Paris (Bougival) and Compiègne

Enjoy a barge cruise on the Seine and Oise rivers between Compiègne and Paris (Bougival), in the Ile de France.

Each day aboard the beautiful Barge Aurora will be a fabulous mixture of relaxation and exploration, with a range of excursions for you to choose from.

Map - Aurora itinerary between Paris and Compiegne France

About the Aurora Ile de France Cruise

Sunday, Day 1 – Paris to mooring at Compiègne

We meet at the airport or your hotel in Paris and travel by private motor coach to Compiegne on the river Oise, where you will board Aurora. Enjoy a welcome reception with Champagne and petits fours, followed by a short walk around the town of Compiègne before dinner.

Monday, Day 2 – Compiègne to Pont-Ste-Maxence

Choose from the list of possible excursions::

  • Château de Compiègne: The residence of the French kings & emperors. Napoleon I restored the chateau to welcome his 2nd wife Marie Louise. This splendidly furnished, neo classical Palace was also the favorite residence of Napoleon III and Eugenie.
  • Rethondes is where the Armistice of 1918 was signed. Discover the history of the Compiegne railway car which the Germans destroyed before the end of WW2.
  • The Château de Pierrefonds exemplifies fabulous Gothic medieval architecture. In the 19th century under the rule of Napoleon III, the architect Viollet-le-Duc perfectly restored the fortress. It sits in a lovely village in the heart of the Compiegne.

Tuesday, Day 3 – Pont-Ste-Maxence to St-Leu-d’Esserent

  • Visit Senlis, a magnificent romantic medieval town with many old cobbled streets and picturesque houses (Cathedral Notre-Dame, ancient fortification and towers dating from 13th & 16th centuries, Visit the Museum of Archeology and Museum of the history of the town, along with the ancient walls, one of the best preserved in France.
  • Abbey of Royaumont: Built in 1235 by the Cistercians monks. The impressive cloister and buildings give a good idea of the prosperity of the monks in the middle-age period. Dissolved during the French Revolution, it later returned to service as a military hospital during the Battle of the Somme.

Wednesday, Day 4 – St-Leu-d’Esserent to L’Isle-Adam

Aurora continues along the Oise River to the charming, picturesque village of L’Isle-Adam, a favorite spot for Parisians wishing to escape the capital for a peaceful weekend. There are many options for today:

  • L’Isle-Adam: Take time to explore the town. Visit the St-Martin Church, the Museum Louis-Senlecq displaying the art and the history of the district. Discover the Center of Art Jacques-Henri-Lartigue, and the 18th-century Chinese Pavilion of Cassan, a relic from a historic English-Chinese garden.
  • Méru: Visit the museum of Nacre and Tablature and discover the way buttons and dominos used to be manufactured in older times.
  • Château de Chantilly: This historic French château is one of the most magnificent French sites. Visit the Château and its rich collections, the Apartments of Le Grand Conde, the Park & vegetable garden, and the Great Stables. The Château de Chantilly houses one of the largest fine art collections, featuring 15th- and 16th-century paintings and book illuminations. The town of Chantilly is also famous for being the capital of whipped cream.

Thursday, Day 5 – L’Isle-Adam to Conflans-St.Honorine

Today, you may choose between impresionniste art or the history of Absinthe liquor:

  • Auvers sur Oise: a pleasant village where many impressionists used to come (as Renoir, Monet, Pissaro & Cezanne) and particularly the house of Van Gogh where the famous painter lived and died. The curators specially installed the chateau-museum to show the décor and life in and around Paris during the time of the Impressionists
  • Musée de l’Absinthe: Absinthe is an anise-flavored spirit distilled from grand wormwood, green anise, sweet fennel, and various other medicinal herbs. The museum recreates the atmosphere of a typical Belle Époque café in which absinthe became the drink of choice for poets and artists.

Friday, Day 6 – Conflans-Sainte Honorine to Bougival

Aurora continues the barge cruise along the Seine River. During the cruise one can admire many fine houses perched along the river. After the lunch we can visit either:

  • Château de Malmaison is a beautiful palace built west of Paris in a splendid green setting. Discover the story behind Napoleon and his wife Josephine (with many personal objects on display). The Château served as the seat of the French government and the birthplace of the Civil Code and the Legion of Honour – OR –
  • Visit the City of Lights in half a day: Enjoy a whirlwind tour of Paris in the minibus with brief stops at the main sights: the Eiffel tower, Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro, Montmartre, and Sacre Coeur Basilica.

Saturday, Day 7 – Bougival – Return to Paris

Sadly, the Aurora Ile de France Cruise is coming to its end. A private minibus takes you from your last wonderful breakfast on the Aurora back to Paris (hotels or airport) in the late morning.

Breakfast on board followed by a late morning return to Paris (hotels or airport) by private minibus.

NOTE: This Aurora Ile de France Cruise is a sample itinerary. Excursions are tailor-made to suit your interests.

AURORA > ITINERARIES > FRANCE > Ile de France Cruise – Compiègne to Paris (Bougival)

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5/28/2026