Allouette
Moissac to Castets
Sunday
- Paris to Bordeaux.
Your
departure from Paris from the Gare de Montparnasse via the TGV train will arrive
at approximately 19:20 at the Toulouse train station where you will be met by
the Alouette guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van
to Moissac where you will
board the barge for your cruise through Bordeaux.
A champagne
reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while
your luggage is brought aboard.
Time
permitting the barge gangplank is raised and you can enjoy your first experience
of navigating a lock and cruising the Garonne
to tonight’s quiet mooring.
Alternatively, the boat will remain moored in Moissac and cruising will
begin early the next day.
Monday
– Cruise to Lamagistière. Visit
Agen.
After breakfast, enjoy a walk around Moissac, easily the most interesting and
agreeable town on the Canal à la Garonne. Moissac’s great treasure is its
ancient abbey founded in the 7th century.
Partly Romanesque and partly Gothic, the Abbey Church of St-Pierre
features a late 11th century cloister lined with marble arcades
decorated with a variety of animals and plant motifs. Most notably, there is a
12th century tympanum carved above the church’s south portal
depicting the vision of the Apocalypse according to St. John. Back on board for
a scrumptious lunch and an afternoon’s cruise, perhaps a walk around Agen,
with its Renaissance mansions and Fine Arts Museum housing paintings by Goya and
Sisley.
Tuesday
– Cruise to Buzet. Visit Nérac.
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise and visit
to the charming village of Nérac, whose castle is said to be the setting for
Shakespeare’s ‘Love’s Labors Lost’.
You’ll visit the Church of Saint Nicholas, a fine example of neoclassic
architecture - a gift of Arsieu
d’Olbion consecrated by Pope Urbain II in 1096. You’ll take a walk to the
Maison des Conférences, built in the Renaissance style was built between 1530
& 1540. Catherine de Médici
was said to have signed a treaty in 1579 at a conference in Nérac, a rough copy
to the Edict of Nantes, drafted for peace between the Catholics and the
Protestants. After lunch, your guide has wine tasting on the agenda.
Wednesday
– Cruise to Le Mas d’Agenais. Visit
Château de Roquetaillade
Today, you’ll tour the Château de
Roquetaillade, a 14th century fortress beautifully restored by
Viollet le Duc. You’ll drive through the famous Sauternes wine region –
perhaps with a stop for a little tasting. After
another scrumptious lunch, walk or cycle along the canal, visit the village
church in le Mas d’Agenais to admire the beautiful Rembrandt.
Thursday
– Cruise to Fontet. Visit St.
Emilion
While the barge cruises to Fontet, your
guide will take you to visit St. Emilion,
a medieval village located in the center of the wine growing district and home
to some of the finest Bordeaux produced; names such as Ausone, Figeac,
Pavie-Decesse to name a few. You’ll
have an opportunity to visit a local vineyard and sample some wine. The
extraodinary town of St. Emilion occupies a series of small limestone hills;
these have been excavated to create many caves, one of which was turned into the
underground monolithic church between the 9th and 12th
centuries.
Friday
– Cruise to Castets en Dorche. Visit
Bordeaux.
Today, you’ll do a walking tour of the beautiful city of
Bordeaux: the old town with its elegant 18th century houses lining
the river, the 18th century Grand Théâtre, one of the finest in
France and the old mansions of the Chartrons district. Meanwhile, the chef is
preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.
Bon appetite.
Saturday
– Disembark. Transfer to Paris.
After breakfast, you will disembark the
barge and board the van for the last time for the drive to Bordeaux and your
return to Paris on the TGV, arriving Paris Gare Montparnasse approximately 14:20
where you will be met by our Afloat in France representative who will assist you
with your baggage.
FEATURES
* 6 Passengers; 1 double, 2 twin
* 4 Crew members
* Stereo
*
2 Decks
* Bicycles
* Handicap Access - NO
