Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

Arcy-Sur-Cure- Burgundy Barge Cruise

Posted on by

August 1 bigVisit The Caves at Arcy-sur-Cure On The Burgundy Barge Cruise

Arcy-sur-Cure is a commune in Burgundy, France. The caves are located just south of the commune and ranked as one of the leading prehistoric sites of France. The caves at Arcy-sur-Cure are a series of caverns dug into the rock by the Cure River. There are a total of 11 caves, including the Grande Grotte or Great Cave, the oldest embellished cave in the world after Chauvet cave in Ardèche.

The site offers much to mesmerize its visitors, such as the underground lakes, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as stunning concretions and other-worldly subterranean landscapes. Yet, it is the traces left behind by past inhabitants of these caves that make the greatest impact on visitors.

The caves at Arcy-sur-Cure were once occupied by human beings for thousands of years. They hold rock paintings of different animals inhabiting the area at the time, as well as hand imprints left by the occupants some 30,000 years ago. You can see wonderful paintings made with ochre and charcoal, often representing animals, such as the mammoth, the bear, the rhinoceros, or felines and birds. You also can find negative handprints and various symbols, such as points, sinuous lines and a trapezoid. These cave drawings are so mesmerizing and give an enthralling and unforgettable experience.

Every day between Easter and All Saints’ Day, the caves are open for public viewing. The guided tours last about an hour. Bookings are done in advance. The tours can be organized for groups of 15 people or more. It is also feasible to organize archaeological visits on Saturdays and Sundays, which also require advance booking.

People with reduced mobility also can access these caves. Films and photographs are strictly prohibited. Animals also are not allowed.

Take A Cruise Along the Burgundy Barge Cruise Six Passenger Barge Elizabeth

Our six-passenger barge Elizabeth is an excellent option for visiting the prehistoric caves at Arcy-sur-Cure. Call us to book your holiday on this Burgundy barge cruise and have a wonderful experience seeing the authentic and marvelous cave drawings! Europeanbarging 888-869-7907

Enjoy Afternoon Tea in Paris

Posted on by

Afternoon TeaAfternoon Tea in Paris

Paris is one of the finest cities in the world for shopping and afternoon tea. So when visitors are in Paris, it is inevitable that shopping comes to mind as soon as they step into the city. Although there are many shopping stores in Paris, visitors would particularly love Le Bon Marche. This is the biggest Left Bank department store as well as the oldest in the city which was planned by Gustav Eiffel and opened its doors in 1852.

Le Bon Marche, specializes in luxury fashion for men, women and kids; it has an exquisite collection of furniture, high class gifts and household items. It is one of the three most visited and best known department stores in Paris. So travelers have a great shopping experience here.

Rose Bakery Tea Room for Afternoon Tea

After travelers get tired with all that shopping at Le Bon Marche, they can relax at the store’s Rose Bakery Tea Room. The French is world famous for their politeness, and formality; and French dining dwells on a lot of etiquette and mannerisms. Afternoon tea is very much an essential part of French dining and life. Rose Bakery tea room, located on the second floor of Le Bon Marche, visitors can choose from a wide range of French pastries and have a relaxing cup of afternoon tea.

Get a Taste of Well Known French Pastries with Afternoon Tea

Many know about French pastries throughout the world and that knowledge alone makes the country a great attraction for pastry lovers. There is a large variety of French pastries, which look like something ethereal, and taste like ecstasy. The ambience of the Rose Bakery is as enthralling as the variety of food offered here. The crisp white walls and classic dark floors are a combination of vintage and design pieces. Also, visitors will find many delectable muffins, and cakes, on beautiful pastry stands. The luxurious Tea Room lets travelers best enjoy your Parisian dream. Although Rose Bakery offers a variety of food items, it is particularly famous for its scones, carrot cake, fresh juices, and jams—all made from local, organic products.

While, in Paris, Le Bon Marche will give travelers a wonderful experience. Travelers can satisfy their shopping desire here, and then relax on a cup of afternoon tea along with some nice French pastries at Rose Bakery Tea Room of the shop. That would be enough to make your day!

Maulbroon Abbey Complex- The Best Preserved Medieval Cistercian

Posted on by

Maulbroon Abbey Complex located in Central Germany

Maulbroon Abbey ComplexMaulbroon Abbey Complex, situated on the outskirts of Maulbroon, Germany is the best- preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex in Europe. This complex has been separated from the town by fortifications and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1993. Apart from being the best-preserved and most complete monastic complex, the Maulbroon Abbey also stands as a specifically representative example of medieval architecture.

This Maulbroon monastery was founded in 1147 though the central church came into existence in 1178 which was then dedicated to the Virgin Mary. One peculiar quality of the main church is that it was built in a style transitional from Romanesque to Gothic, which had a substantial influence on the spread of Gothic architecture over many of the northern and central Europe.

Several other buildings of the complex such as cellar, auditorium, refectory and etc. were built in the 13th century, whereas most fortifications and the fountain house were constructed in 14th century

Explore Gothic Architecture at the Maulbroon Abbey Complex

The church consists of a two-story Romanesque nave and a low chevet leading to a transept with three rectangular chapels opening off each arm. A stone screen was created to separate the monks from the lay brethren. The Gothic vaulting of 1424 that replaced the original wooden beams mutated the rigid spatial divisions practiced during the lifetime of St Bernard of Clairvaux, integrating the Romanesque traditions of the Hirsau region into the Cistercian requirements of austerity and renunciation.

The fortifications consist of two walls, an outer wall, and an inner wall. There are many post-monastic buildings within the designated area, mainly in plastered stone such as the former hunting lodge of Ludwig, Duke of Württemberg, and the ducal stables etc. inspired by Renaissance elements.

Visit the Maulbroon Abbey Complex for History and Innovation

The Cistercian Order was renowned for its innovations in the field of hydraulic engineering and Maulbroon monastery complex is a great example of that. There are several reservoirs, irrigation canals, and drains, which were aimed at providing water for the use of community, and for agriculture; though after the secularization of the monastery’s land in 19th century, things have quite changed.

The Maulbroon Abbey Complex, with so much to offer, is a place you must visit. This German UNESCO site will enthrall you with its history, architecture, style and innovation.

Austrian Town of Gmunden

Posted on by

Picture Perfect Town of GmundenThe Picture Perfect Town of Gmunden

The picturesque town of Gmunden is situated in the Salzkammergut region, the Austrian Lake District. It’s a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, located on the shores of Lake Traunsee and surrounded by mountains. Gmunden – the town of ceramics – is full of life and exudes southern charm.

Gmunden is not a big town. But it can’t be labeled as a passive and sleepy small village either. The town has so much to catch your attention. It is romantic, energetic, active and lively. It takes pride in its culture and offers a pleasant atmosphere. It captivates you with its charm and offers several interesting contrasts within it. It is a place which surprises you with a wonderful balance of excitement and calmness, noise and quietness. The town is a perfect place to move about – to shop or simply enjoy.

Gmunden was a significant settlement as early as Celtic times and grew in the 11th century to become an important center of the salt trade. Due to its pleasant climate and the beauty of the Salzkammergut landscape, the aristocracy and wealthy citizens spent their summers in the town at Lake Traunsee as early as the 19th century.

Emperor Franz Josef, for example, used to visit the Royal House of Hanover in Gmunden, where the nobility from all over Europe stayed, before he headed to his summer residence in Bad Ischl.

Gmunden offers a unique charm with its splendid town houses and facades dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Gmunden’s renaissance town hall has the only ceramic chimes in Austria and is quite famous as a popular tourist destination.

In Gmunden, you can find a great number of excursions and points of interest. The most important among them are the Traun Fall, 10 miles north of the town, a castle called Schloss Ort, and a ceramic factory producing Gmundner Keramic branded pottery. The “Schloss Ort” castle is situated on a small island and is the most authentic emblem of the town. It was purchased by Archduke Johann Salvator Toscana, who was related to the House of Habsburg-Lothringen. Today, the “Schloss Ort” has become even more famous, because of the TV series “Schlosshotel Orth”.

Austrian Town of Gmunden and Danube River Cruise

On a Danube River cruise, with a stop in Linz, you might have an excursion to the scenic town of Gmunden. Call us for more details! Europeanbarging 888-869-7907

11th Century Cluny Abbey- Provence River Cruise

Posted on by

Take A Provence River Cruise To Cluny Abbey

Provence River CruiseCluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, France. Built in the 11th Century and nearly destroyed during the French Revolution, it is one of the most significant abbeys of the Middle Ages. The three churches at Cluny Abbey were built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries.

Cluny Abbey was one of the most important Benedictine, Christian monasteries of its time, helping to bring stability to the European society. It was the center of a major monastic movement of the Middle Ages that would spread throughout Europe.

The land for the abbey was donated by William I the Pious, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne, from his own forested hunting preserve.

The Cluny Abbey was founded by Benedictine monks with a keen desire to observe closer adherence to the Benedictine rule. A distinctive aspect of their spirituality was their commitment to offer eternal prayer, emphasizing liturgy and spiritual pursuits over labor and other monastic activities.

Though some religious orders traditionally led a frugal life in that period, the case was different with the monks at Cluny Abbey. There were solid gold and silver chalices with gems for the Mass. Though monks usually ate porridge and broth, the monks at Cluny Abbey enjoyed wine, cheese and roasted chicken. They wore rich clothes made of silk and linen for the Mass.

A substantial part of the Cluny Abbey was designed with Romanesque architecture. It once housed Romanesque sculptures that are considered to be masterpieces today. Not only this, the library in Cluny Abbey was once considered to be the most important and the richest library across all of Europe. It held many important and valuable books. The Cluny Abbey stood as a great symbol of French culture in its time.

The church of the abbey was the largest Christian building in the world, until St. Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in Rome in the 16th century.
What is left of Cluny Abbey today is a small portion of the third church and the bell tower, along with the 15th-century abbots’ residences and 18th-century convent buildings. The site also includes pleasant gardens and a museum with Romanesque artifacts.

Provence River Cruise And The Historical Abbey of Cluny

Our Provence river cruise offers a visit to the historical Abbey of Cluny. Contact us for more information! Europeanbarging 888-869-7907