Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

A Visit to the Italian City of Adria from the 30 Passenger Ave Maria Barge

Posted on by

The Italian City of Adria

JUNE 6Positioned between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po, Adria is a town and commune in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is believed that Adria gave the Adriatic Sea its name during earlier times when the two were connected through a number of waterways.

The ancient Adria was divided into two parts by the Canal Bianco, which was used for irrigation of the fields. The Etruscan city of Atria underlies the modern city, 3-4 meters below the current level. Situated 20 kilometres east of Rovigo, the small town was once positioned directly by the sea!

Adria has a rich history associated with it. The city was originally a small village named Hatria. Around 2500 years ago, Etruscan and Greek merchants inhabited this small farming village and turned it into the most important trading port in the whole region. The influence of the ancient port is visible even today and is evident in the name of a whole section of the sea – the Adriatic. The city slowly lost its connection to the sea because of the increasing deposits of the Po and thus, lost its importance in the region. The city of Adria is now located some 25 kilometers from the sea and can only feel nostalgic of it’s great history, looking back on a bygone past.

History of The Italian City of Adria

The city of Adria is full of great religious sites, architecture, and culture. The most spectacular of Italian churches are located here, such as the Church of Santa Maria and the Adria Cathedral. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta della Tomba (formerly the cathedral) dates back to medieval period but was rebuilt in 1718. It houses an octagonal baptismal font from the 7th or 8th century, with the carved name of the 3rd bishop of Adria, Bono. Other works of art include several 15th and 16th centuries’ paintings and in the chapel a beautiful terracotta relief depicting a Dormitio Virginis, attributed to Michele da Firenze. Adria Cathedral is the New Cathedral (Cattedrale Nuova dei Santi Petro i Paulo), that has been dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Adria is another must-see attraction for tourists visiting the region.

While traveling on a Casual Bike and Barge Cruise on the Ave Marie or Vita Pugna in Italy, you will make a stop at the Italian city of Adria where you get a chance to feel and imbibe the unforgettable Italian history and culture!

A Burgundy Barge Cruise On The River Rhone and Hospices du Beaune history

Posted on by

A Burgundy barge cruise along the River Rhone

ID-1007958The Hospices du beaune, nestled among the gently rolling hills of Burgundy, is one of the most popular travel destinations in all of France. As one travels south down the Rhone River on the Burgundy barge cruise towards the Mediterranean sea, the cheerful roofs of the Hospices will beckon for a closer look.

The History of the Hospices of Beaune

The Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, also known as the Hospices, is one of the iconic buildings of Burgundy that you can see while vacationing the Burgundy barge cruise. It was built as an “almshouse,” or a home for the poor and needy. It was founded by Nicholas Rolin, a man who lived at the time of Joan of Arc. burgundy was not then part of France, but a rival kingdom, though Rolin was one of those who would help broker the peace that ended the Hundred Years War and paved the way for the eventual union of burgundy and France. Rolin and his formidable wife, Guigone de Salins, founded the Hospices as a charitable institution in 1443.

Burgundy is a rich province and always has been. The history of the province goes back thousands of years, to the legendary Merovingians. The Hospice was built with the same sumptuous quality and attention to detail that one sees all throughout Burgundy. The famous roof of the Hospices, with its distinctive checkerboard of golden tiles, is visible from kilometers away. At the time the hospice was one of the finest hospitals anywhere in the world, and the poor could be sure of good treatment there. The hospital maintained its tradition up to the present day, with an exceptionally interesting role in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and continues to serve the poor and indigent today. However, the patients are now served in a modern hospital. The original Hospices is now a museum, visited by thousands of people every year. It is also home to a world famous charity wine auction every November. The auction is held in the spectacular “Grande Salle des Pôvres,” or the Great Hall of the Poor.

A Burgundy barge cruise on the River Rhone

The Hospices is especially delightful to visit by the Rhone River. A Burgundy barge cruise can leave from Dijon or Provence and travel down the pleasant river for a wonderful excursion to the city. We welcome your inquiry into these spectacular barge cruises.

Wine and Barge Cruise in the Cote Du Rhone of France- Rhone River Cruise

Posted on by

Rhone River Cruise- Do Not Miss The Opportunity

Rhone River CruiseA wine-growing Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for the Rhône wine region of France, Côtes du Rhône may be used throughout the region, also in those areas which are covered by other AOCs. In a limited part of this long narrow region, the AOC Côtes du Rhône-Villages may be used, in certain cases together with the name of the commune.

The Cotes du Rhone appellation was introduced in November 1937 with the purpose to provide a catch-all title for Rhone wines of admirable quality, but which come from less well-known viticulture areas. The Cotes de Rhone- Villages appellation is way ahead from this, being given to those communes that show particular viticulture qualities.

Côtes du Rhône stands for the basic regional red, rosé and white wines covering the length and breadth of the Rhone Valley in eastern France generally dominated by Grenache (reds and rosés) or Grenache blanc (whites).

A Well Known Wine Town- Rhone River Cruise

Côtes du Rhône is such a well-known wine, almost a synonym for a not-too-fancy French red. Still the fact remains that few wines can match Côtes du Rhône in exemplifying the countless changes which have brought a revolution in the French wine industry in the last 20 years.

At the most exacting level of distinction, a total of 16 crus are permitted to be recognized by their village name without requiring the mention of Côtes du Rhône on the label. With the distinctive exception of Château-Grillet, a white septentrional within the AOC Condrieu, a feature of the nomenclature of CDR wines is that at the top level they are named only after their villages, and not after châteaux as usually happens in the case of Bordeaux wines.

Regardless of the fact that it does not share the honour associated with Rhone’s more famous names (such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cote Rotie and Hermitage), the Cotes du Rhone title stands for some very fine wines indeed. Often you will find that your fine Cotes du Rhone comes from a particularly dedicated winemaker whose vineyard happens to be justoutside the boundaries of the famous appellations.

We offer the 18 passenger Le Phenicien barge and several Rhone river cruises in the Cote Du Rhone region of France. So book one of these and visit the beautiful Cote Du Rhone!

Explore the Wonderful Sanssouci Palace

Posted on by

Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam

A brief hop over from the beautiful Elbe River is one of the most breathtaking historical culture sites in all of Germany. The elegant city of Potsdam is home to the Sanssouci Palace and the grounds of Frederick the Great. This German palace was the summer playground of the Prussian royalty, and has recently been renovated to some of its former glory. Sanssouci is one story tall and is designed in the Frederician Rococo style, so named after Frederick the Great. It is definitely worth taking a short bus ride from your Elbe river cruise to see the palaces, grounds and the nearby town.

894444_sanssouci2Why Sanssouci Palace is “care free”?

Unlike nearby Berlin, Potsdam was spared much of the bombing during World War II, so continues to display the charm and opulence that it has always had. The entire city is worth exploring, and they make sure that their crowning jewel of Sanssouci along with the surrounding grounds and other palace stay immaculate and ready for visitors year round. Every season is beautiful at these culture sites, and you can spend an entire day perusing this German palace and park. It is certain to be a day that you will never forget. Along with the Neue Palais and all the surrounding temples, statues, and unbelievable gardens, you will leave Sanssouci with a complete understanding of why Frederick the Great named this place “care free.” He designed Sanssouci to be a great escape from court life in Berlin, and you too might find it to be an excellent short retreat away from your Elbe River Cruise.

Berlin vs Sanssouci

If you have the time, you should definitely take the short train ride from Potsdam to the amazing capital city of Berlin. In stark contrast to the quiet of Sanssouci, Berlin is a bustling city full of vibrant life in every corner. You can continue with the royal theme by visiting Charlottenburg Palace and wandering around the beautiful gardens there sure to be full of picnickers  if the weather allows. You can travel to the city center and go up in the Television Tower to view the city in its entirety. Take a stroll around the city that has been at the center of so much history, and you are sure to be amazed.

Cruising the Elbe River

By the end of your Berlin and Sanssouci excursions, you will be ready to float away on your Elbe River Cruise once more. Contact us today to learn more about cruising the Elbe River.


The Belgium River Cruise

Posted on by

Experience Beauty- The Belgium City of Antwerp On The Belgium River Cruise

The Belgium River CruiseAntwerp is a charming and relaxed city that’s very much medieval at heart. It is the second city of Belgium and is more captivating than the capital Brussels. Antwerp takes pride in being the birthplace of Rubens and being a place where 70% of world’s diamond trade takes place. Antwerp is filled with exemplary architecture, fine cuisine, thousands of bars, enthralling river cruises, wonderful museums and its red-light district. The city is compact but has a lot to offer and everyone will find something exciting in this relatively small city.

Antwerp is a wonderful walking city. Opt for a walking tour various sights as the major sightseeing attractions are easily accessible from one major street that changes its name as you move along: Italielei, Frankrijklei, Britselei, and Amerikalei. Some of the major sites that can be experienced on a walking tour include: Antwerp Castle, known as Het Steen ( “The Stone”). At the time of The Stone’s rise in the 13th century most buildings were still made of wood. The Grote Market is a masterpiece of 16th century architecture. It is beautifully surrounded by the Town Hall and the so-called houses of the Guilds or corporations richly decorated with golden statues, like in Brussels’ Groote Markt. Brabo Fountain stands in the middle of the Grote Market. The Rubens House, former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 17th century Flemish Baroque painter is a an amazing place. Antwerp Cathedral, which houses two of Rubens’s masterpieces, the ‘Descent from the Cross’ and the ‘Elevation of the Cross’ is yet another wonderful place you can see on your walking tour of Antwerp. The superb architecture and sights of the city are something you do NOT want to miss!

You Do Not Want To Miss The Belgium River Cruise

With so many attractions, Antwerp is a superb place where you can find everything from history to beauty to architecture to art and culture. Our Belgium River Cruises and Barge Cruises in Belgium offer walking tours of Antwerp where you get an excellent opportunity to see its attractions, marvel at its architecture and imbibe the Antwerp culture. Call us to book your holiday on one of our Belgium River or Barge Cruises and visit the wonderful city of Antwerp!