Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

Casual Bike and Barge Cruise to the Italian City of Ferrara off the Po River

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lotg_mooredCruise and Casually Bike along the Po River

A casual Bike and Barge cruise is offered along the Po River that includes excursions to the historically and culturally significant city of Ferrara. Located in Northern Italy in Emilia-Romagna, Ferrara is the capital city of the province of Ferrara, and it lies along a branch of the main Po River named the Po di Volano. The cultural attractions of the city have been recognized by UNESCO, and numerous palaces that date from the 14th and 15th centuries– a time during which the city was the home of the court of the House of Este. In recognition of the city’s historical significance, the Italian Hermitage Museum began using the location for its headquarters in 2006. A barge cruise on the Po River is a perfect way to explore this fascinating city.

Enjoy Italian Culture Cruising the Po River

The cultural resources featured around the city mainly consist of a variety of architectural landmarks. The city wall itself, which was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries, still stands and is in fact one of the best preserved Renaissance walls in all of Italy.

One of the most important structures to visit in the city is the Castello Estense. This building is found in the absolute center of town, and its construction began in the late 14th century. The Castello Estense is a brick building that is surrounded by a moat and four impressive bastions.

Another must-see building is the City Hall. The City Hall was at one point a residence of the Este family, and it is found near another important architectural landmark, the former Cathedral of St. George. This cathedral is an interesting combination of several different architectural styles– Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance– that were incorporated as additions were made to the cathedral over the years.

Italian culture is reflected in the many palazzi that are found in and around the city. Some possible places to visit when wishing to view a typical Italian Renaissance palazzo are the Palazzo dei Diamanti, the Palazzo Schifanoia, and the Casa Romei.

Barge Cruise on the Po River 

There is no better way to take in all of these sites and enjoy the landscape of the areas surrounding the Po River than by barge. Contact us today to book a casual bike and barge cruise in Italy.

 

Explore Cawdor Castle on the Highland Barge Cruise

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Experience Cawdor Castle and Explore MacBeth

MelkCawdor Castle is a splendid, turreted gothic castle situated amid gardens in the parish of Cawdor, around 10 miles east of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The castle was built around a 15th-century tower house, with generous additions in subsequent centuries. The castle was, originally, a property of the Clan Calder which passed to the Campbells in the 16th century. It continued to remain in Campbell ownership, and is now home to the Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of Colin Campbell, 7th Earl Cawdor.

A curious feature of the castle is that it was built around a small, living holly tree, the remains of which may still be seen in the lowest level of the tower.

The castle is renowned for its stunning gardens, which include the WalledGarden which was originally planted in the 17th Century, the Flower Garden planted in 18th century and the WildGarden added in the 1960s. In addition to these gardens, the castle property includes a wood featuring numerous species of trees as well as over 100 species of lichen.

Shakespeare and Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is best known for being immortalized in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth where the title character is made “Thane of Cawdor”. But the playwright has taken several artistic liberties and has highly fictionalized the story. The fact is that the castle itself was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth.

Notwithstanding the fact that the real Macbeth never entered the castle – he died around 400 years before it was built – the atmospheric medieval keep and battlements are pervaded with a sense of romantic history.

Our 8 passenger scottish highlander barge will be a perfect choice for you if you want to visit Cawdor Castle. So get aboard our highland barge cruise and make a visit to the amazing and immortalized castle!

Barging on the Burgundy Canal in France

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Burgundy has been a rich and prosperous area of France since ancient times. The Romans were the first to plant vineyards there, during the time of their occupation of Gaul, and their efforts were richly rewarded. The amazing red wines that come from the region are so famous that their color is known to the English language as “burgundy.”

 

Dijon And Burgundy

Burgundy was once an independent nation, easily the rival of Paris in power, and Dijon was its capital. The city still retains much of the structure of the Middle Ages, and half-timber buildings can be seen from the ancient canal. The famous Tower of John the Fearless overlooks the city, watching over your deluxe barge cruise down the canals of Burgundy. The salient historical, and geological, fact about this area is that one of the most important and essential of all early canals was cut through here. The river that runs through Dijon, the Ouche, drains into the Saone, and then the Rhone, and then the Mediterranean. On the other side of the rolling plains of the Burgundian region is the Yonne, which drains to the Seine and then travels past Paris on the way to the Atlantic. As one could imagine, this was of tremendous importance to medieval France. The ability to carry freight from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic without having to brave the ocean or sail around Spain was central to the economic life of the Middle Ages. Water travel was no longer a matter of life and death for an ancient merchant, but a pleasant opportunity to see the country and conduct business. The fascinating historical architecture that grew up around the canals shows this history of growth and profit.

 

What To Expect On A Burgundy Canal Cruise

The canal path through the beautiful hills and green mountains of Burgundy is well used and well-traveled. While enjoying a grand and luxurious Burgundy canal cruise you can walk alongside the barge at a leisurely pace, and even participate in opening and closing the locks as they arrive. A wine cruise on the legendary canal from the Yonne to the Saone can unlock a world of viticulture and wine culture for you and your family. If you would like to book your Burgundy Canal Cruise, please feel free to contact us today.

Castles & Wineries of Germany River Cruise – Mosel River Cruise

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Winding through the hillsides of France, Luxembourg and Germany, the Mosel (also Moselle) River weaves a watery path for travelers to follow through breathtaking vistas sprinkled with ancient castles, picturesque villages and steep-sloped vineyards.

Enjoy Germany’s Oldest Wine Region on a Mosel River Cruise

Riverbanks lined with black alder and willow trees combine with a carpet of vines to create a magnificent flora for rare animal species to roam through Germany’s oldest wine region. In this charming landscape, passengers on a Mosel River Cruise are transported to a world of cobble-stoned hamlets, legends and wine tastings.

Your Mosel River Cruise Explores German Winemaking

Mosel River CruiseWinemaking in the Mosel River Valley began more than 2,000 years ago, when the Romans planted vineyards to provide a local source of wine for their troops. Viticulture thrived in the region, and throughout the Middles Ages villages grew up around the winemaking industry.

Early Roman offerings were described as light-bodied and austere, but the grape that would make the region famous arrived in the 15th century. Count John VI of Katzenelnbogen documented the first known reference to the Riesling grape when he listed an entry of “22 shillings for ‘Rieslingen’ vine cuttings for the vineyard” in his storage inventory log. Thus, began the tradition of the crisp, sweet liquid gold that dominates the territory to this day.

Vineyards in the Mosel Wine Region face south or southwest to maximize on the 1,370 hours of sunshine each year that produces what top wine experts consider the best white wine grapes in the world.

Through this 75-mile stretch of the Mosel River, known as the Mosel Wine Region, passengers on the “Castles & Wineries of Germany” Mosel River Cruise can enjoy wine tastings at the many exclusive, family-owned wineries along the riverbanks and tour the area’s impressive ancient castles.

Len and Marisa Crispino of Foreign Affairs Winery will serve as hosts on this wine-themed cruise through Mosel’s endless loops and bends. After living as ex-pats in Italy in the early 1990s, Len and Marisa returned to Ontario and planted their first vines. Inspired by the Italian wine-making process, they use a unique grape drying process known as appassimento (or the Reduction method).

During this Germany wine cruise, Len and Marisa will share their knowledge of wine and tales from the land’s storied past, as passengers enjoy a leisurely cruising pace that lends to the Mosel region’s hypnotic charm.

Departing from Nuremburg on Oct. 31, this Mosel River Cruise will wind its way through quaint riverside villages, among the most notable, Bernkastel, home to the famous Bergweiler Winery, and the charming village of Cochem-Zell, where the majestic Reichsburg Cochem Castle rises more than 300 feet above the river.

Prices for this enchanted tour start at $2,599 per person, with an additional 5-night land program available for $3,839.

Perfect for wine-enthusiast groups and organizations as well as individual wine lovers, this Germany wine cruise fills up quickly, so please call and book your expedition through the famed Mosel Wine Region today.

Pre Douro River Cruise City of Madrid

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Pre Duoro River CruisePre Douro River Cruise Is A City of Madrid

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, but is also the largest city in the country. It’s also the capital of the autonomous community of the same name (Comunidad de Madrid) and is located on the Manzanares River in the center of both the country and the Community of Madrid. Madrid is a globally important city with a great reputation for having the most modern infrastructures and is an economic, financial, administrative, and service center of the country. Madrid provides a multitude of opportunities for sightseeing and boasts of some world-class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Madrid is renowned throughout the world for its great cultural and artistic heritage and has many Spain Culture Sites. The culture of this city is deeply influenced by its Royal history as the center of the Spanish Empire. Madrid has several landmark sites dating back to the times of Spanish Monarchy such as the Royal Palace, enormous cathedrals, and churches. The city boasts a rare level of medieval architecture and has a unique blend of historical and modern blends, comparable to what’s seen in London and Berlin.

Attractions in Madrid include Prado Museum Royal, Palace Plaza Mayor Sun Gate, Parque del Retiro, Torres KIO (Puerta de Europa) Cibeles, Plaza Santiago, Bernabeu Stadium and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Galería 57.

Explore A Spectacular Pre Douro River Cruise

Madrid also takes pride in being one of the top European art destinations, including the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado.
The Thyssen Bornemisza Museum is another great museum which was established from a mixed private collection of artwork. Reina Sofía Museum is a one of a kind display where Pablo Picasso’s Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades.

An abode of history, art, and culture, Madrid is a must visit location. Our Pre Douro River cruise offers an optional 3 night land program in Madrid! Book your holiday on one of our Douro River cruises and make a trip to the amazing city of Madrid!