Category Archives: European Barging & River Cruises

Caves of Carrieres Awaits You

Posted on by

Cave 1 ebVisit the Caves of Carrieres de Lumieres on a AMA Waterways River Cruise

Carrieres de Lumieres is located in the ancient village of Les Baux, which sits atop a rocky plateau overlooking the Alpilles in Provence, France. Though the village is no longer active, it still remains an attraction for tourists who want to see the ruins of the castle and the beautiful vistas. Carrieres de Lumieres is the most unusual site to experience here.

It’s actually a quarry, where the locals used to extract limestone for the construction of a nearby chateau and Les Baux. Presently, huge images of works of art are projected onto the walls, ceiling and floors, accompanied by music.

AMA Waterways Provence River Cruise offers an exciting excursion to the Carrieres de Lumieres, located in the caves of the old quarry. The term Carrieres de Lumieres refers to the ever-present role of light here.

Make Cave Exploring Real

An innovative and ambitious project is being organized in order to give this man-made site a new focus. There are four main aspects of the project:

  • A new program of cultural events is proposed on the theme of the “History of Art” in the Carrières rooms and galleries with audio visual shows, live shows, concerts, lectures, and more. The aim of the program is to make ‘Carrières de Lumières’ a cultural hub for multiple events. It will be offering one big new show every year, profiling the greatest names in the history of art.
  • A new and quite captivating event has the Carrières quarries gradually lighting up, highlighting the unique nature of the site between each show. No wonder, the spectators all praise the mineral beauty of the site.
  • New high-performance technological equipment is being procured for this outstanding audio visual show. Each area of the Carrières invites visitors on an extraordinary audio visual journey made possible by cutting-edge technological equipment and methods developed by Culturespaces and its multimedia partners, which includes 70 video projectors, 3D audio adapted to the specific characteristics of the site, etc.
  • More surfaces are to be used in the show to give it a bigger platform and extend this artistic journey.

Visitors are totally spellbound and get immersed in the images projected onto all the surfaces of the rock. Now, twice the number of video projectors is being used in order to cover twice the wall area. The completely covered ground itself becomes a huge carpet of images.

An upcoming new show will continue until January 5, 2014, titled Monet, Renoir … Chagall – Journeys Around the Mediterranean.  Europeanbarging.com   888-869-7907

The Benefits of Buying Travel Insurance for Overseas Travel

Posted on by

Travel InsuranceBe Sure To Have Travel Insurance Before Traveling Out of The Country

“I did not always buy travel insurance for myself, but then I mis-stepped off a step on a train in Marseilles and fell and twisted my ankle really bad. This was not a serious fall, but it made me realize how something serious could happen. So I always have travel insurance now. For several years I bought the annual program that my American Express card offered but then I realized that this gives me good medical coverage while I am overseas but does not reimburse any of my travel expense, so I now have a regular travel policy.

Do Not Be Alarmed Travel Insurance Is Normal

When I mention travel insurance to travelers, I tell them that they might not need the insurance for themselves, but if they have teenagers (especially in sports), or elderly parents, then you should get the insurance in case you need to cancel or return from a trip for them.
In the last few years, there have been policies offered that let you cancel for work related reasons (often offering a full refund of travel funds) and even canceling for any reason (getting about 50% of your money back). Another benefit of a Gold or Platinum type policy is that the insurance coverage becomes your primary insurer – this means that when you go into a hospital for treatment, that the hospital calls the insurance company and get approval for payment rather than you laying out the money and filing out paper work when you get back to get reimbursed. As with all offers these days, there are some restrictions.
Travel insurance does not just cover medical expenses. There is reimbursement if your luggage is delayed or lost, if you lose your passport, need legal assistance. Some programs even include Concierge services that assist with all types of travel needs, such as tickets to special events, travel recommendations, changing travel arrangements and such. Be sure to ask about travel insurance next time you travel out of the country as most policies in the US will not over you overseas.”

Schoonhoven- The Holland River Cruise

Posted on by

Holland River CruiseHolland River Cruise- Visit The Exciting Town Schoonhoven

Schoonhoven is a city in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Though it is not normally a major tourist stop, it definitely offers a unique attraction…its reputation for its silver. For centuries, the city has been home to silver smiths and has been popularly nicknamed Silver City (Zilverstad). One can still find a number of silver smiths in the old part of town, particularly along the central canal.

Presently, there are countless possibilities in silver trade and Schoonhoven is home of the International Silver School as well as the Silver Museum, which is housed in the former Harbour barracks earlier used by the military.

The museum enthralls you with a huge permanent collection of silver and very interesting displays from mining stages to the end products. You will see the various techniques used to mine, shape, polish, and cultivate the items including a completely rebuilt interior of an old silver shop. Recently, in August 2013, a complete silver workshop was opened. You can see young silver smiths at work there and closely observe how they work on their craft and can even ask them questions. The Silver Museum is a showcase of what Scoonhoven has accomplished over years in the domain of silver.

The Holland River Cruise Is Where You Want To Be

Silver is undeniably the most important and famous tradition in Schoonhoven and one you want to experience when you visit the area! Our Holland Barge Cruises and Holland River Cruises make a stop in Shoonhoven. Book your holiday cruise and get to enjoy the wonderful Silver City of Holland!

The Austrian City of Graz

Posted on by

The Austrian City of GrazThe Austrian City of Graz is Quite The View

After Vienna, Graz is the second biggest city in Austria and is also the capital of Syria. The city is a symbol of southern beauty, which surprisingly remained undiscovered by the American tourists for a long time. It is located on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria and is about 200 km southwest of Vienna. It takes around an hour and a half from Vienna to reach the historical city of Graz, which offers some of the most remarkable architectural and cultural treasures of Austria.

Graz shows a clear Mediterranean influence from around southern Europe and presents a unique culinary fusion, lifestyle, and one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Graz enjoys an enviable reputation as a student city with six universities and more than 44,000 students. The students can relax and enjoy in many street cafes which impart the city a likely Mediterranean flair.

The “Old Town” Or the Austrian City of Graz

The “Old Town” of Graz is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. It is the soul of the city and presents many attractions such as the city mountain, former fortifications, charming alleyways, medieval building facades as well as a remarkable modern architecture. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a living museum with a modern twist. Regardless of whether it is summer or winter, the place is always full of activity.

One particular feature that makes Graz so special is an exciting combination of ancient treasures and modern architecture like the Kunsthaus Graz, which wonderfully mirrors the Old Town in its façade. The art galleries, great shopping opportunities, the excellent restaurants-both modern and traditional, and a busy event calendar make sure that the city is always bustling with activity and remains a happening place.

Graz is popularly called the capital of culinary delights, as it offers some great foods and wines. It’s no surprise that in 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, thanks to its countless sights and attractions.

With so much to offer, Graz is worth a visit. Many Danube River Cruises offer 2 days in Vienna while cruising. We can assist with train tickets and other travel arrangements so you can fully enjoy your time in the city of Graz and discover this amazing place for yourself!

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!