Category Archives: European Barging & River Cruises

Bordeaux

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Bordeaux is the world’s major wine industry capital, with the first vines introduced by the Romans in the 1st century. Bordeaux Wine, which has been primarily a local product, became more widely known when the English kings discovered it in the 12th century. The historic part of the city of Bordeaux is on the UNESCO world heritage list and is home to Europe’s largest town square “Esplanade des Quinconces”, laid out between 1118-1128, at a size of 450,000 sq. ft.

Bordeaux is a delightful city for walking. Take a stroll along the very scenic riverfront area along the Garonne River as well as Botanical gardens across the river.  Bordeaux features one of the finest Grand Theatres in France, with its 18th-century architecture by Victor Louis and inspiration from Charles Garnier when he designed the Opera house in Paris.   Bordeaux offers many historic buildings as well as several notable museums – Basilique St Michel, started in 1350 – famous for its 375-ft free standing bell tower; Musee d’ Aquitaine and the Flamboyant Gothic Cathedrale St Andre with dimensions that rival the Notre Dame in Paris.  Cathedrale St Andre is surrounded by three museums:  Musee des Beaux-Arts, Musee des Arts Decoratifs and Centre Jean Moulin.

Shopping aficionados will enjoy the Cours Georges-Clemenceau, a major luxury shopping area as well as the Place de la Comedie along the Cours de I’ Intendance, known as the Champ-Elysees of Bordeaux.  Here you will also find several exquisite Louis XV houses.
Bordeaux is also an important Atlantic sea-port and it is well worth visiting the port at the head of the Gironde River, where tankers and freighters from all over the world call in there.

To reach the vineyards of the region of Bordeaux, you can take a short river cruise such as a five day round trip Bordeaux cruise visiting the Haut-Medoc region north of Bordeaux, the Gironde estuary, as well as the St Emilion area.  Alternatively, you can get aboard a six night luxury barge cruise St Louis visiting the Graves region south of Bordeaux between Agen and Castets.  Both cruises will feature visits to vineyards and wine tasting.  There are also visits to historical land marks and, of course, great wine and food.  The St Louis also offers cycling on their barge cruise.

Luxury French barges Napoleon and Hirondelle Save with 30% Discount

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The twelve-passenger Napoleon is one of Europe’s finest small river cruisers, combining all the amenities of a luxury hotel with the friendly ambiance of a country inn.  The beautifully appointed large picture windows of this luxury barge cruise provide amazing views of the countryside. She takes you on a lovely voyage along the River Rhône.  Aboard Napoleon, you’ll forget about time as you gaze on views of the French countryside.

This part of Provence is famous for never-ending vistas of tiled roofs, historic monuments, lavender fields and olive groves. This region has a sophisticated culture dating back to Roman times.

Excursions lead to the wine region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the delightful towns of Avignon and Arles. Visits to St Rémy, birthplace of Nostradamus, and the ancient sites of Pont du Gard and Glanum are also part of the action-packed agenda.

Napoleon, the luxury Provence barge cruise offers you every facility you can think of aboard a barge cruise.  A sun deck with Jacuzzi and exercise equipment is located on the top deck while the main deck contains the salon, dining room and one state cabin. The beds are king-sized doubles, which can be arranged as twins if desired. In suite bathrooms are fitted with a pedestal basin, a shower stall, and a flush pumped water closet.

The Hirondelle is equally wonderful and enriched with all amenities as Napoleon. She cruises in Southern Burgundy on the Canal du Centre, the River Saone and the Canal du Rhone au Rhin between Chagny and Besancon. Along this route, you will enjoy a wine tasting at Chateau Chassagne Montrachet, a visit to Beaune with its famous Hospice, as well as visits to the quaint town of Dole and beautiful old city of Besancon.

This eight-passenger Burgundy barge cruise has four beautifully appointed staterooms, three with twin beds and one with a double bed.  Each stateroom has a private bathroom with shower as well as large windows that open well above the waterline. There is a spacious living room/dining salon, sun deck with lounge chairs and sheltering umbrellas, stereo, games, writing desk and reading material. The Hirondelle provides bicycles for cycling along the towpath and into villages, and has a minibus for excursions to local landmarks.  The large windows and the sundeck on the top deck of the Hirondelle make it easy for you to enjoy the passing scenery.

In the evening, your crew prepares an elegant five course gourmet dinner graced by fine wines and cheeses that are unknown outside of France. Dining aboard the Hirondelle is among the highlights of the cruise. Our five-course candlelit dinners are a  special treat. You will enjoy a buffet style continental breakfast, large lunch including pâtés, cheeses, cold meats, tarts, terrines and salad. Dinners are always plated with at least four courses and complementary wines.

Barge Cruising on the River Thames

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The eight passenger Magna Carta is one of the finest, most luxurious vessels cruising the British Isles. Before Magna Carta came into existence, the only way to enjoy the space and facilities of the very finest floating hotels was to take a barge vacation in France, or some of the other European rivers and canals. Magna Carta began river cruising in 2002 and it is like a dream come true for many cruise lovers. The design and facilities provided inside this luxury barge are excellent and once you board it, it’s sure to be an experience of a lifetime!

The ambience created by combining a traditional barge hull (1936) and fine mahogany, teak and oak woods is outstanding. The most sophisticated modern amenities include air conditioning, under floor heating, color TV/DVD and exceptionally spacious contemporary en-suite facilities in the four full width staterooms. The upper deck saloon and dining areas sport picture windows and stylish furnishings, and there is a Jacuzzi on the upper sun-deck. The saloon and sun decks are much larger than expected and give you the space to really relax and unwind.

Her experienced Captain knows the Thames well and your Master Chef will produce a range of mouth-watering dishes, while you navigate England’s Royal River enjoying the sights of London and the Home Counties from your luxury floating hotel. Two housekeepers complete the crew of four.

Only eight passengers are allowed in Magna Carta unlike other European barges so that there is no overcrowding and each passenger gets the maximum in terms of service and space.  In addition to the great staff and superior accommodations, the Magna Carta offers a wide range of great barge cruise themes:
Golf Cruises, Chelsea Flower Show Gardens Cruise, Hampton Court Flower Show Garden Cruise, Tennis Cruises, Antiques Cruises, Art Workshop Cruises, Ghost & Ghouls Cruises, World War II Cruises, Walking Cruises, West End Theatre Cruises – including after performance back stage parties and private dinners with producers and theatre critics.

Barging and History on the Canal du Midi in France

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 The Canal du Midi in France is three hundred years old. It skirts the sunny, shining shores of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through ancient villages, Roman fortifications and famed vineyards. The Canal du Midi is famous for its beauty as it is lined with beautifully planted plane trees and crossed by pretty arched bridges. Adding to the charm of this canal is the Mediterranean weather and pace of life that is so relaxed; magical enough to let you open up and see your life from a totally new perspective as you cruise along.

Canal du Midi is the ideal place whether you want to simply relax on the deck with a cool drink, enjoy the scenery passing by, or cycle or walk along the scenic tow paths. As you look into the distance, you can see the Pyrenees where nearby are the vineyards that stretch for thousands of square miles. You can enjoy private wine tastings at chateaux en route, locations that vary with your choice of barge.

History of the Canal du Midi

 Built under the reign of Louis XIV, the Canal du Midi has great historic importance and remarkable beauty in the south ofFrance. It connects theGaronneRiver to theMediterranean. To do so, the canal is 240 km in length and runs from the city ofToulouse down to the Mediterraneanport ofSète. The actual purpose for building Canal du Midi was to be a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, avoiding the long sea voyage around hostileSpain,Barbary pirates, and a trip that in the 17th century required a full month of sailing.

The Canal du Midi was opened officially as the Canal Royal de Languedoc on May 24, 1681. It was designed and built under the supervision of Pierre-Paul Riquet, a rich tax-farmer who bankrupted himself in the personal undertaking and died destitute in 1680, just months before the canal was opened to navigation. Riquet was not alone in the undertaking. In fact, 12,000 workers toiled for fifteen years to create this great canal.

The Canal du Midi is built of 328 structures consisting of locks, aqueducts, tunnels, bridges, etc. and constitutes a major example of hydraulic engineering of the modern age.

As you cruise along the Canal du Midi, you will discover an amazing blend of ancient Gallo-Roman and traditional influences reflected throughout this region of historical importance. The Cité of Carcassonne in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France is a great attraction. The walled city ofCarcassonne is a region you would love to explore as this is the most complete medieval fortified city in existence today.

Canal du Midi meanders through a vast region of diversity ranging from rugged, rural Languedoc regions to the sun-drenched, azure blues of the Mediterranean. Within this vast region, you will find a land of poetry and of proud people devoted to the soil and of course the wine … a passion they will share with you in private tastings of the local Minervois and Corbières wines.

Cruising along the Canal du Midi, the village of Minerve is yet another region you must visit. It offers a magnificent view with its unspoiled natural setting, its bridge and its houses perched on a rocky mountain. The village of Minerve is known for its Palaeontology and Archaeology museum. Besides, Minerve is a favorite place for walkers with its natural bridges and real tunnels dug into the cliff.

Several barges cruise on Canal du Midi and you can choose one according to the regions you want to explore. Canal du Midi, Paul Riquet’s masterpiece of engineering, is and will always remain a great place to visit and explore. No wonder, it has been recognized as the world heritage site by UNESCO.

 

Cruising Northern Italy by luxury barge cruise, casual bike and barge cruise or River cruise

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Being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Italy is an ideal place for hotel barging. Its beautiful canals and rivers roll through diverse landscapes, from picturesque lagoon islands with their colorful houses, to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of birdlife. These waterways were once used for trade by Romans and early Mediterranean settlers before them and are ideal for gaining knowledge about many cultures, including Roman, Etruscan, Istrian, Byzantine and of course Renaissance, that have influenced the arts, architecture and history of the region over many centuries.

If you want to explore the beautiful landscapes and get an insight into the ancient culture of Italy, an Italy Cruise is the perfect choice. Aboard the Italy Cruise, you can enjoy exploring Northern Italy in a royal and relaxing way.

Venice is the highlight of any Italian cruise. The lagoon surrounding Venice, the Venice Lido beach, Hemingway’s influence and the fabulous waterside Villas; all add to the attractions of Venice. Delicious seafood, local culinary specialities, fine wines and attentive service complete the picture of this fairytale adventure. You can cruise between the romance and architecture of Venice, to the captivating lakeside setting of the Renaissance city of Mantua. Mantua is in central northern Italy, and has been a hub of art, culture and music for centuries. The route inland takes you along the River Po and the Bianco Canal through the Po Valley.

European Barging offers different cruise options and you can choose according to your interest and convenience. Our Venice cruise offers barges overnight with free time for you to explore the city. It is very enjoyable and affordable at great hotel rates. Our Michelangelo offers a winter cruise in the Venice lagoon and often cruises at the Carnival. Like Venice, Michelangelo is also quite affordable as it offers reasonable hotel rates including the meals. We also offer casual bike and barge cruises for active people. Such types of cruises are a good value and appeal to people who love adventure and exploration. Cycle enthusiasts can mingle their passion for cycling with sailing aboard our fantastic cruises.

Our Ave Maria cruise offers yet another innovative program. Here one of the passengers in a cabin can enjoy the bike and barge while the other has excursions by mini-coach at additional costs. Ave Maria is, therefore, suitable for both active and non-active couples.

So, get ready to explore enchanting Italy aboard our marvelous Italy cruises. Here you get best possible enjoyment, comfort and convenience at reasonable rates. We keep in mind the interests and tendencies of different people and design our programs accordingly. Get aboard our cruises and have the most enjoyable and unforgettable experience of your life!