~ Barge Cruises in France ~
Midi - Marseillette

Cruise the rivers and canals of southern France aboard a 4-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). Built in 1908 at Ouderkeek in the Netherlands, the barge was refurbished in 2008 and accommodates four passengers in two luxury cabins. The passenger areas are all on a single deck, located well above the water line. The sun deck provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy the passing scenery while cruising through the renowned Canal du Midi. Or you may watch the countryside glide by from the large picture windows of the spacious lounge. This is the ideal barge for a family vacation.

Languedoc-Roussillon is a region famous for its wines, gorgeous countryside and rich history. Fortified villages, castles and market towns provide a varied itinerary.The Canal du Midi was built in the 17th century during the reign of Louis XIV and was an engineering marvel for its time with more than 300 locks, bridges and tunnels. It is now a World Heritage Site. The most famous highlight of this area is Carcassonne, a fortified medieval city surrounded by double-walled ramparts and 52 massive watch towers.

TYPICAL ITINERARY (from Apr 21 to Sep 29)
(actual program may vary)

Day 1 - Sunday: Béziers. You will be picked up at your hotel in Paris and taken to the train station for your first class TGV (high-speed train) trip to Béziers and transfer to the barge. Enjoy a champagne reception followed by your first gourmet dinner with local wines.

Day 2 - Monday: Béziers to Capestang. Enjoy a morning cruise on the Canal du Midi to Capestang. In the afternoon, visit Oppidum d’Ensérune, one of the most important pre-Roman archaeological sites in the region. Dinner aboard the barge.

Day 3 - Tuesday: Capestang to Le Somail. Continue your cruise in the morning. After lunch, take a guided tour of l’Abbaye de Fontfroide, a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th century, with its beautiful garden. On returning to the barge, stop at Château Auris for a wine tasting. Dinner aboard the barge.

Day 4 - Wednesday: Le Somail to Homps. Visit the market in Narbonne, a town built by the Romans, which is now a lively Mediterranean city with an important role as a wine-producing center. Have lunch at a local bistro before returning to the barge. Following an afternoon cruise, enjoy another gourmet dinner prepared using produce you helped the chef pick out at the market.

Day 5 - Thursday: Homps to Trebes. After breakfast, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff that dominates the vineyards below, and its now ruined Cathar castle. Stop off at Peyriac-Minervois for wine tasting. Return to the barge for lunch and enjoy an afternoon cruise to Trebes with dinner on the barge.

Day 6 - Friday: Trebes to Carcassonne. After breakfast, take a tour of Europe’s largest medieval city – La Cité de Carcassonne. Enjoy the view of the Pyrenees Mountains from the fortifications, which are about a mile in circumference, and visit the elegant cathedral. Farewell dinner on the barge.

Day 7 - Saturday: Carcassonne. After breakfast, return to Paris by train.

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Note: The first and last cruises of the season will follow different itineraries. Contact us for details.

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Highlights

• Pre-Roman site of Oppidum d’Ensérune
• 11th century Cistercian Abbaye de Fontfroide
• Market and bistro lunch in Narbonne
• Wine tastings at Chateau Auris and Peyriac-Minervois
• Cliff-top village of Minerve with its Cathar castle ruins
• Medieval city of Carcassonne and its cathedral

Included

• Accommodations with private bathroom
• All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
• Wine with lunch and dinner and bar drinks on board the barge
• Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as specified
• Air-conditioned minivan with driver for sightseeing
• Round-trip transfers: 1) from your hotel to Gare de Lyon train station in Paris 2) first class high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon, 3) local transfers to/from barge in the south of France.

Available at Additional Cost

• Optional activities when available
• Health and travel insurance

Not Included

• Barge crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
• Personal expenses
• Other items not specifically listed under "Included"

Barge Features

• 2 cabins can be set up as twin or double (4 passengers)
• Cabin 1: 250 sq. ft.
  bathroom 6' 3" x 2' 5" with shower
• Cabin 2: 190 sq. ft.
  bathroom 6' x 3' with shower
  
• Can accommodate a 5th person (child only) on a sofa bed.
• 4 crew members, including onboard chef
• Size: 98 ft. x 17 ft.
  
• Air Conditioning
• Lounge has guest computer with Internet access and a Bose iPod docking station.
• Games and stereo
• Satellite television and DVD player

This barge is for private charters only. Various themes, such cooking lessons with the onboard chef, can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group.

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(R) Riverboat cruises
(C) Private charters only

France: Burgundy

Burgundy - Besancon
Burgundy - Chablis
Burgundy - Dijon I (C)
Burgundy - Dijon II (C)
Burgundy - Tanlay
Burgundy - Vézelay
Burgundy - Vougeot
Chablis - Tanlay

France: Paris & Vicinity

Chablis - Paris
Ile de France - Briare
Ile de France - Loire
Paris - Champagne
Paris - Honfleur (R)
Paris - Rouen (R)

France: Rhone River

Lyon - Provence (R)
Paris - Barcelona (R)
Paris - Riviera (R)
Provence - Camargue
Rhone - Provence

South of France

Midi - Beziers
Midi - Carcassonne
Midi - Languedoc I
Midi - Languedoc II
Midi - Marseillette (C)
Midi - Narbonne

France: Bordeaux Region

Aquitaine - Armagnac
Aquitaine - Garonne

France: Loire Valley

Loire - Chenonceau

France: Alsace

Alsace - Lorraine

Portugal: Douro River

Douro - Lisbon I (R)
Douro - Lisbon II (R)

Spain: Rail Cruise

Andalusia - Seville (T)
Galicia - Leon (T)
Galicia - Vasco (T)

(R) Riverboat cruises
(C) Private charters only
(T) Train tours

St Nazaire Cathedral
Carcassonne

Abbey of Fontfroide

Tel: +1-951-676-6117 - Email us

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