Our cruises on the French canals, aboard our barges (the most modern in Europe!). You will wander in the authentic countryside, discovering picturesque villages with vibrant traditions. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, this is a quiet journey into the equally peaceful lands we offer you to experience, where you will meet the locals, their art and customs.
From Paris, you can follow the Marne Canal and discover the origins of champagne, you can also discover Burgundy and sail on the sacred waters of the Saone. Further south, follow the Canal de Provence and discover Arles, city of art and history, before venturing into the Camargue region.
We offer a wide range of excursions, but on each of our barge cruises, many excursions will make sure you discover in detail the regions, from their history to the reginal flavours, and heritage.
Discover Dole, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, in the company of your guide as you follow the "trail of the Perched Cat”. This is a reference to the author Marcel Aymé, creator of the famous Contes du Chat Perché, who spent his childhood years in Dole. Perched on a limestone hillside alongside the canal, Dole was the capital of the County of Burgundy before it became part of the French kingdom in 1678. Along your tour, you will discover the many historic monuments which have granted Dole the City of Arts and History Label. You'll also get to see Louis Pasteur's birthplace which today houses a museum tracing the history of the scientist's life, the Cours Saint-Mauris, a garden where the fluid design of the lower section contrasts with the straight paths of its upper section. Enjoy the wonderful views over the Chaux forest from the garden's terrace. You will also be able to see the former Hôtel-Dieu, which was a hospital for the poor built in the 17th century. Since 2000 it has housed the town's media centre, municipal archives and Dole's Town of Arts and History heritage initiative. You will end your visit of Dole with the famous Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, built between 1509 and 1580, whose bell tower dominates the historic town center. There are many other monuments that you will be able to admire during the tour as you discover this town which is steeped in history. Afterwards, enjoy some free time before returning on board at your own pace.
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Our first stop after leaving the ship will be the Espace Bernadette Soubirous, the final resting place of the simple country girl from Lourdes who claimed to have seen the Virgin 18 times. Her incorrupt body has lied enshrined here in a glass and bronze casket since 1925. We'll then discover the façade of Ducal Palace, considered the first of the Loire's castles. Built on the hill, the palace overlooks the center of the old town, the Republic Square and a big park. The impressive building was constructed for the Count of Nevers in the 15th century, in the place where his old fortress used to be. We'll continue on to the Nevers Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Quriaqos and Julietta, and a national monument of France. We'll visit the Nevers Blue Gold pottery district before finishing up with a tasting of local products. We'll return on board after our tour.
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We'll leave by tourist train for a tour of Briare, first admiring the Briare Aqueduct, whose 14 masonry supports were built by the Eiffel company. Until recently, it was the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. We'll also pass by the Town Hall and the Château de Trousse Barrière. We'll then head to the Deux Marines Museum and discover the history of the Loire and its canals: the spot that was once considered the most important waterway crossroads in France. Learn about the evolution of boating on the Loire and its sailors, the navigational techniques used, and the large variety of merchandise that was transported up and down the river at one time. We'll return to the ship on foot.
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Set off for the center of Santenay, a charming little wine-producing town with a priceless historic heritage where a local wine producer will greet you. You will learn more about the wine making process and enjoy a tasting* of 3 wines. Return to the boat.
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Discover the foot paths through this village at your own pace. You'll be able to visit the Natura 2000 dry grassland and admire its variety of wild orchids, take in the view from the Château Loriot and discover the charming Montoille Chapel. After our visit, we'll return to the ship.
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Set off by coach in the company of one of the town's guides. You'll discover the charming local houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, followed by the main religious buildings in the town such as the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre (exteriors only) and St Martin's Church (exteriors only). Next you will visit the famous Abbey of Baume les Dames. Founded in the 5th century by St Germain, the abbey welcomed and housed nuns from illustrious families, including Odile, the blind daughter of Duke Etichon (Adalric) of Alsace, who had her sight restored here during her baptism. The visit ends with a tasting of local products featuring charcuterie and cheeses. Return to the boat.
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We'll take a coach to Meaux and then have a guided tour of the Episcopal Palace. Your guide will tell you the story of the famous cheese of the region. After learning about Brie de Meaux, what would be better than tasting the cheese declared as "The Prince of All Cheeses" by Talleyrand in 1815 at your return on board? Transfer by coach to reach the boat.
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Departure for a walk to the Cirque du Bout du Monde, part of Natura 2000 sites - a European network of nature protection areas. There, you will admire the imposing chalk cliffs carved out by the river Cozanne which create a cirque where a 25-metre high waterfall was formed. Our coach will then take us to Mont de Sène, or the Mountain of the Three Crosses, an ancient Celtic religious site which overlooks the Santenay vineyards from a height of some 521 meters. This classified site is characterized by its rustic plants and wild bushes. Enjoy the amazing panoramic views of the surrounding main peaks and valleys, including the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, the Saône Valley, Morvan, Jura and the Alps. Return on board.
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We'll leave Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre for the picturesque town of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we'll visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center. Overlooking the river, the vineyard enjoys a microclimate and topography particularly well-suited to Sauvignon grapes. This ideal combination of factors has provided the famous Pouilly Fumé wine with remarkably distinctive characteristics worthy of its international repute. This oenotouristic establishment aims to promote the vineyards and the know-how of the winegrowers in a modern and multisensory way by highlighting the excellence of the region. We'll visit the vineyard and stop in a cellar for a tasting*. Afterwards, we'll return on board in Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre.
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Transfer by coach to Arc-et-Senans. With an audioguide you will discover La Saline-Royale (or Royal Saltworks) which was built between 1775 and 1779 by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux at the wishes of King Louis XV. Today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this masterpiece consists of a complex of 11 buildings constructed in the shape of a semi-circle, and was where the salt workers lived and worked. There is time for a stroll in the gardens spread out behind the different buildings. Return on board.
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Transfer by coach to the Besançon Citadel, one of Vauban's great masterpieces (must be booked in advance with your travel agent or tour operator before the cruise). You will learn about the history of this exceptional defensive site in the company of your guide, from its construction through to the present day. It is today listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After the visit, you will have free time to walk around in the citadel. Return on board.
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We'll leave for La Charité-sur-Loire and begin our visit with the Sainte-Croix-Notre-Dame church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Way of St. James. We'll then head to the Benedictine gardens and the ruins of the Church of Saint-Laurent. The monastic buildings such as the cloister, the chapter house, other rooms used in the 18th century such as the monks' dining hall and the former monks' cellar will all be open for visit. We'll then head to the Ferme des Barreaux, where you'll be able to taste locals products made from the animals raised on the farm: different types of cows, ostriches, sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, and even a lama! After our tour, we'll return on board.
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Discover the walking path of the Reposoir Chapel at your own pace. Visit the heart of Clerval, and stroll through this once-fortified village center and along streets lined with 16th-century houses, towers and arches. Travel along the old Route de Bâle and cross a lovely wooded area bringing you to a remarkable panoramic view of the village and valley.
After our visit, we'll return to the ship by coach.
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We'll leave from Léré for Sancerre and have a tour of the city on foot. Set in the historic Berry region, Sancerre overlooks the gorgeous Loire Valley. We'll first admire the view and the vineyards. The guided tour will then take us through the typical small streets of this once medieval city. You'll be able to visit the Tour des Fiefs on your own (192 steps - entrance fee to be paid on site). The tower is the only remaining edifice of the 14th-century medieval castle. From this vantage point, you'll have an exceptional 360° view. We'll then head to the goat farm, where we'll be able to sample its trademark cheeses and the local Sancerre wine*. We'll return on board in Léré.
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Our tour guide will greet us before we start off on our coach tour of the Champagne Tourist Route, where you'll discover the magnificent vineyard-dotted valleys of the region. You'll partake in a guided tour of the village of Hautvillers, once home to the famous Dom Perignon, a French Benedictine monk who made important contributions to the production and quality of champagne as we know it today. This picturesque village is located in the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park and is best explored on foot. Many of the little streets in the village have names that are reminiscent of the history of this village which is often called "The Pearl of Champagne”. We'll continue our visit to a prominent champagne house, with a tasting*, of course. After our tour, we'll return on board.
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At nightfall, we'll leave on a romantic tour on foot of Nevers with lanterns. You'll travel back to medieval times as we stroll through the winding streets and along the river's edge. We'll return on board by coach.
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We'll leave by coach from Dormans to Reims, known as the "City of Coronations”. Reims played a prominent role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the Kings of France. Many notable champagne-producing houses have their headquarters in Reims. We'll enjoy a guided tour on foot and discover the Place Royale, Place Du Forum (Roman forum), the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville and more. The cathedral became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the former Abbey of Saint-Remi and the Palace of Tau, in 1991.
We'll take part in a guided visit of the cathedral, which receives about one million visitors annually. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, this work of art is unique in its unity of style, stained-glass windows of rare magnificence and the "Smiling Angel” statue. At the end of our tour, we'll return on board in Dormans.
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We'll leave from Marseille les Aubigny for the Fontmorigny Abbey, a privately-owned French historical monument. A former Cistercian monastery, the present owners have tried to bring the abbey back to life, and it has now become one of the main cultural sites in the Loire Val d'Aubois. We can still admire the peaceful abbey-church and cloister ruins, a part of the ancient guest quarters, fish pond and abbot garden. Afterwards, we'll continue on to Apremont-sur-Allier, considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France, and its floral gardens (open from April to September). When our tour is finished, we'll return to the barge.
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Set off in the company of a tour guide for a tour through the historic center of Montbeliard, a former Württemberg principality. You will travel back in time through four centuries of royal destiny along the town's charming and whimsical streets. You will discover some fine Renaissance houses, the beautiful Temple of Saint Martin - the oldest Lutheran church in France - as well as the stone covered market. There will be some free time before returning on board.
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We'll leave on foot to visit the medieval castle in Château-Thierry. In these fortifications which have dominated the Marne Valley for centuries, you'll take part in a falconry show with live demonstrations. You'll get the chance to discover an art that has been classified as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. You'll literally rub elbows with impressive birds. It's the perfect occasion to view these amazing animals up close and discover their prowess. You might even be so lucky as to touch one or two! After our visit, we'll return to the ship.
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We’ll leave for La Charité-sur-Loire and begin our visit with the Sainte-Croix-Notre-Dame church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Way of St. James. We’ll then head to the Benedictine gardens and the ruins of the Church of Saint-Laurent. The most interesting sites in the town include the bell tower, cloister, monk’s cellar, and the priory. Our next stop will be the charming sweet shop La Confiserie du Prieuré to taste some handmade confections and enjoy a hot or refreshing drink. Indulge! La Confiserie du Prieuré, founded in 1921, has built its 100-year reputation on delicious, high-quality products and friendly service. Local chocolate connoisseurs will tell you this is the place not to miss! After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship.
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