Cruise the French countryside through historic Alsace and Lorraine aboard a 22-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). A journey through Alsace, one of the most picturesque provinces in France, is a voyage of endless discoveries: art and architecture, gourmet food and wine, history and heritage. The rolling Vosges mountains dotted with turreted castles and picture-perfect villages with brilliant displays of petunias and geraniums make this a most colorful and memorable trip.
Typical Itinerary (actual program may vary)
Day 1, Saturday: Paris to Strasbourg. For those who have chosen the optional "Paris Transfer," we will meet in the lobby of Hotel Regina at 9:30 a.m. to travel to Strasbourg via first-class train. Everyone else should plan to meet the group at the Strasbourg train station at 2:30 p.m. From there you will go to the barge, which will be moored in the village of Krafft. Sip an aperitif as we welcome you on board and introduce you to the crew. Enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board this evening.
Day 2, Sunday: Colmar and the Wine Road. After breakfast we cruise the peaceful Canal du Rhône au Rhin, a beautiful waterway that has seen little use since the building of the Grand Canal d'Alsace in the 1950's. Then we take an air-conditioned coach to Colmar, renowned for its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th-century collegiate church, and the waterside Little Venice district. Enjoy a guided tour and free time to explore. Return to the barge through the famous "Route des Vins," a small road that runs along the base of the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, parallel to the Rhine River and through the famous vineyards of Alsace. Pause in picturesque Medieval Riquewihr for a tasting of local vintages before returning to the barge.
Day 3, Monday: Strasbourg. We take off early and cruise over breakfast and through the morning towards Strasbourg. During lunch we enter the heart of Strasbourg and pass through the commercial docks before leaving the city to the north. We pass the ultra modern buildings of the European Parliament. Here we will disembark for an afternoon guided walking tour of the principal sights of Strasbourg. The unique beauty of the picturesque “Petite France” riverside district is magnificent. The remarkable Cathedral of Notre Dame, whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant gothic spire, is a highlight. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore this capital of Alsace, perhaps visit one of the museums, take advantage of the excellent shopping or just stroll through the cobbled streets of timbered houses before returning to the barge in the nearby village of Waltenheim sur Zorn.
Day 4, Tuesday: Saverne. This morning we begin cruising after breakfast, passing several typical Alsatian villages including Hochfelden, where ancient documents prove there was a brewery as early as 870 A.D. This day provides us with excellent opportunities for walking and bicycling. After lunch we moor in attractive, bustling Saverne, with excellent views of an imposing 18th-century red castle. A visit to the ruined 11th-century Château of Haut-Barr offers magnificent views of the Plain of Alsace. Later, a delightful afternoon cruise brings us to the picturesque small town of Lutzelbourg.
Day 5, Wednesday: Arzwiller to Hess. After breakfast we take a short drive to visit a unique crystal factory to see the most famous products of this area. Beautiful pieces of crystal are still individually blown and fashioned by hand. Back on board, cruise into Lorraine, where the canal follows the steep-sided valley of the River Zorn to the famous inclined plane of Arzwiller. Here, a counterbalanced barge lift hauls us up nearly 150 feet to the Marne to Rhine Canal. We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges Mountains before mooring at a quiet spot near the village of Hess.
Day 6, Thursday: Sarrebourg. We begin the morning along the "summit pound," the highest section of the Marne to Rhine canal. This section of some twenty miles with no locks passes through the regional park of Lorraine, a nature reserve with numerous lakes and vast areas of woodland. The canal then begins its descent towards the plain of Lorraine through a series of locks, the first of which was built in the 1950s to replace a flight of seven of the original early 19th century locks and has a drop of nearly 50 feet. This afternoon we will take the coach for a drive to Sarrebourg and visit the Chapel of the Cordeliers, where we can see a stained glass window created by Marc Chagall. We return to the barge for our farewell gala dinner.
Day 7, Friday: Transfer to Nancy or Paris. Leave the barge after breakfast with coach transfer to the train station in Nancy - end of cruise. Those choosing the optional Paris transfer will travel by train back to Gare de L'Est in Paris, where the transfer service ends.
The above itinerary is for westbound cruises. On alternate weeks the eastbound itinerary has a meeting place at the Nancy railroad station by the exit at 1 p.m. The return will be from Strasbourg on Friday. People who choose the optional Paris transfers meet in Paris at the same place and same time for either direction.
On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change without notice.
Highlights:
- Sarrebourg: Chapel of the Cordeliers with Chagall's famous stained-glass window
- The "Arzviller" barge lift: raising watercraft 170 feet
- Saverne: splendid red sandstone palace and typical houses
- Strasbourg: the "pink" cathedral and the picturesque "Petite France" district
- Colmar: fairy-tale town with its "Little Venice" quarter
Included:
- Accommodations with private bath or shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
- Wine with lunch and dinner
- Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as specified
Not Included:
- Transportation to and from beginning and end points. (Optional transfer to and from Paris is available.)
- Health and travel insurance
- Crew gratuities
- Bar drinks on board the barge
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities when available
- Other items not specifically listed under "Included" above.
Barge Features
- Cabins: 11 twins (22 passengers)
- 7 crew members
- Size: 128 ft. x 17 ft.
- Sundeck, stereo and CD
- Air conditioning and central heating
- Air-conditioned coaches for excursions
Departures every Saturday subject to availability (except winter)
This barge can be chartered for groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group. Extra customized trips and excursions may be added before or after the cruise.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Low season: US$2215 per person double occupancy
Add $200 for high season, $500 single supplement, $250 round-trip Paris transfer
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Barging
Food & Wine
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