Croisieurope Hotel Barging Brochure
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The French Canals 2 DOUBS Cruising the French Canals The canals of France have wonderful surprises waiting for you: idyllic landscapes, history-packed sites that recount France’s heritage, and delicious local specialties to die for! Welcome aboard our modern barges which place relaxation, scenery, countryside, and gastronomy at the forefront. There is no better way to discover the “backroads” of France. THE FRENCH CANALS page 4 EXCURSIONS page 8 USEFUL INFORMATION BEFORE YOUR CRUISE page 16 WELCOME ABOARD page 18 SUMMARY 3 4 ANNE MARIE BARGE CHAMPAGNE CHÂTEAU- SEINE ÎLE DE THIERRY FRANCE MEAUX ÉPERNAY PARIS DORMANS SAINT-JEAN- LUTZELBOURG LAGNY- LES-DEUX-JUMEAUX ARZVILLER SAVERNE SUR-MARNE LAGARDE WALTENHEIM Canal XOUAXANGE MARNE de la Marne STRASBOURG au Rhin ALSACE RHIN BRIARE PORT- SUR-SAÔNE La Venelle LÉRÉ BOURGOGNE LOIRE LOIRET MÉNÉTRÉOL-SOUS-SANCERRE PETITE MONTBÉLIARD HERRY SAÔNE DOUBS La Vauvise MARSEILLES-LÈS-AUBIGNY DIJON NEVERS Canal BESANÇON L’Allier de Bourgogne Canal du Rhône ST-LÉGER-SUR- au Rhin DHEUNE SAÔNE Canal du CHALON- Centre SUR-SAÔNE RHÔNE RHÔNE PROVENCE RHÔNE GALLICIAN ARLES AIGUES-MORTES Canal PALAVAS-LES-FLOTS du Rhône à Sète SÈTE Savor the silence found on the calm waters... Take a break from the world... Sit back and simply be. The French canals are full of wonderful surprises: idyllic landscapes at every turn, history-packed sites, and local specialties to delight your taste buds. Get away from it all—on foot, on a bike, on a boat—in the heart of never-ending beauty. The relaxing rhythm accentuates our French canal cruises. These little-known itineraries cross the most charming regions of France, bringing you up close and personal with the abundant exquisiteness of our countryside. CroisiEurope’s fine touch found on our larger river cruises is still our number one priority, but within a more intimate, cozy environment that only a barge on a calm canal can provide. Enjoy a hike along a path to discover historical monuments. Or better yet, grab a bike and pedal alongside the barge on the famous European bike paths. Each one of the regions is waiting to be discovered on board or through the exclusive excursions we offer. What a great way to discover the beauty, history, culture, and (of course) the extraordinary cuisine of France. 5 ALSACE The most beautiful scenery in Alsace and the Moselle region • Between Strasbourg and Lagarde (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. SXO/XOS Beginning or ending in Strasbourg—the European capital— this cruise lets you discover the most beautiful scenery and attractions in the area, from the UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the hops footpath and beer tastings in Wingersheim. We’ll cross the Zorn Valley to Saverne, where the boat will DIJON moor in front of Rohan Castle. Among the most amazing things waiting to be discovered is our ship “hopping on” the Arzviller Inclined Plane, a unique boat elevator that replaced 17 locks. Sarrebourg is full of unexpected treasures, such as Get a feel for “undiscovered” Marc Chagall’s unique stained-glass window—a virtual hymn France in the Doubs and to peace. Burgundy areas • Between Dijon and Besançon (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. BDJ/DBC TRAVELING THROUGH THE DOUBS A visit to the citadel in Besançon and AND BURGUNDY the Saline Royale (royal saltworks) in Arc-et-Senans—both UNESCO World The little-known Doubs area contains a rich Heritage Sites—will cast off or close your natural and architectural heritage cruise. We’ll also visit historical Dole, • Between Montbéliard and Besançon (EITHER DIRECTION) the birthplace of Louis Pasteur. And, of REF. MBC/BCM course, as any visit to France would be Montbéliard is one of the highlights of this cruise, and incomplete without indulging in its fine whether you begin or end your trip in Besançon, a guided wines, we’ll set out on the Burgundy tour of its famous citadel is a must. Wine Route to do just that. BESANÇON 6 Get away from it all in the Côte d’Or and an olive oil producer; the Camargue and Saône-et-Loire and some free time in Saintes-Maries- de-la-Mer; Aigues-Mortes and its salt • Between Dijon and Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune marshes; and the port and a seaside (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. DSL/SLD resort of Sète. Sip your way through this cruise, which includes an excursion along the Burgundy Wine Route and wine tasting in Santenay. We’ll also visit Saint-Jean-de-Losne, the most important river CHAMPAGNE port and one of the smallest villages in France, and Chalon- sur-Saône, a historical city and the birthplace of photography. Discover the Champagne Break out your hiking shoes for a walk to the Cirque du Bout Region and its famous bubbly du Monde and discover its majestic limestone cliffs forming a namesake along the Marne corrie with an 82-foot high waterfall. River Join us for a cruise along the most • Between Épernay and Paris (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. EPC/PCE beautiful riverbanks in Burgundy and Fantastic excursions mark this amazing the Saône-et-Loire Valley itinerary, including Hautvillers, the • Between Dijon and Port-sur-Saône birthplace of champagne and once (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. DPS/PJN home to the famous Dom Perignon; Dijon and the regional wine route will begin or wind up this Épernay and its many villas belonging cruise, which also passes through Auxonne, home to the to rich wine merchants; Dormans; the Artillery School where Napoleon received his first training. The medieval castle in Château-Thierry, city hall in Gray is worth the trip; it’s one of the most remarkable followed by a mesmerizing falconry Renaissance buildings in the Franche-Comté Region. We’ll show; Meaux and its famous Brie also tour the medieval castle in Champlitte and its museum cheese; Reims and its immense Gothic displaying traditional and artistic objects from the area. cathedral; and to top it all off (or start your cruise with a bang depending on the direction), legendary Paris, its THE LOIRE sites, monuments, and most beautiful covered passageways. An impressive cruise among the famous vineyards, historical sites, bucolic landscapes, and remarkable canals PARIS • Between Nevers and Briare (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. NVB/BNV Exploring Paris The quaint city of Nevers contains fascinating artifacts and and its must-see sites remarkable medieval buildings. A succession of gorgeous • Paris and the Canal Saint-Martin scenery and charming villages await you on this vacation. REF. PAM The privately-owned Fontmorigny Abbey is a must-see. We’ll Docked in the heart of Paris, you’ll be at visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center that the center of all the action! Your vacation plunges you into the heart of this renowned name. Visiting a includes a cruise along the Canal Saint- goat farm in Sancerre will give you a true taste of the French Martin, visits to the most important countryside. And the Briare Aqueduct, whose 14 masonry Parisian sites, tours on foot of the supports were built by the Eiffel Company, is a sight not to gorgeous covered passages, and an be missed. excursion to the legendary Saint- Germain-des-Prés district, where history, architecture, art, and former high society FROM THE CAMARGUE TO PROVENCE converge into the symbol of iconic Paris. Cruise along the Canal du Rhone-à-Sète for a full immersion into the magnificent countryside found in southern France. • Between Arles and Sète (EITHER DIRECTION) REF. AVF/SVA Enjoying the wildlife found in the marshes along the 61-mile long (98 km) Canal du Rhône à Sète is one the rarities found on this cruise. Your program includes excursions to: Arles 7 8 INCLINED PLANE OF ARZVILLER THE LOIRE CANAL (MS Déborah) Cruise through the former Berry province and take a magnificent tour of delightful sites, historic cities, and prestigious vineyards. FONTMORIGNY ABBEY LA CHARITÉ-SUR-LOIRE BRIARE and the Deux AND APREMONT-SUR- LENGTH: 3.75 HOURS Marines Museum ALLIER (TRANSPORT, GUIDE & TASTING) LENGTH: 2.25 HOURS LENGTH: 4.5 HOURS We’ll leave for La Charité-sur-Loire and (GUIDE , TOURIST TRAIN & ENTRANCE) (TRANSPORT, GUIDE & ENTRANCE) begin our visit with the Clunisian Priory We’ll leave by tourist train for a tour of La Charité-sur-Loire, listed as a We’ll leave for the Fontmorigny of Briare, first admiring the Briare UNESCO World Heritage Site as part Abbey, a privatelyowned French Aqueduct, whose 14 masonry supports of the Way of St. James. We’ll then head historical monument that has now were built by the Eiffel company. We’ll to an authentic farm where you’ll be become one of the main cultural sites also pass by the Town Hall and the able to taste local products. in the Loire Val d’Aubois. Afterwards, Château de Trousse Barrière. We’ll then we’ll continue on to Apremontsur- head to the Deux Marines Museum Allier, listed as one of the most and discover the history of the Loire beautiful villages in France, and its and its canals. floral gardens. (closed in October). NEVERS NIGHTTIME STROLL POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE LENGTH: 4 HOURS (TRANSPORT, GUIDE, THROUGH NEVERS LENGTH: 3.5 HOURS ENTRANCE & TASTING) with lanterns (TRANSPORT, ENTRANCE & TASTING) Our first stop after leaving the LENGTH: 2 HOURS (TRANSPORT & GUIDE) We’ll leave for the picturesque town of ship will be the Espace Bernadette Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we’ll visit the Soubirous, the final resting place of At nightfall, we’ll leave on a romantic Tower of Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism the simple country girl from Lourdes tour by foot of Nevers with lanterns. center. We’ll visit the vineyard and who claimed to have seen the Virgin You’ll travel back to medieval times as stop in a cellar for a tasting.