MARIONOWENTRAVEL

Exclusive departure Only 12 twin cabins 27th August 2015 £2350 per person 8 nights All inclusive Via P&O Ferries

A cruise on a traditional hotel barge is arguably the best way to relax and enjoy life. You can cruise through the very soul of , as you enjoy the peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of the modern world gently cruising along peaceful waterways. Truly, an ideal opportunity to recharge your batteries! To cruise along France’s canal network is to set off on an adventure. Here life is simplicity itself as you float peacefully along, enjoying the peace and quiet. A canal cruise in France is also the chance to learn about the region through which you are travelling; its flora and fauna, its history, its culinary specialities and much more. As the barge cruises along the canals, it is never far from the land. This gives passengers with a discerning gourmet palate the chance to appreciate and savour the wide range of regional gastronomic dishes, accompanied of course  Best value for money by carefully chosen local wines. In addition, it is easy to set of on a discovery  An intimate atmosphere and a crew to take care of tour of the area’s natural beauty spots on foot along hiking trails or by bicycle your every need. (available on board), travelling the cycle paths which run alongside the tranquil  A brand new barge with a capacity of just 24 guests banks of the canals. You can of course return on board at any time  High standard of French Cuisine using lots of local These custom designed hotel barges have been equipped with maximum produce. comfort in mind for an unforgettable and relaxing holiday. Guests are very well  A pleasant setting with maximum comfort, décor and looked after and pampered by a crew completely at your disposal so they can design. relax on board and have a truly wonderful time. Book your place today TEL: 01482 211913

Or call in person to 23 Portland Street HULL Deposit to secure you place just £400 per person with your balance payment not due until June 2015

This is Madeleine your beautiful Hotel Barge that Marion & Lynne visited Discover Out-of-the-Way France Cruise on the Marne- Canal from -Kraft to Arzviller,

France DAY 1: ERSTEIN-KRAFT the French capital of sugar. We'll welcome you aboard the MS Madeleine in late afternoon. After you've settled comfortably in your cabin, we'll present our crew to you before having dinner. We'll remain in port in Erstein for the

night. DAY 2: ERSTEIN to After breakfast, we'll cast off and head for Strasbourg. The boat will cruise through the morning and you'll enjoy your first lunch on board. In the afternoon, join us for a tour of the Alsatian Wine Route You'll discover the region's wines and its seven grape varieties while traveling through picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, enchanting fountains and, of course, wine presses. Later in the afternoon, we'll stop to taste the local wine at a winery. We'll return on board for dinner and afterward, you'll be able to visit Old

Strasbourg by tour. We'll moor overnight in Strasbourg. DAY 3: STRASBOURG to WALTENHEIM SUR ZORN Morning journey to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. Breakfast and lunch on board. We cross the Zorn Valley and its landscaped fields where the canal is wide and straight and Forest before reaching Waltenheim-sur-Zorn around 3:00 pm. In the afternoon, we suggest exploring the hops footpath in . offers an attractive and unusual landscape. In a wine-growing and beer-brewing province, gain a new perspective on the region through learning about growing hops. Enjoy a pleasurable walk through the hop fields followed by beer tasting. We'll return on board for dinner and overnight stay in Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. This evening, we'll dine at a local restaurant in Waltenheim whose specialty is the Flammekueche: a savory thin-crusted tart with cream, bacon

and onions on top. We'll moor in Waltenheim overnight. DAY 4: WALTENHEIM to Today, enjoy breakfast and lunch on board, during our morning cruise from Waltenheim to Saverne. Enjoy the bucolic scenery on the top deck as we head for Saverne. We will pass by the towns of nestled on a hillside and Hochfelden, a typical village. In the morning, you can stroll on the trails or bike on the paved trails along the canal. We'll arrive in Saverne in the Cruise highlights: afternoon. The boat will moor in front of Rohan Castle. Enjoy your guided tour of  Strasbourg, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site lovely city. Virtually unknown from the usual tourist routes, Saverne offers a wide  The hops path at Wingersheim range of places to discover. The Grand Rue with its unicorn fountain (the symbol of the city); the Katz house, adorned with magnificent carved timbers; Notre Dame Church  The castle at Haut-Barr with its 12th-century steeple; various 18th-century administrative buildings; or the  Saverne, a truly charming and unique little town Recollects Monastery founded in the 14th century. We'll have dinner on board and  The castle at Lutzelbourg stay overnight in Saverne.  The inclined plane at Arzviller an DAY 5: SAVERNE to LUTZELBOURG After breakfast on board, you can experience exceptional piece of engineering a visit to the Château de Hohbarr, nicknamed "The Eye of Alsace." From the chateau, you'll marvel at the splendid view of the Alsatian plains. On the way back,  Bicycles available on-board allowing you can stop at a Chappe tower, an old semaphore location with an interactive you to cycle alongside the canal discovery of the ancestor of modern telecommunications. After the tour, you'll have

Following Marion’s barge holiday in France in some free time to explore Saverne on your own. We'll return on board for lunch and 2010 this is the opportunity we have been cruise through the afternoon to Lutzelbourg. The canal winds through the waiting for. This new barge offers modern Mountains before joining the region. Arrive late afternoon at Lutzelbourg, well laid out cabins yet the same super barge which deserves its reputation as the most beautiful village on the French canal banks. holiday experience. Walk to Lutzelbourg Castle. Perched at over 300 m (984 ft) above sea level on a rocky, red sandstone spur, the ruins of the castle majestically dominate the village down in the Zorn Valley. We'll return on board for dinner and moor overnight in

Lutzelbourg. DAY 6: LUTZELBOURG to ARZVILLER After breakfast on board, Cast off for the Arzviller inclined plane. Stop at the crystal glassworks near the inclined plane. Located at the foot of the incline for over 25 years, the glassworks is a family-run business specializing in the art of cutting crystal. Encounter this old-time tradition and watch crystal blowing and cutting demonstrations. We'll return on board for lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to the visit of the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane. A fabulous structure, this transverse system boat “elevator” is one-of-a-kind in Europe. The inclined plane replaces 17 successive locks over 4 km that once needed a full day to navigate. The structure consists of a caisson (41.5 m x 5.5 m/136 ft x 18 ft) which is lifted or lowered on an over 41% incline. A 44 m (144 ft) altitude difference is reached in only 4 minutes. You'll understand how the plane works though an explanatory film and by visiting the museum and the machine room. What's more, you'll be able to observe the three closest locks in Europe and the Arzviller tunnel from the comfort of a miniature tourist train. We'll return on board for our gala dinner and

evening. We'll moor overnight in Arzviller. DAY 7: ARZVILLER - Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 am. We head back to North Sea Ferries for our over night journey back to Hull Your price includes:- This holiday is exclusive to 2 nights aboard North Sea Ferries in an outside cabin with flat beds & meals. 6 nights all inclusive on board the Madeleine. All drinks except champagne and select MARIONOWENTRAVEL wines. Excursions as described. Gratuities at your descretion

Travel insurance is necessary and not included in your cost. We can offer you a Book your cabin today: 01482 211913 personal quote for this holiday please ask for details.

23 Portland Street, Hull, HU2 8JX For navigational safety reasons, the company and the captain are the only authorized persons who can modify the cruise itinerary. Example itinerary only and subject to change www.marionowentravel.com due to availability of stops or passage through locks.