2005 Lorraine ALSACE-LORRAINE CR

Lorraine cruises its homeland of Alsace-Lorraine

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Alsace-Lorraine is one of France's most interesting regions.

100% Canal Cruise

During the past 138 years it was conquered by the Germans and held by them for 52 of those years. The Germans imposed their language on these French. So, after generations of speaking German, you will find a German dialect spoken, especially among the senior population. German occupation 1870-1918 and 1940 to 1944. You will find nearly all French Beer is made here. The region is also the heart of the French Crystal manufacturing. We will have a facinating visit to one of these. The shore excursions are among the most interesting on any barge.

2009

	The Lorraine, an elegant new boat accommodating 22 passengers in great comfort. It is a very modern vessel equipped with a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar and a separated dining-room. On the lower deck are 11 comfortable cabins with large opening windows. The Lorraine navigates in Alsace, a very attractive region for Canal & Co.
A journey through Alsace - perhaps the most picturesque province in France - is a voyage of endless discoveries - of art and architecture, gourmet food and wine, history and heritage.
	The Vosges mountains dotted here and there with turreted castles, as well as picture-book villages with their brilliant displays of petunias acid geraniums make this a most memorable cruise.

HIGHLIGHTS
Sarrebourg: Chapel of the Cordeliers with Chagall's famous stained-glass window. The famous "Arzviller" barge lift: raising craft 52 meters. Fascinating visit to a crystal factory.	Saverne: splendid red sandstone palace and typical houses. Strasbourg: the stupendous cathedral and the picturesque "Petite France" district. Colmar: fairy-tale town with its Little "Venice" quarter.

The Forward Deck is a favorite place for travelers as we cruise through the mountains.

The Forward deck from above.

The Lorraine has a superior comfort level inside.

Our cabins are cozy and well appointed. Each of coarse has private toilet and shower. Each cabin has large picture windows for lots of natural light.

The Inclined Plane of Arzwiller is a highlight of our cruise. The boat enters the lock ad the lock itself is moved from one lever to the next. This takes the place of 17 locks and hours of locking through.

The boats drive into the lock and the lock either raises or lowers. The crew and pasengers stay on board.

Strasbourg is a beautiful city. Your guided tour covers all points of interest.

Of course the stork is famous in these parts. There are many to see as we cruise along. People make perches for them to prevent their nesting on the chimney.

Canal de la Marne au Rhin and Canal du Rhône au Rhin

LORRAINE

Cruise to the heart of Alsace-Lorraine, where French and German culture entwine to create one of France’s most bewitching regions. Colmar and Strasbourg are two of Europe's most fascinating small cities. Enjoy wine tasting, and have a look at crystal-making. Spend time in picturesque villages. Sample 24 different wines and eat some truly gourmet foods.

Saturday Krafft

Meeting place is the Strasbourg train station. at 4:15 pm. From there you will be transferred to The Lorraine, moored in Krafft. You will be welcomed aboard and meet the crew while your bags are put in your cabin. Following the welcome drink and orientation you will have a few minute free before your first gourmet dinner on board this evening.

Sunday Krafft / Strasbourg

After breakfast we begin cruising toward Strasbourg. Before lunch we will board our air conditioned coach to Colmar, renowned for its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th-century collegiate church, and the waterside Little Venice district. This is an all day program. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Colmar. feasting on one of the specialties of the region. In addition to your guided tour you will have some free time to explore. Stop at the Unterlinden Museum, famous for its Renaissance art and home to the “Issenheim Altarpiece.” Click here for some photos our visit to Colmar. We will return to the barge , now moored in Strasbourg, through the famous "Route Des Vins" a small road running at the base of the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, parallel to the Rhine and through the famous vineyards of Alsace. We pause in picturesque Medieval Riquewihr for a wine tasting of local vintages and souvenir shopping before returning to Lorraine.. Click here to see some photos from picturesque Riquewihr.

Monday Strasbourg / Hochfelden

We cast off early and cruise over breakfast toward Strasbourg center. 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 a guided walking tour of the principal sights of Strasbourg with its cobbled streets and timbered houses. The unique beauty of 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. Click here for some photos of Strasbourg. Afterwards we continue cruising to Hochfelden and our mooring for tonight. There is ample opportunity to walk between locks on the tow path or to bicycle into nearby villages. Click here for some photos of activities on the tow path. Overnight in the picturesque village of Hochfelden.

Tuesday Hochfelden / Saverne

This morning we begin cruising after breakfast passing several typical Alsatian villages where ancient documents prove there was a brewery as early as 870 A.D. We will visit a small local brewery to sample some delicious Alsatian Beer. All French beers are brewed in Alsace. Click here to see some photos from our visit to the brewery. This day provides us with excellent opportunities for walking and cycling (perhaps diverting to a bierstub to appreciate the product of a local brewery). Later, a delightful afternoon cruise brings us to the picturesque small town of Saverne. Click here for photos and history of Saverne.

Wednesday Saverne / Lutzerbourg

After breakfast we make a short drive to visit a unique crystal factory to see the most famous products of this area. Alsace hs long been the crystal centre of Europe. You will visit a crystal factory where you can watch the glass as it comes out of the furnace and is turned into wonderful works of art. But the real skill is in the cutting. Professional crystal cutters go to school for 4 years and do a 3 year apprenticeship. Beautiful pieces of crystal are still individually blown and fashioned by hand. Each of you will have an opportunity to try your had at the cutting wheel. Click here for photos of our visit to the Crystal Factory. Back on board, cruise into Lorraine to the beautiful town of Lutzelbourg nestled in the Vosges mountains. In Lutzelbourg there is the ruins of an old fortress, and dozens of beautiful walking trails through the nearby hills. Bring some walking shoes. There will be time to explore this canal side city before dinner. Click here to see some photos of this beautiful village.

Thursday Lutzerbourg / Xouaxange

We begin a morning cruise by entering 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. Click here for photos of the Inclined Plane.

We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges Mountains. Click here to see some photos of the tunnels. We continue along the summit pound, the highest section, of the Marne to Rhine canal. This section of some thirty kilometres 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 nineteen-fifties to replace a flight of seven of the original early nineteenth century locks and has a drop of nearly fifty feet. This afternoon we will take the coach for a drive to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel of the Cordelieres where we can see the stained glass window created by Marc Chagall. This day full of art has some pleasant surprises. Click here to see some photos of the art.

We arrive at the peaceful village of Xouaxange. This sleepy little village is great for exploring.

We return to Lorraine for our farewell gala dinner.

Friday

Leave the Lorraine after breakfast and coach transfer to the train station in Strasbourg. We suggest you try one of our post cruise add on packages. Arrival before noon.

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