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Canal
&
Company
Welcome to the wonderful world of waterways cruising.
We may be a little biased after our combined 60 years of
being involved in the growth of this unique industry,
but we think you will agree that this is a special way
to discover the heart of France. You will see the
French countryside in its full glory. You will discover
her secrets at 4 mph, allowing plenty of time to see the
detail you would miss with any other form of travel.
This is the graceful way of life that seems long
forgotten to us today. In fact, this may be the first
time you experience such a relaxed voyage.
We are proud to have the opportunity to welcome you
aboard these five unique vessels. You will have the
vacation of a lifetime, and will return home with fond
memories and new found friends that you will never
forget. One of our recent guests described her
experience on the Anacoluthe as “unpretentious luxury.”
We hope you will agree.
Why is "Canal & Co French Hotel Barging" so
popular?
A Canal &
Co French Barge Vacation is a change of pace from what
most people have experienced – There is a
certain intimacy that comes from slowness, from being
with a small group and from the realization that as you
amble through the cobble stone streets of a medieval
village that the very stones you are walking on have
been walked on by people like yourself for centuries.
The light
of course has been a big attraction in France.
- It gave a life to the impressionists painters of the
1800’s. In the morning the sun shines soft,
highlighting the orange and reds, in the afternoon it
filters through the trees overhead the canal as you
glide through the forests and fields, and in the evening
it lights up the greens and forms the pastels in the
Burgundy vineyards as it makes its journey westward
toward sunset.
The tours
of course are special - you will visit private
castles with their magnificent gardens, quaint villages
where time seems to stand still, vineyards where we
will stop for a taste, world historical sites that help
give us an insight as to who we are and why, and lots
more. Each day brings a new shore excursion in one of
our air conditioned buses with one of our licensed tour
guides. It is all included in the price.
 Of
course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect
gourmet.” You will dine on meals prepared by
chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in
France. You will
finish one meal and look forward to the next. French
chefs are artists, excelling themselves day after day
with meals produced from only fresh foods. Our Canal &
Co food is supplied by the finest wholesale food
purveyors and delivered to our vessels twice each week.
If you have special dietary requirements we can easily
accommodate them.
Who
said that “a day without wine is like a day without
sunshine?”–
 The
complimentary wines
that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully
selected from the vast choice of quality French
vineyards. You will enjoy 22 different wines during
the week on board. Your well chosen wines are served at
dinner in a relaxed
atmosphere. They will compliment the meal and bring
about a feeling of well being and contentment which will
linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with
friends, old and new. It does not get any better than
this.
The boats offer
a high comfort level. All Canal & Co barges offer
air conditioned comfort on a vessel that is tastefully
decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass
complimented by lovely fabrics. Most of your time will
be spent in the public areas of our
barges which feature a spacious saloon, dining area, bar
and sundeck. Anacoluthe even has a piano. Cabins are
all outside with portholes or windows, private shower
bathrooms, drawers, wardrobe, bookshelf, and reading
lamp.
Canal & Co.
offers a customized level of service. Normally
there is one crew member for every three passengers -
your guarantee of first class, highly personalized
service. Our experienced bilingual crew, most of whom
have been with us for many years, include experienced
pilots, well-informed tour escorts and friendly hosts
and hostesses intent on sharing their local knowledge
with you to ensure that your cruise is a delightfully
memorable experience.
A towpath runs
alongside the canals, giving
you the option to either walk or
 bicycle
between locks, or stay on board and watch the world go
by as the scenery changes with every bend in the river
or canal. All barges have bicycles so you can explore
nearby villages and countryside or ride the towpath
alongside the barge, which stops at locks along the way.
In
Praise
My heart
overflows with gratitude to you. The trip on the
Anacoluthe was truly fabulous. The crew, led by
Scott, was at our constant service, the food was superb,
and we all left with only praises for all.
—
Anacoluthe,
30 April 2005
Neil,
our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and could not do
enough for us. One morning, for instance, he took three
ladies on an impromptu side trip to the shrine of St.
Odile, then they all met us later to reboard at a lock.
The bicycles were great, excursions informative, and if
a lot of walking was required, we were advised ahead of
time and given alternate choices with less walking if we
wanted. The ride in the barge lift up the side of the
mountain and through the tunnels was a wow.
—
Lorraine,
14 May 2005
The
cabin was even better than expected. Overall, the
experience was wonderful, and we certainly recommend
this trip to others.
—
Litote,
7 May 2005
My
second barge trip was every bit as enjoyable as the
first. The lower Burgundy area is very beautiful and the
Saône is a magnificent river with delightful towns all
along the way. The cruise into Lyon was majestic, and I
felt like Cleopatra herself! The cuisine on the barge
used all the delicious produce of the area and wines
from all the vineyards that we had been cruising past or
visiting along the way. Magnificent!
—
Libellule,
14 May 2005
A Day in the
Life...A Typical Day on a Canal & Co Barge
Never has doing so
much felt so relaxing.
7:30 a.m.---Wake
up and draw the curtains to see the sun breaking through
the morning mist over the canal.
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8:15 a.m.---Take
a delightful breakfast of coffee, croissants, and
fresh fruit on the sun deck.
-
---Bike
along the shady canal towpath. Pedal into a village
to watch the morning hustle. Meet the barge at the
next lock and reboard.
-
10:30 a.m.---Tour
a centuries-old winery and taste the fruits of the
vintner’s labor in his private cellar.
-
12:15 p.m---Indulge
in a three-course lunch prepared by the barge’s own
French chef. Time for more fine regional wine and a
delectable selection of local cheeses. You will
sample 22 wines this week.
-
1:30 p.m.---Drive
to an enchanting
château.
En route, your guide fills you in on the local
history. At the castle, enjoy a special-access
private tiyr and time to wander the grounds.
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3:45 p.m.---See
the region from a new point of view as you glide
over the French countryside in a hot-air balloon.
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6:30 p.m.---Return
to the barge just in time for aperitifs on the sun
deck.
-
7:00 p.m.---Join
your fellow passengers for an elegant five course
dinner. Begin wtih exquisite hors d'oeuvres, a
delicate
soup, and a
masterpiece of a main course. Then linger over a
traditional cheese complete with a retelling of the
legends
that surround nearly
all French cheeses. Regional wines are interwoven with
each course, giving you a new
understanding of the
art of pairing wine and food. Finish off with a dessert
nearly too lovely to eat.
8:30 p.m.---Savor
a cognac on deck as the sun sets behind the lovely
medieval village where you moor for the night.
9:30 p.m.---Wander
off the barge for an evening stroll through the village,
pausing for a nightcap at a local café.
Does your perfect day
involve whiling away the hours with a good book?
Strolling along the canal with your loved one? Napping
in the sun? A ten-mile morning run? No matter how you
envision passing the time, chances are you can make it
your typical day on a barge vacation.
Relax, enjoy, let
yourself be taken care of by a dedicated crew who’s only
concern is for your well being and enjoyment.
We look forward to
welcoming you aboard soon
Bon
Voyage
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