Barging Thru France

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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 The French Barge Lorraine. 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 Lorraine as “unpretentious luxury.”  We hope you will agree.   Our goal is to make this the best week of your year.

Why is Hotel Barging so popular?

A 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  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 or the mountains of Alsace 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 personal 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  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 lunch and 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 Lorraine offers a high comfort level.  You will experience 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.   Cabins are all outside with opening picture windows for a sense of openness and light.  portholes or windows, private shower bathrooms, drawers, wardrobe, bookshelf, and reading lamp.

The Lorraine 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, giveing 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 waterway. 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 Lorraine  was truly fabulous. The crew, was at our constant service, the food was superb, and we all left with only praises for all.  — MB 2008

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".  —   2005

The cabin was even better than expected. It was bright and cheerful.  Overall, the experience was wonderful, and we certainly recommend this trip to others. JB 2007  

This was the Best Week of our Year  RC 2006                                                                                                                                                            

This, my second barge trip, was every bit as enjoyable as the first. The Burgundy area is very beautiful and the visit to Chateau Neuf en Auxois a  real treat.  We especially enjoyed the canalside villages. 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!    I look forward to our third barge cruise— KB 2007

A Day in the Life

A Typical Day on Lorraine

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.

• 8:15 a.m.---Take a delightful buffet breakfast on the sun deck.

• 9:15 a.m.---Bike along the shady canal towpath. Pedal into a village to watch the morning hustle. 

• 10:15 a.m.  Meet the barge at the next lock and reboard Lorraine.

• 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 and time to wander the grounds.

• 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.

• 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 main course.  Then Linger over a traditional cheese complete with 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 desert 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.

OR 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 special day on a barge vacation.

Relax, enjoy, let yourself be taken care of by a dedicated crew who’s only concern is to make this the "Best Week of Your Year."

 We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Ed DeChant---Barging Thru France

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