Saturday, January 26, 2013

French Hotel Barge SAVOIR VIVRE: Cabin Update

As mentioned in our blog post of January 16, 2013, we were looking for another couple to book a cabin on Savoir Vivre...

French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre - Barging cruises - Cruising the Burgundy Canal, France

Good news! A second cabin has been booked on French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre (Burgundy Canal, France) for the week of July 21-27, 2013. This week is now open for cabin bookings. There are currently two cabins available.

AVAILABILITY UPDATED JANUARY 30, 2013:

Savoir Vivre now has four weeks available for cabin bookings. The cabin cruise price is $3500/person, double occupancy.
  • May 5-11, 2013 - 2 cabins open
  • June 9-15, 2013 - 3 cabins open
  • July 21-27, 2013 - 2 cabins open
  • August 25-31, 2013 - 1 cabin open

Save $2000 on private charters during their value season:
  • March 31 - April 27, 2013
  • July 28 - August 24, 2013
  • October 13-19, 2013  BOOKED!
  • October 20-26, 2013

Value SeasonRegular Season
6 guests$24,000$26,000
7 guests$25,000$27,000
8 guests$26,000$28,000


SAVOIR VIVRE: Ability to live life well and with intelligent enjoyment, meeting every situation with poise, good manners, and elegance. Etymology: French, to know (how) to live.
Savoir Vivre is a bit different to the other hotel barges that we represent as they do not have an onboard chef. Pastries for the continental breakfast are supplied by the local baker. Lunch is catered by professional chefs who meet up with the boat with their prepared meal. Dinners are off the boat in locally selected restaurants (included in charter fee).

Lunch is catered by local professional chefs

Savoir Vivre is 80 feet long, air conditioned (and has central heat, too), 4 identical guest cabins which can be configured with a queen or two twin beds, each having ensuite private bathrooms, flat screen TV, internet where available, 8 bicycles, etc...
  • View other blog posts about Savoir Vivre: CLICK HERE
  • View our online brochure for Savoir Vivre: CLICK HERE
Savoir Vivre is available for cabin cruises and private charter... Looking forward to your inquiries!


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAVOIR VIVRE 
View Savoir Vivre's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Friday, January 25, 2013

Burns' Night, Jan 25th - Barge Scottish Highlander

Wow, I just realized that it is Burns' Night and it's too late to prepare a haggis (thank goodness).

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, on January 25, 1759. He wrote many poems, lyrics and other pieces that addressed political and civil issues. Perhaps his best known work is "Auld Lang Syne", sung at New Year's Eve celebrations around the world. Burns is one of Scotland's important cultural icons and is well known among Scottish expats or descendants around the world. He is also known as: "Rabbie Burns"; the "Bard of Ayrshire"; "Scotland's favourite son"; and in Scotland "The Bard".



Download your FREE Burns' Night App (both iOS and Android) here:
http://www.scotland.org/celebrate-scotland/burns-night/robert-burns-app/

Burns' suppers are held by people and organizations with Scottish origins worldwide, particularly in Australia, Canada, UK, and the United States. These may be formal or informal events with men in kilts and women wearing shawls, skirts or dresses made from their family tartan. Formal events include toasts and readings of pieces written by Robert Burns. 

The evening centers on the entrance of the haggis (a sausage of sheep or calf offal mixed with suet and oatmeal prepared in the animal's stomach) on a large platter to the sound of a piper playing bagpipes. When the haggis is on the table, the host reads the "Address to a Haggis", an ode that Burns wrote to the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, the haggis is ceremonially sliced into two pieces and the meal begins.

Food associated with Burns' Night include: cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leek soup); haggis; neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes); cranachan (whipped cream mixed with raspberries and served with sweet oat wafers); and bannocks (a kind of bread cooked on a griddle). Whisky is the traditional drink, of course.

You can learn more at Scotland.org: http://www.scotland.org/celebrate-scotland/burns-night


Chartering the Barge Scottish Highlander would be an excellent venue for Burns' Night!

The hotel barge Scottish Highlander has the atmosphere of a Scottish country house with subtle use of tartan furnishings and landscape paintings. At 117 feet, Scottish Highlander is spacious and has every comfort for year-round cruising. Scottish Highlander accommodates up to eight guests in staterooms that can either be configured for doubles or singles, each with ensuite bathrooms.




Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER 
View Scottish Highlander's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



Thursday, January 24, 2013

French Hotel Barge Nymphea : Loire Valley Cruise

We are sorry but we have just been informed that the French Hotel Barge Nymphea that cruises the Loire Valley, will not be available for the 2013 season. The French navigation authorities are unable to confirm that the River Cher will be open.

French Hotel Barge NYMPHEA - Not available for 2013 barging season

This is very disappointing and is due to a combination of damage done to weirs in floods late last year, adverse weather conditions and budget limitations. Although there remains a small possibility that the river may be open later this year, this will not be confirmed for several months and we believe that there is too much uncertainty, so we are not accepting any bookings on Nymphea in 2013.

Please contact Paradise Connections for alternative luxury, crewed, barging vacation choices.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

French Hotel Barge Prosperite : Value Weeks

The luxury crewed French hotel barge PROSPERITE, which offers barging cruises along the Canal de Bourgogne in the Burgundy region of France, still has value weeks available this spring (and one in autumn) for private charters.


French Hotel Barge PROSPÉRITÉ - Barging vacation cruises in Burgundy, France

The French Hotel Barge Prospérité cruises the Canal de Bourgogne (Burgundy Canal) of France. Enjoy the unparalleled history and beauty of the Burgundy region via barge travel in France.

Prospérité accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 suites, which can be configured as doubles or twins, with sitting area and desk, each having their own private ensuite bathroom. The barge is fully air conditioned and also has central heating when necessary, hot tub on the sundeck, bicycles, air conditioned minivan for excursions...

SPECIAL 2013 VALUE SEASON RATES: Save up to $10,000
Up to 8 guests: $45,900
Value weeks still available as of January 22, 2013:
  • Spring:
    • March 31 - April 6
    • April 7-13
    • April 14-20
  • Autumn:
    • October 20-26


PROSPERITE is rapidly filling up and only has a few weeks still open for the 2013 season (as of January 22, 2013):
  • April 21-27
  • May 5-11
  • May 12-18
  • May 19-25
  • July 28-August 3
  • August 4-10
  • August 11-17 
 RATES: Regular season, 2013
  • 6 guests: $53,900
  • 7 guests: $54,900
  • 8 guests: $55,900

 

Looking forward to your inquries


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book PROSPERITE 
View Prospérité's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

French Hotel Barge EMMA open for Bastille Day

Bastille Day Fireworks
The French Hotel Barge EMMA has the week of July 13-19, 2013 open. Their route for this week is Aigues-Mortes to Beziers and is an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent firework display on the ramparts of the famous walled city of Aigues-Mortes.

Many years ago, Bob & I had our sailboat tethered to the canal bank just above the old lock in Aigues-Mortes and we had fun participating in the Bastille Day festivities and watching the feu d'artifice... 

Aigues-Mortes, France
Aigues-Mortes is a striking, walled medieval town on the flat marshes of the Petite Camargue within the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It is considered a fine example of 13th-century military architecture. The town is surrounded by a crenelated wall with five towers and ten fortified portes.

Beziers to Aigues-Mortes, Camargue, Languedoc-Roussillon, south of France
Barge Emma has one trip scheduled for the between Aigues-Mortes and Beziers route this summer but if it works into Liz's planning she is willing to schedule another... Never hurts to ask :)

FRENCH BARGE EMMA

The French Hotel Barge EMMA is owned and operated by Liz and René Jacquot and are assisted by two additional crew members. They cruise along the Canal du Midi in the south of France between Beziers & Carcassonne and Carcassonne & Toulouse. They also have a Beziers to Aigues-Mortes itinerary available upon request.

EMMA is fully air conditioned and also has central heating, if needed. There are three guest cabins; one has a queen bed, while the other two can be configured as either queens or twins. Beautiful handmade Irish quilts from Oonagh Morisson add that extra touch of luxury. Each guest cabin has its own private, ensuite bathroom with sink, toilet and a normal sized shower with sliding doors. The interior is bright and spacious with beautiful arched double glazed windows which give you a good view of the outside countryside whilst cruising. The French oak furniture has been hand made by a master craftsman and the whole effect is warm and inviting.

EMMA has a spacious upper deck (385 square feet) with tables, chairs, and loungers. Shade from the sun, too, if you want it. This is a marvelous vantage point to see the wonderful countryside and a great place to enjoy cocktails before dinner. Later on, view the stars and set the world to right. And, of course, EMMA has bicycles and a minivan to chauffeur you to various excursions.

Remember that EMMA can tailor your charter to your interests... wine tastings & vineyard visits, cooking, golf, tennis, walking tours, cycling tours, or just time out to relax and enjoy a side of France that most travellers don't experience.

Available for both private charters and cabin cruises. Emma also offers 5-night charters if that works better for your vacation plans and budget.

Contact Paradise Connections to book the French Hotel Barge EMMA and enjoy a barging vacation cruise in the south of France.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book EMMA 
View Emma's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Saturday, January 19, 2013

Special Offers for 2013 Barging Cruises: Discounts

 SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THE 2013 BARGING SEASON

*** SEE THE LATEST SPECIAL OFFERS: CLICK HERE ***

Contact Paradise Connections now, for current availability and pricing. We hope you can take advantage of these special barging cruise dates.

Hotel Barge Panache - Cruising Burgundy - Barging in France

Click on the Barge's name to view their online brochure. Find prices on their online brochure's RATES page. Contact us if you'd like us to do the calculation for the special offer rate and check current availability.


MORE SPECIAL OFFERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
  • SAVOIR FAIRE (Burgundy): Family whole boat summer charters (July 14 - August 17, 2013). 2 children must be under the age of 10. Price for up to 12 guests is only $39,000 for an all-inclusive 6-night charter. Inquire for availability.
  • EMMA (Canal du Midi): 10% discount for 2013 charters & cabin bookings
  • SHANNON PRINCESS (Ireland): Guided Cycling Tours, no additional supplement
  • LA BELLE EPOQUE (Burgundy): Guided Walking Tours, no additional supplement :
    • September 29- October 5, 2013 - one cabin left! (as of Jan. 18th)
    • October 13-19, 2013 - two cabins booked, four open (as of Jan. 18th)
    • October 20-26, 2013 - one cabin booked, five cabins open (as of Jan. 18th)
Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander - Barging in Scotland - Caledonian Canal Cruise



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre : Cabin Cruise Weeks

The French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre has a couple interested in a cabin booking for the week of July 21-27, 2013. If we can book another cabin on this week we can make it happen.

French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre at a lock in Burgundy, France

There is another cabin cruise week (May 5-11, 2013) that still has two cabins available. The price is $3500 per person, double occupancy.
SAVOIR VIVRE: Ability to live life well and with intelligent enjoyment, meeting every situation with poise, good manners, and elegance. Etymology: French, to know (how) to live.
Savoir Vivre is a bit different to the other hotel barges that we represent as they do not have an onboard chef. Pastries for the continental breakfast are supplied by the local baker. Lunch is catered by professional chefs who meet up with the boat with their prepared meal. Dinners are off the boat in locally selected restaurants (included in charter fee).

Lunch is catered by local professional chefs

Savoir Vivre is 80 feet long, air conditioned (and has central heat, too), 4 identical guest cabins which can be configured with a queen or two twin beds, each having ensuite private bathrooms, flat screen TV, internet where available, 8 bicycles, etc...
  • View other blog posts about Savoir Vivre: CLICK HERE
  • View our online brochure for Savoir Vivre: CLICK HERE
Savoir Vivre is also available for private charter... Looking forward to your inquiries!


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAVOIR VIVRE 
View Savoir Vivre's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Barge Saint-Louis: Wines of Southwest France, Part 2

Today we have a guest post from Alasdair of the French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS, who offers both private charters and cabin cruises in the Aquitaine & Gascony region of southwest France.



Wines of Southwest France – Part 2
By Alasdair Wyllie, Owner-Operator of Barge Saint Louis

In Part 1, we saw how South West France wine area is divided into a number of sub-regions, each with their distinctive characteristics.  We also saw how wine production in the area dates back to Roman times and that traditionally the area produced red wines, often called “claret”, that were exported through the port of Bordeaux.  And we saw how important the river system was to the commercialisation of wines, and how the producers struggled when their only access to the markets of Europe ceased to be available to them.

Our interest in the subject comes from the fact that we operate a luxury hotel barge in south west France, called the Saint Louis.  We carry nearly forty different wines, most of them award winning, all of them from the area in which we cruise.

The owner of Chateau Saint Louis - addressing guests from Hotel Barge Saint Louis!

Starting with red wines, one of our favourites from Gaillac is Cuvée du Roc, from Domaine Lamothe.  This wine is made from three grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Braucol) and it won silver medal in Gaillac in 2011 (gold in 2008)  Many of our guests who travel to us by car pay a visit to this winery on their way home, to stock up with what had become one of their favourites on board with us.  Indeed, it is no coincidence that one of our daughters served this wine at her wedding a few years ago!

One of our nearest producers is just outside Montauban.  A delightful Belgian couple bought Le Mas des Anges just nine years ago, and they have obtained gold and silver medals at the national Chambre Artisanale ever since.  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat.

Due east from where we live and keep the boat is the wine sub-region of Fronton, and one of the leaders of the Fronton appellation is the owner of Chateau Saint Louis – the fact that the Chateau carries the same name as our barge is pure chance!  We carry his wine called L’Esprit, which is produced from Negrette and Cabernet Franc, and which won gold in the Independent Wine Producers concours in 2009.  Other superb producers in Fronton include Chateau Bellevue la Foret, producing the wine Optimum which won gold in Toulouse in 2011, and Chateau de Plaisance with their award-winning Tot Co Que Cal, made from Negrette and Syrah.  Like many producers, this Chateau produces organic wine, and they also maintain the highest quality by reducing their yield to 20 hl/ha.

At this point I am going to interject a couple of notes.  The first is that it will already be clear that wines carry a wide range of wonderful names.  For example Saint Louis – named after King Louis 9th, and Le Mas des Anges,  which means “the estate house of the angels”.  For French scholars, Tot Co Que Cal could be confusing or even meaningless, until you know that it means “everything that you could wish for” in the language of Occitane, which was the language of this region before the French language arrived.  Some of our neighbours still speak Occitane – but not to us!

The second note involves the grape varieties.  On a recent visit to the United States we were struck by the fact that wine is sold by grape variety, and that blending is seldom carried out.  In South West France, the opposite is the case.  It is almost invariably the case that two or more grapes are used, and this is normally insisted upon by the AOC controlling bodies.  Wine is not sold by grape, it is sold by name / producer name / sub-region, and very often the grape varieties are not even mentioned on the bottle.

To continue our journey of discovery, we come to the sub-region of Saint Sardos.  One of our favourites here is Cadis, produced from Syrah, Tannat and Cabernet Franc.  This wine has a history of winning medals in the national concours at Paris, including a silver medal in 2007.

Travelling down the valley towards Bordeaux, you come to the town and the sub-region of Buzet.  Buzet used to be part of the wine area of Bordeaux, until it declared its independence some 29 years ago.  The main producer in Buzet is the “cave  cooperative”, which handles grapes from some 1,300 hectares and about 120 producers.  Chateau Padere and Lys are two of our favourites from this cave.

No discussion of the red wines of South West France would be complete without mention of Cahors.  The city of Cahors sits astride the River Lot, and it is the Lot Valley that is the home of the Malbec grape.  This is the one exception to the “blend of two or more grapes” rule, in that 100% Malbec is to be found quite frequently.  Our favourite from Cahors is La Commandery, made from 97% Malbec and 3% Tannat.  This wine won gold medal in the 2011 World Concours of Brussels.

So much for the red wines.  In the next post, I will look at some white wines and some of the very up-and-coming rosés.  I will also provide you with some surprises in relation to sparkling wine or “Champagne”.

I would be quite confident in guessing that few if any of the wines I have mentioned are available from your local supplier (unless of course you happen to live in south west France!)  For me, this is one of the glorious things about living and operating in this area.  If you take the time and trouble to slowly explore this “hidden corner of France”, you will come across wines that are of world standard, but which are little known outside the region.  The same applies to many other aspects of this region.  It is a tourist backwater and the better for it, waiting to be discovered by the discerning voyager.

12th century statuette of the Greek god Bacchus - "god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and of ecstasy"!


Thanks, Alasdair!

French Hotel Barge Saint Louis - Barging cruises charters in southwest France

The French hotel barge Saint Louis cruises the beautiful calm waterways of Southwest France, including the historic lands of Aquitaine and Gascony. She does so in "casual luxury", providing the perfect accommodation for up to six guests in three stateroom suites (configured as twins or doubles, as desired). To cruise aboard Saint Louis is to experience peace and tranquillity as one passes through the lush countryside, pretty villages and memorable towns. It also means enjoying delicious French cuisine, prepared with fresh local produce, and savouring local wines and aperitifs. Your hosts, Alasdair and Barbara, together with their friendly and expert crew, will ensure that your holiday or vacation is the ultimate in relaxed pleasure.

Perhaps you can partake in the Au Fil de l'Eau spectacle that occurs annually around the first two weeks of August. See Alasdair's previous post about this event.
 


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAINT LOUIS 
View Saint Louis' online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



Friday, January 11, 2013

Barge Saint-Louis: Wines of Southwest France, Part 1

Today we have a guest post from Alasdair of the French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS, who offers both private charters and cabin cruises in the Aquitaine & Gascony region of southwest France.



Wines of Southwest France – Part 1
By Alasdair Wyllie, Owner-Operator of Barge Saint Louis

As part of the understanding of the wines of South West France, you need first to understand where the wine area of South West France actually lies.  Perversely, the wine area does not at all have the same boundaries as the geographical area of south west France!

To start with, Bordeaux is not part of South West France, for historical and commercial reasons that I will touch on later.  The Bordeaux wine region is like a big semi-circle, surrounded on all sides except to the Atlantic west by the wine area of South West France!  The other apparent anomoly is that the land area to the east of Toulouse, heading towards the Mediterranean, is not part of the wine region of South West France.  As you head towards the Mediterranean from Toulouse  you come to the wine region of Languedoc, as distinct from South West France.  It is important to make this distinction.  I understand that the vast majority of wine retailers in the United States sell wine from Languedoc as being from South West France, and this is entirely incorrect.

Why does this matter?  You have only to drive through the two wine regions of South West France and Languedoc to see some of the differences.  Languedoc is the largest block area of grape monoculture in Europe, and you will see huge areas of vines under one single ownership.  This is industrial scale production,  and it contrasts sharply with the family farm artisan production of South West France.  While there are some grower cooperatives,  for example in Buzet and Fronton, the average vineyard in South West France has less than 10 hectares of vines.  It is for this reason that wines that are truly from  South West France are almost unknown internationally;  the individual producers are nowhere near to having the critical mass that makes the cost and complexity of export worthwhile.

We operate a luxury hotel barge called the Saint Louis, offering cruises in the Garonne Valley, broadly speaking between Toulouse and Bordeaux.  Many of our international guests have a deep and developed interest in wine, and we are able to offer them a selection of wines that for the most part they have never heard of.  Thus, it is a journey of discovery!  We carry nearly forty wines on the boat, and needless to say we specialise in wines from the area in which we cruise – South West France.   Almost all of our wines are bought direct from the producer, and the relationships that we have developed over the years are very important.

Vintner in the Fronton Chateau of Saint Louis

You can think of the wine area of South West France as being a bit like a patchwork quilt, since it is sub-divided into a number of smaller growing areas.  Hence, to the east you have Gaillac, Côtes de Montauban and Fronton.  To the north there is Cahors and Duras, along the valley there are such wine areas as Saint Sardos, Côtes de Brulhois and Buzet, while to the south there are a number of areas going up into the foothills of the Pyrenees, including Béarn and of course Jurançon.  All of these areas are represented in our cellar.

Approaching the grape harvest time in Cotes de Brulhois

It is significant to point out that, with the exception of the vineyards in the foothills of the Pyrenees,  all the individual wine areas of South West France lie in the catchment area of the River Garonne and its tributaries.  Most of the wine areas date back to the beginnings of wine in France, to Roman times, and Gaillac for example is France’s second oldest wine-growing area.  Certainly, wine was produced in these areas long before vines were grown in Bordeaux.  In the days of ox carts, water transport had a major influence on trade, and the wines of South West France, heavy in flavour and rich in tannins, were floated down the river systems to the trading port of Bordeaux.  From here they were exported throughout western Europe,  frequently under the cover names of Claret or “wine of Bordeaux”.  During the 13th and 14th century this trade was very significant, but then Bordeaux started to develop its own wine production, and subsequently introduced protectionist legislation in a series of laws known collectively as “police des vins”, within which the new Bordeaux wines were given marketing preference, ultimately to the extent that the wines from “up country” could not be exported until all the Bordeaux wines had been sold.  As Bordeaux increased its area of vines, this legislation had increasing effect on the traditional producers, even resulting at one time in no up-country wine being allowed through Bordeaux.

Before the construction of the railways and the canal (and later the roads),  access to river transport was crucial to any business.  The police des vins resulted in a downturn of production in the area now known as South West France.  There is no point in producing a commodity if you cannot get it to your market!

In more recent times, however, thanks to road transport, the wheel has of course turned.  There are many producers in South West France who have recognised the market for a high quality artisan product; they have identified that small scale can be a commercial advantage as long as it is combined with excellence of quality.  It is interesting to note that this surge of excellence comes from not only French producers, but also producers in this region who are of foreign origin, and we buy from vineyards owned by Scots, Irish, English, Belgian and Iranian wine makers, as well as some of the more dynamic French producers.  It is noteworthy that over 60% of the wines that we carry are silver or gold award-winning wines.  These awards are frequently gained in national or international competition, competing against other wine regions in France and against other wine producing countries.

We cannot produce an overview of the wines of South West France without the mention of two other beverages, both with their origin in fermented grapes.  Firstly, the area of Gascony is known for the production of Armagnac, a type of brandy which was known in the 14th century and which is therefore significantly older in origin than Cognac.  Armagnac is artisan produced, and almost all producers of Armagnac also produce Floc de Gascogne.  There will be more about these liquid pearls of the region in a later post!

As an aside, it is interesting to note that the importance of the wine industry in this area is reflected in the many specialist suppliers here who serve the wine producers, and also in the presence of a highly successful barrel maker, who exports his products all over the world, including to Australia and the United States.

Barrels being made – solid oak and very high tech

There is one fact that is quite surprising.  In spite of the population in this part of France having a fairly high-fat diet (particularly with the importance of duck and goose in the diet) the level of cardiovascular disease here is exceptionally low, even stated as being one of the lowest in the world.  Various authorities have attributed this to the highly tannic red wines, others to the health-giving properties of Armagnac.  Perhaps it is also due in part to the easy pace of life that is to be found here (combined, of course, with the occasional glass of something that is locally produced and good for the health!).

In Part 2, we will be looking at some of the wines themselves in more detail.


Thanks, Alasdair!

French Hotel Barge Saint Louis - Barging cruises charters in southwest France

The French hotel barge Saint Louis cruises the beautiful calm waterways of Southwest France, including the historic lands of Aquitaine and Gascony. She does so in "casual luxury", providing the perfect accommodation for up to six guests in three stateroom suites (configured as twins or doubles, as desired). To cruise aboard Saint Louis is to experience peace and tranquillity as one passes through the lush countryside, pretty villages and memorable towns. It also means enjoying delicious French cuisine, prepared with fresh local produce, and savouring local wines and aperitifs. Your hosts, Alasdair and Barbara, together with their friendly and expert crew, will ensure that your holiday or vacation is the ultimate in relaxed pleasure.

Perhaps you can partake in the Au Fil de l'Eau spectacle that occurs annually around the first two weeks of August. See Alasdair's previous post about this event.
 


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAINT LOUIS 
View Saint Louis' online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com