FRANCE: The Tastes of Gascony

 

Experience the Tastes of Gascony
Aboard French Hotel Barge Rosa

Gascony has some of the most delicious gastronomic traditions in France. Let the French Hotel Barge Rosa introduce you to the region’s food and wine in the most wonderful way.

Rosa cruises the areas of Gascony and Bordeaux

How better to spend a relaxed, romantic holiday than sampling some of the country’s delectable delights aboard a barge cruise? Here are a few of the specialties you should definitely try…


Confit de Canard

An iconic delicacy, confit de canard is a rich dish made from salt-cured duck legs cooked in their own fat. Traditionally, it was designed as a filling and sustainable dish for the winter months (it can be preserved up to six months once cured and cooked) and is often served with baked new potatoes and green vegetables, or used in a cassoulet.

Foie Gras

While it might be the subject of some debate, there’s no doubt this is one of the most sought after gastronomic pleasures of the area. The rich, silky smooth duck liver pâté can be enjoyed on its own or incorporated in mousses, terrines, and soups. It’s quite often served up simply sliced and quickly seared in a pan.

Cassoulet

Readily available on most menus around Gascony, cassoulet is a thick, heavy stew made from beans, sausages, and the classic confit de canard. It’s hearty, flavorful and usually served up with huge chunks of crusty fresh bread.

Cheese

Gascony’s most famous cheese is the blue-marbled sheep’s milk cheese, Roquefort, which is still produced in the limestone caves of Combalou. Aged for a minimum of three months, the nutty, buttery flavor of Roquefort goes wonderfully with fruit (figs and prunes particularly) and wine.

Wines and Other Tipples

The wines of Gascony have a reputation as being among the best in the country, and any wine aficionado will have plenty to make them happy here.

The dry, fruity wines of the Côtes de Gascogne are outstanding, and you’ll also be able to sample some lovely Sauvignon Blancs. For lovers of red, the local barrel-aged Madiran is known for its deep brown color and lingering flavor.

As well as the classic reds and whites of the region, there are two other tipples you should not miss the opportunity to try, Armagnac made from fortified wine, and Floc, a sweet aperitif that is somewhat of an acquired taste.

Authentic Armagnac

This alcoholic beverage is a signature speciality of Gascony. It is the oldest brandy distilled in France. In the past, it was consumed for its therapeutic benefits. While it does share some similarities with its counterpart cognac, Armagnac is different from because of the way it is produced. 95% of the drink is distilled only once, using a specific form of continuous still – the Armagnac alembic. It is then aged in 400-liter oak barrels and stored in cellars. It can even be matured for up to 50 years before being packaged in glass bottles.

Armagnac can be divided into two main categories: vintage and non-vintage. Vintage Armagnacs are distilled from grapes grown in a single year, with the date displayed on the bottle. Non-vintage Armagnacs can either be labelled by age, where the number of years quoted relates to the youngest component of the blend or by category: VS (minimum two years in wood), VSOP (at least four years), XO (more than six years) or Hors d’Age (10 years plus).

Armagnac is usually produced by smaller family businesses rather than large global conglomerates which makes it a true delicacy that is ideally savoured in its place of origin.

Wine from Château Bellevue la Forêt

Included in Rosa's standard itinerary is a visit to the famous vineyard Château Bellevue la Forêt. For wine lovers, this gorgeous estate is akin to a sprawling paradise of vine and vino. Spread out over 270 acres, it’s the largest single privately-owned wine estate in the southwest of France and the wines produced here have won several accolades and awards worldwide.

Château Bellevue la Forêt is produced from the following fine varieties :

• 57 hectares of NEGRETTE (a variety specific to the Fronton Appellation and rarely encountered elsewhere)
• 6 hectares of CABERNET FRANC
• 16 hectares of SYRAH
• 12.5 hectares of CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• 7 hectares of GAMAY
• 2.3 hectares of white grapes (Viognier, Roussanne, Petit Manseng).

This wine tasting is a wonderfully informative way to get to know a little bit more about the wine making process in an impossibly romantic surrounding!

Visit Gascony With Hotel Barge Rosa

Ready to head to Gascony to experience the fabulous food, wine, and landscape of this beautiful region? Have Paradise Connections arrange your luxury hotel barge cruise and the food, wine, and excursions are taken care of. You’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy one of the most memorable holidays of your life while Barge Rosa transports you to wonderful places of interest.

Each evening there's a three or four-course culinary journey that showcases the best of the regional specialties. After your meal, you are more than welcome to a digestif and a dip in the hot tub beneath the stars…

About The French Hotel Barge Rosa

Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, each with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa's Gascony route from Agen (Boé) to Montauban on the Canal des Deux Mers, a delightful waterway that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, features the best that the region has to offer: Armagnac, foie gras, and wine tastings, delightful French countryside, and fascinating excursions.

• Gascony Route: Canal de Garonne between Montauban and Boé
  • View Gascony Standard itinerary | View Gascony Golf itinerary
  • Gascony Dates: Spring & Early Summer
    
• Bordeaux Route: Canal de Garonne between Boé and Castet-en-Dorthe
  • View Bordeaux Standard itinerary | View Bordeaux Wine itinerary
  • Bordeaux Dates: Late Summer & Autumn
    
• Up to 8 guests in 4 cabins
• Private charters and Cabin cruises
• Learn more: View Rosa's online brochure

Inquire / Book Now

---

View Special Offers / Discounts

---

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

 

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French Hotel Barge Rosa - Tastes of Gascony

Experience the Tastes of Gascony
Aboard French Hotel Barge Rosa

Gascony has some of the most delicious gastronomic traditions in France. Let the French Hotel Barge Rosa introduce you to the region’s food and wine in the most wonderful way.

Rosa cruises the areas of Gascony and Bordeaux

How better to spend a relaxed, romantic holiday than sampling some of the country’s delectable delights aboard a barge cruise? Here are a few of the specialties you should definitely try…


Confit de Canard

An iconic delicacy, confit de canard is a rich dish made from salt-cured duck legs cooked in their own fat. Traditionally, it was designed as a filling and sustainable dish for the winter months (it can be preserved up to six months once cured and cooked) and is often served with baked new potatoes and green vegetables, or used in a cassoulet.

Foie Gras

While it might be the subject of some debate, there’s no doubt this is one of the most sought after gastronomic pleasures of the area. The rich, silky smooth duck liver pâté can be enjoyed on its own or incorporated in mousses, terrines, and soups. It’s quite often served up simply sliced and quickly seared in a pan.

Cassoulet

Readily available on most menus around Gascony, cassoulet is a thick, heavy stew made from beans, sausages, and the classic confit de canard. It’s hearty, flavorful and usually served up with huge chunks of crusty fresh bread.

Cheese

Gascony’s most famous cheese is the blue-marbled sheep’s milk cheese, Roquefort, which is still produced in the limestone caves of Combalou. Aged for a minimum of three months, the nutty, buttery flavor of Roquefort goes wonderfully with fruit (figs and prunes particularly) and wine.

Wines and Other Tipples

The wines of Gascony have a reputation as being among the best in the country, and any wine aficionado will have plenty to make them happy here.

The dry, fruity wines of the Côtes de Gascogne are outstanding, and you’ll also be able to sample some lovely Sauvignon Blancs. For lovers of red, the local barrel-aged Madiran is known for its deep brown color and lingering flavor.

As well as the classic reds and whites of the region, there are two other tipples you should not miss the opportunity to try, Armagnac made from fortified wine, and Floc, a sweet aperitif that is somewhat of an acquired taste.

Authentic Armagnac

This alcoholic beverage is a signature speciality of Gascony. It is the oldest brandy distilled in France. In the past, it was consumed for its therapeutic benefits. While it does share some similarities with its counterpart cognac, Armagnac is different from because of the way it is produced. 95% of the drink is distilled only once, using a specific form of continuous still – the Armagnac alembic. It is then aged in 400-liter oak barrels and stored in cellars. It can even be matured for up to 50 years before being packaged in glass bottles.

Armagnac can be divided into two main categories: vintage and non-vintage. Vintage Armagnacs are distilled from grapes grown in a single year, with the date displayed on the bottle. Non-vintage Armagnacs can either be labelled by age, where the number of years quoted relates to the youngest component of the blend or by category: VS (minimum two years in wood), VSOP (at least four years), XO (more than six years) or Hors d’Age (10 years plus).

Armagnac is usually produced by smaller family businesses rather than large global conglomerates which makes it a true delicacy that is ideally savoured in its place of origin.

Wine from Château Bellevue la Forêt

Included in Rosa's standard itinerary is a visit to the famous vineyard Château Bellevue la Forêt. For wine lovers, this gorgeous estate is akin to a sprawling paradise of vine and vino. Spread out over 270 acres, it’s the largest single privately-owned wine estate in the southwest of France and the wines produced here have won several accolades and awards worldwide.

Château Bellevue la Forêt is produced from the following fine varieties :

• 57 hectares of NEGRETTE (a variety specific to the Fronton Appellation and rarely encountered elsewhere)
• 6 hectares of CABERNET FRANC
• 16 hectares of SYRAH
• 12.5 hectares of CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• 7 hectares of GAMAY
• 2.3 hectares of white grapes (Viognier, Roussanne, Petit Manseng).

This wine tasting is a wonderfully informative way to get to know a little bit more about the wine making process in an impossibly romantic surrounding!

Visit Gascony With Hotel Barge Rosa

Ready to head to Gascony to experience the fabulous food, wine, and landscape of this beautiful region? Have Paradise Connections arrange your luxury hotel barge cruise and the food, wine, and excursions are taken care of. You’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy one of the most memorable holidays of your life while Barge Rosa transports you to wonderful places of interest.

Each evening there's a three or four-course culinary journey that showcases the best of the regional specialties. After your meal, you are more than welcome to a digestif and a dip in the hot tub beneath the stars…

About The French Hotel Barge Rosa

Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, each with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa's Gascony route from Agen (Boé) to Montauban on the Canal des Deux Mers, a delightful waterway that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, features the best that the region has to offer: Armagnac, foie gras, and wine tastings, delightful French countryside, and fascinating excursions.

• Gascony Route: Canal de Garonne between Montauban and Boé
  • View Gascony Standard itinerary | View Gascony Golf itinerary
  • Gascony Dates: April 12 through June 13, 2020
• Bordeaux Route: Canal de Garonne between Boé and Castet-en-Dorthe
  • View Bordeaux Standard itinerary | View Bordeaux Wine itinerary
  • Bordeaux Dates: June 14 through October 31, 2020
• Up to 8 guests in 4 cabins
• Private charters and Cabin cruises
• Learn more: View Rosa's online brochure

Inquire / Book Now

---

View Special Offers / Discounts

---

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

 

---

Hotel Barge Rosa - Tastes of Gascony

Tastes of Gascony

What better way to spend a relaxed, romantic holiday than sampling some of the country’s delectable delights aboard a barge cruise? Here are a few of the specialities you should definitely try…

Authentic Armagnac

This alcoholic beverage is a signature speciality of Gascony. While it does share some similarities with its counterpart cognac, Armagnac is different from because of the way it is produced. 95% of the drink is distilled only once, using a specific form of continuous still – the Armagnac alembic. It is then aged in 400-liter oak barrels and stored in cellars. It can even be matured for up to 50 years before being packaged in glass bottles.

Armagnac can be divided into two main categories: vintage and non-vintage. Vintage Armagnacs are distilled from grapes grown in a single year, with the date displayed on the bottle. Non-vintage Armagnacs can either be labelled by age, where the number of years quoted relates to the youngest component of the blend or by category: VS (minimum two years in wood), VSOP (at least four years), XO (more than six years) or Hors d’Age (10 years plus).

Armagnac is the oldest brandy distilled in France. In the past, it was consumed for its therapeutic benefits. A cardinal in the 14th century, Prior Vital Du Four, wrote that it had 40 virtues:

It makes disappear redness and burning of the eyes, and stops them from tearing; it cures hepatitis, sober consumption adhering. It cures gout, cankers, and fistula by ingestion; restores the paralysed member by massage; and heals wounds of the skin by application. It enlivens the spirit, partaken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and retards senility. And when retained in the mouth, it loosens the tongue and emboldens the wit, if someone timid from time to time himself permits.

 Armagnac is usually produced by smaller family businesses rather than large global conglomerates which makes it a true delicacy that is ideally savoured in its place of origin. Learn more about Armagnac on a barge cruise aboard the French Hotel Barge Rosa.

Wine from Château Bellevue la Forêt

Included in Rosa's standard itinerary is a visit to the famous vineyard Château Bellevue la Forêt. For wine lovers, this gorgeous estate is akin to a sprawling paradise of vine and vino. Spread out over 270 acres, it’s the largest single privately-owned wine estate in the southwest of France and the wines produced here have won several accolades and awards worldwide.

Château Bellevue la Forêt is produced from the following fine varieties :

• 57 hectares of NEGRETTE (a variety specific to the Fronton Appellation and rarely encountered elsewhere)
• 6 hectares of CABERNET FRANC
• 16 hectares of SYRAH
• 12.5 hectares of CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• 7 hectares of GAMAY
• 2.3 hectares of white grapes (Viognier, Roussanne, Petit Manseng).

This wine tasting is a wonderfully informative way to get to know a little bit more about the wine making process in an impossibly romantic surrounding!

Why Visit Gascony By Hotel Barge?

Ask Paradise Connections to arrange your luxury hotel barge cruise and the food, wine and excursions are taken care of. Just sit back on deck and relax with a drink in hand while Barge Rosa transports you to wonderful places of interest, such as the delightful 14th century Chateau de Duras, located in the heart of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region of South West France or the historical Château de Goudourville which has been transformed from an old medieval fortress into a welcoming château. Each evening is a three or four course culinary journey that showcases the best of the regional specialities. After your meal you are more than welcome to a digestif and a dip in the hot tub beneath the stars…

About The French Hotel Barge Rosa

Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa's Gascony route from Agen to Montauban on the Canal des Deux Mers, a delightful waterway that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, features the best that the region has to offer: Armagnac, foie gras, and wine tastings, delightful French countryside, and fascinating excursions. 

Gascony Route Between Agen and Montauban:

• (Click to view itinerary)
• April 14 - June 29
• July 28 - August 10

 Bordeaux-Gascony Route Between Castets-en-Dorthe and Boé: 

• (Click to view itinerary)
• June 30 - July 27
• August 11 - October 26

Click to view Rosa's online brochure

Current Availability

Rosa still has good availability for cabin cruises on both routes BUT there are only two weeks left for private charters:

• October 13-19, 2019
• October 20-26, 2019

Book now! Contact Paradise Connections
CLICK HERE

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

 

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Rocamadour Goat Cheese - French Hotel Barge Rosa

Today we have a guest post from Mike Crowson, chef on the French Hotel Barge Rosa, about cheese.

Enjoy an alfresco lunch aboard French Hotel Barge Rosa in southwest France

A light cheese course for the lunch menu, Rocamadour goat cheese baked in the oven on a crouton of baguette paysanne, a drizzle of local honey & served with a little herb salad & black cherry compote.

Rocamadour, black cherry compote, herb salad

Rocamadour goat cheese belongs to a family of goat cheeses called Cabecou from Quercy, the name is derived from the village of Rocamadour in the department of the Lot, the cheese was granted an AOC in 1996 & now has to be made under the conditions of the AOC, generally the cheese is 12- 15 days old & best served warm on a toasted crouton or in warm goat cheese salad, which you see on almost every restaurant menu in the region as either a main starter or main course.

Cabecou which is a generic name for all of these cheeses does not carry an AOC only Rocamadour.

Thanks, Mike!

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Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa has two routes for cruising the Gascony/Bordeaux area:

1. Between Agen and Montauban (view itinerary): from April 17 through July 30, 2016
2. Between Castet-en-Dorthe and Boé  (view itinerary): from July31 through October 29, 2016

See if Rosa has any special offers/discounts available:  CLICK HERE

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Enjoy yourself with a cruise aboard Rosa!

---

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

 

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RECIPE for Clafoutis from Hotel Barge Rosa

Chef Mike Crowson from the French Hotel Barge Rosa has sent us this recipe for the French dessert clafoutis (pronounced kla-foo-TEE).

Clafoutis, a popular French dessert aboard Hotel Barge Rosa

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The most popular lunch dessert & most requested recipe at the beginning of this season has been the classic & humble Clafoutis.

Clafoutis is a sweet batter mix that is baked filled with unstoned cherries. The stones are left in because they give the batter a slight almond flavour during baking.

Clafoutis comes from the Limousin just north of our crousing route & its popularity spread throughout France during 19th century. The name comes from the Occitan word clafotis meaning to fill, as in a batter filled with cherries, which describes the dish perfectly.

These days clafoutis are filled with lots of different fruits such as apricots, apples, pears & nectarines. However, when filled with anything other than cherries it should be called a flaugnarde, a similar dish from the Limousin & Perigord.


CLAFOUTIS RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• Flour, 100 grams
• Eggs, 3 + 1 yolk
• Milk, 160 ml
• Cream, 160 ml
• Caster sugar, 90 grams
• Lemon zested, 1
• Salt, pinch
• Butter, melted, 70 grams
• Cherries, with or without stones (pits), 600 grams

METHOD

1. Using a 24-28 cm baking dish or cake tin, either line with baking parchment or in a baking dish brush with butter & coat with sugar as you would a soufflé.
2. Pre heat the oven to 180 C, 350 F, gas 4
3. Put the flour, lemon zest & sugar in a mixing bowl. In a jug, mix all the wet ingredients then add this to the flour mixture to create a smooth batter.
4. Finally, fold the cherries into the batter & pour into the prepared baking dish & bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, cool just slightly & sprinkle with caster sugar,
5. Serve with a warm crème anglaise, pouring cream, or crème fraîche.

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Thanks, Mike!

 French Hotel Barge Rosa at their mooring at the port in Montauban

Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa has two routes for cruising the Gascony/Bordeaux area:

1. Agen to Montauban (view itinerary): from March 29 through August 22, 2015
2. Castet-en-Dorthe to Boé  (view itinerary): from August 23 through October 31, 2015

See if Rosa has any special offers/discounts available:  CLICK HERE

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Enjoy yourself this summer with a cruise aboard Rosa!

---

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

 

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French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS: Brandies of Southwest France

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

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THE BRANDIES OF SOUTHWEST FRANCE: Armagnac and Floc de Gascogne

- By Alasdair Wyllie, Owner-Operator of Barge Saint Louis

There are two alcoholic drinks produced in southwest France which are not wines, but they are produced by the onward processing of wine.  The first is Armagnac.  This is a sort of brandy, but is a very different product from its highly commercial cousin called Cognac.  Armagnac is artisan produced by over 180 small-scale producers in the area around Nérac.  In spite of the producers teaming up into various marketing bodies, they are unable to exercise strong impact on the overseas trade – they are just too diverse and too small-scale.  For this reason, only a small proportion of Armagnac is exported.

Whereas Armagnac is little-known around the world, Floc de Gascogne is almost unheard of.  Floc is also produced from the grape, indeed it is produced from Armagnac and unfermented grape juice.  Virtually all producers of Armagnac also produce Floc de Gascogne;  virtually none of it is exported, and in fact most of it is consumed within the area in which it is produced.  I see Floc as being one of the pearls of this region, one of the discoveries to be made by coming into the area and travelling slowly, rooting out the local customs and products.

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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.

CURRENT AVAILABILITY: All of the barges are booking up early this year and Saint Louis is no exception. Here is Saint Louis' current availability for the 2014 barging season. Do any of their open dates work for you?

2014 Deparatures (Saturday-Friday):

• MAY 3, 10, 17 (either private charters or cabin bookings)
• JUNE 21 (either private charter or cabin bookings)
• JULY 5, 19 (either private charter or cabin bookings), 27 (cabins only, 2 open)
• AUGUST 9, 30 (cabin bookings only, 1 open for both weeks)
• OCTOBER 4, 11, 18 (either private charters or cabin bookings)

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

 

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French Hotel Barge Saint Louis : Pilgrimage Santiago di Compostela

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

UPDATE: August 1, 2013. What a coincidence. Today Amazon.com sent me their "Kindle Specials of the Day" email and it includes a book that ties into this post very well...

• Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James [Kindle Edition] - David Downie (Author).

Today's price is only $1.99. I'm going to buy it because it looks interesting.

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THE PILGRIMAGE IN SOUTHWEST FRANCE

 - By Alasdair Wyllie, Owner-Operator of Barge Saint Louis

During our cruising season we very often moor our hotel barge the Saint Louis in the tiny port of Pommevic, between Moissac and Lamagistere.  There is a full canopy of trees, and during the summer it can be quite pleasant to get some shade in the heat of the day.  Generally, no other boats are moored there, and we have for company the occasional boat passing between the locks, some of the local residents whom we have come to know  -  and a steady trickle of Pilgrims passing along the towpath.

A pilgrim at Pommevic – complete with stave and scallop

For a distance of some fourteen kilometres between Moissac and Pommevic, one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago di Compostela passes along the tow path of the canal.  This is Christendom’s third most important place to visit, after Jerusalem and Rome, and it is certainly the most important Christian pilgrimage in the sense of a holy destination reached after a long-distance trek.

In the early years of the 9th century, according to tradition, a hermit monk called Pelayo was led by a star to the burial place of St James the Apostle, and his find was confirmed as being the remains of St. James by Todemito, bishop of the most westerly diocese in the Iberian peninsula.   This part of present-day Spain is the region that James chose to come and spread the Word after the death of Christ, and it was to this coast that his remains were brought in 44 A.D. after he was martyrised by Herod Agrippa.  There is no hard evidence that the remains found by Pelayo were indeed the remains of St James the Apostle, but the evidence was sufficient at the time for the Church and the State to give immediate acceptance of the claim.  Perhaps the absence of hard evidence does not matter – the fact remains that there was established at the place a shrine to St James the Apostle, and very soon a pilgrimage to the shrine developed.

The pilgrimage to the shrine developed within the population of Iberia, and then in the year 947 the first foreign pilgrim arrived – he was the Bishop of Puy, who had travelled over the Pyrenees from France.  Between then and the fifteenth century the pilgrimage was busy, and indeed it was at its busiest in the twelfth century.   Imagine, if you can, the conditions that these pilgrims had to endure at that time, and the risks they took.  Long staves, for protection, were part of every pilgrim’s essential equipment, as was a scallop shell displayed on the body, for identification.  (The scallop shell is the emblem of St James, the “logo” of the pilgrimage, and  the French for scallop is “coquille St Jaques”  -  “St James’ shellfish”)  Many of today’s pilgrims keep the tradition going by carrying a stave and displaying a scallop shell.

A pilgrim statuette in nearby Auvillar

I am often asked where the pilgrimage starts.  The simple answer is that there is no starting point – there are feeder routes across Europe, from Ireland in the west to Austria and Poland in the east.  Hence, the pilgrims represent a multi-cultural and a multi-lingual society.  Although the pilgrimage is clearly of Christian origin, there are many people who are doing it as a classic long-distance walk with no religious connotation.  It is essentially Slow Travel!

As part of the parallel between the pilgrimage and Slow Travel, it is interesting that one of the very first Traveller’s Guide Books was written as a guide to the pilgrimage – the Pilgrim’s Guide “Codex Calextinum was written in the 12th century!

It is interesting to discuss with today’s pilgrims their motives for what they are doing.  I very often hear from people that their motives, their rationale, indeed their whole way of thinking have changed along the way.  There is the classic statement “One’s pilgrimage does not end in Santiago – it begins there”.  Perhaps this is a bit like a luxury cruise on the Saint Louis, in which you have the time and the surroundings to be able to reflect on the world around you.

Two pilgrims pass the barge at Pommevic

Meanwhile, back at Pommevic, the pilgrims can enjoy the fact that they only have 1,200 kilometres left to go!

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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.

AVAILABILITY:

• Saint Louis, current availability for the remainder of the 2013 season:
• August 16-22, 2013 : Agen - Montauban
• August 30 - September 5 : Agen - Castets
• September 20-26 : Montauban - Agen (optioned)
• September 27 - October 3 : Agen - Montauban
• October 3-9 : Montauban - Agen
• Inquire for the 2014 barging season. It is not too early to book, especially if you have special, specific dates such as your 10th wedding anniversary :)

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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

 

It's not how far nor how fast, it's the pleasure of the journey that keeps people coming back for more.

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French Hotel Barge ROSA: New alternate itinerary offered

We have a new itinerary for the French Hotel Barge ROSA in southwest France that will be especially interesting to you wine lovers!

This new itinerary for Rosa, which features more of the renowned Bordeaux wine region, is on the Canal de Garonne between Castets-en-Dorthe and Boe. This route will be offered twice this summer (once in each direction) and for all departures in October 2014 (next year!). The itinerary includes a visit to Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tastings of premier cru and grand cru wines.

 

2013 DATES & RATES for new itinerary between Castets-en-Dorthe and Boe:

August 18-24: Open for private charter or cabin cruise week: VALUE SEASON

• Cabin cruise week: $8100/cabin ($4050/person, double occupancy)
• Private charter:
• 6 guests: $28,000
• 7 guests: $29,000
• 8 guests: $30,000

August 25-31: Open for private charter or cabin cruise week: REGULAR SEASON

• Cabin cruise week: $9180/cabin ($4590/person, double occupancy)
• Private charter:
• 6 guests: $32,000
• 7 guests: $33,250
• 8 guests: $34,500

Rosa still has good availability for their standard Agen to Montauban itinerary. Inquire for dates and special offers.


Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a redesigned saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

The Garonne Canal, also known as the Canal des Deux Mers, links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, passing through the region of l'Occitanie -- a veritable palette of colours and scents created by orchards and vineyards before joining the Canal du Midi. Visit historic fortified bastides, learn about the region's artists and rural culture, and cruise by picturesque old villages and quaint farms. Of course, as this cruise is near Bordeaux wine country, there will be plenty of opportunity to sample a part of France where good food and wine is a way of life.

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

 

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