french barge cruises 2023

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Barge Cruises in France

The barge lady is the leading source map of french barge cruise regions for experienced and opinionated advice to help you choose that “perfect barge cruise in france.”.

Whether a passionate Francophile or a casual globetrotter, barging on the inland waterways of France offers the ultimate canal cruise experience. Iconic artworks, inspiring architecture, timeless romance, dynamic culture, award-winning wines, and gourmet cuisine are just some of the reasons why France is the most desirable country for barge cruising. Beyond her famous cities lies a bounty of rustic countryside, with lush vineyards, vast farmland, scenic valleys, forested woodlands, and picturesque villages. This is the untouched and largely unknown France experienced only from the intimate access of a barge cruise.

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The french hotel barging experience.

All About Your Cruise

Cruise routes are roughly 50 miles, providing the perfect opportunity to explore a small area through dynamic cultural immersion. Escorted excursions to attractions along the cruise route reveal idyllic scenery and provincial appeal. Walk through the grounds of ancient chateaux; stroll through a local market spotlighting devoted artisan producers. Daily sightseeing introduces guests to France’s place in world history, as well as the small slices of French life often overlooked while traveling.

Gourmet Food & Wine

Experience an exquisite journey of culinary discovery on your barge cruise in France. Continental cuisine is re-imagined through modern cooking techniques. Start the day with freshly baked croissants and pastries, from the local boulangerie. Lunch showcases colorful salads, savory quiches, and seasonal soups. Dinner is a multi-course gastronomic affair with gourmet entrees, desserts, and cheese platters. Cooking demonstrations and shopping with your Chef are some of the foodie-friendly activities found on French barge cruises.

Guided Sightseeing

You will spend 3-4 hours per day cruising in the morning or afternoon and the other half day is spent enjoying a guided excursion to a regional highlight near to the cruise route. These include winetasting at vineyards, tours of  chateaux, shopping at local food markets, exploring preserved churches, and strolling through charming towns. Daily excursions are outlined on the barge itinerary.

Bicycle Along the Canal or Relax on Deck

Barges have touring bicycles for guests to use at their leisure. On barges which cruise on canals, towpaths run alongside the waterway and are used to explore the canal and tiny villages along the way on bike or on foot. It is very easy to get on and off the barge at the various locks along the canal. The crew will help you and the bike on and off the barge.

French Barge Cruising

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• Scotland &  Ireland
• Germany :  Moselle River
• Netherlands  &  Belgium  

Barge cruise vs. River cruise

When to take a barge cruise in europe, top france barge cruising destinations, canal du midi, seine river barge, rhone river barge, moselle river barge, top france travel destinations.

• French Riviera
• Mediterranean
• Moselle River
• Rhine River
• Rhone River
• Seine River

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DISCOVER the BEAUTY of FRANCE

As it was meant to be experienced....

Spend a week cruising centuries-old canals through the verdant fields and picturesque villages of provincial France. Savor the velvet texture of Camembert on a crusty baguette and the exquisite bouquet of a glass of vintage burgundy. Slowly and fully immerse yourself in a truly unique experience.

Sophisticated European travelers have long known the pleasures of touring France’s charming waterways by barge cruise. Now is your time to delight in this unequaled way of viewing the beauty of rural France.

BARGE TRAVEL IN BURGUNDY

Time seems to stand still as your barge slowly motors by quaint stone churches and well-kept houses,  periodically pausing at moss-covered locks, as it makes its leisurely way from one town to the next.  Catch up on your reading on deck, partake in a delicious gourmet meal from your private chef  or simply relax to the gentle sounds of water lapping against the hull. Delight in the peaceful  sensation that comes with unplugging yourself from the 24/7 world on your luxury barge cruise.

CRUISING the CANAL de BOURGOGNE

The Canal de Bourgogne connects the Yonne at Migennes with the Saône at Saint-Jean-de-Losne. The canal is 242 km (150 mi) long, with 189 locks. Construction began on the canal in 1775 and wasn’t fully completed until 1832. Its peak level is at Pouilly-en-Auxois, which lies 378 meters above sea level, where the canal passes through a tunnel 3.3 km long.

The canal is a quiet and narrow tree-lined route that gently winds through rolling wooded hills, scenic rural countryside, and fields full of chickpeas, wheat and mustard seed. The occasional cow or horse is easy to see while cruising along.

The canal’s 189 locks are run by the French Canal Authority, the VNF, and its lock keepers in much the same way as they have for the past 250 years. The locks are manually opened and closed and the time spent in the lock is a wonderful opportunity to jump off the barge to take a leisurely bike or stroll along the canal. Not to worry, if you walk ahead of the barge, you will find that it will catch up with you at the next lock. Once the lock keepers have finished closing the lock they will hop on their moped or scooter and buzz past you on their way to the next lock a mile or so ahead and the whole process will be repeated.

Each lock has a charming lock keeper’s house and perhaps a friendly dog or duck. In times past these buildings would be home to each lock’s keeper. Today they are privately occupied and some appear as works of art with delightful gardens, painted gnomes and the occasional quirky sculpture.

Come join us and step back in time along the Burgundy canal.

6-Night Barge Cruises in France (2023)

Here are our 6-night barge cruises available in 2023. View our calendar for 2023 dates and prices.

Upper Loire Barge Cruise 2023

7 days, 6 nights Upper Loire Hotel Barge Cruise including visits to a Sancerre winery, Faiencerie of Gien, Château of St Fargeau, Montargis, Château of La Bussière and Canal bridge of Briare and more.

Champagne Barge Cruise 2023

7 days, 6 nights Champagne Hotel Barge Cruise for 2021 including visits to WW1 battlefield and cemetery of Belleau-wood and American monument, Boizel Champagne house and more.

Hauts-de-France & Upper Loire Barge Cruise 2023

7 days, 6 nights Hauts-de-France & Upper Loire Hotel Barge Cruise including vistirs to a WW1 Museum in Meaux, Chateau of Vaux le Vicomte, Medieval town of Moret sur Loing, Barbizon and more.

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