The Ultimate Goumet Holiday - Canal Barging in France with your own Captain, Crew and Chef
Share
If you are thinking of a very swish, upmarket, barging holiday in France this year, the sort where champagne is served every evening as an aperitif, where the food is guaranteed to be exquisite, the wines to accompany each dish are chosen with expert care, and the cheeses are to die for, then I have only one recommendation for you.
European Waterways (GoBarging.com) has a number of luxury boats that operate in France, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Belgium and there is no doubt in my mind that barging along the waterways of Europe is one of life’s great pleasures. And once experienced, it becomes a regular way to spend a stress-free six or seven days.
Areas Covered by the Barges
For many people a trip through rural France with the chance to sample some of the great regional wines and cheeses that are not available elsewhere, has to be a winner. In the areas of the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Provence, Camargue, and the Canal du Midi the company has 14 barges cruising their waterways, moving from one peaceful mooring to another, the slow pace of the journey allowing time to explore medieval villages and the surrounding countryside.
Barging in France - What to Do
Cycles are carried on board – enough for all passengers – and getting off at lock keepers' cottages along the way and cycling to the next stopping place is an easy way to exercise. That or walking. For first timers however, it is hard to tear oneself away from watching the captain manoeuvre his large vessel though small locks and under low bridges, and watching the fascinating life on the tow-path as one sips a fizzing g. & t., a Kir Royale or a new wine that just cries out to be sampled.
Excursions and Wine Tastings while Barging in Burgundy
Daily excursions are organized on one of the fleet’s comfortable minibuses, another part of the European Waterways experience which is unique to this type of holiday. Wine tastings at famous houses like Laroche, makers of some of the finest Chablis, or one of the great Chateaus, allows not only the pleasure of sampling stupendous wines but a walk through some well preserved little towns.
Cruises on the barges La Belle Époque, which navigates the Burgundy Canal and L’Art de Vivre which cruises the lower Nivernais Canal and the River Yonne are among the most popular. The dense green velvety forests of the Morvan, the white Charolais cattle cooling off in the waters of the Yonne or grazing the green fields, and Medieval villages set in landscapes unchanged for centuries, enchant painters and photographers.
Medieval Towns and Villages to Visit When Barging in France
From the beautiful little town of Auxerre with its half-timbered buildings to the medieval town of Noyers (said to be the third prettiest town in France), Clamecy, which suffered so much in both world wars and which has the only concrete church in France, to Vézelay where the views over the surrounding countryside are stunning, the trip will introduce you to the very heart of France.
The Gourmet Experience with European Waterways
Although not billed as a wine-tasting cruise, the captain, chef and crew make sure that the very best of Burgundy’s wines alongside the distinctive cheeses of the region are part of the gourmet experience.
Each day at lunch and dinner at least six wines from the regions through which the barge passes are sampled. The wines can range from a Pouille-Fuisse from the Mâcconais to a Crozes Hermitage from the Rhone Valley and a Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs to that jewel in the Côte de Nuit’s crown, a Vosne-Romonée. Complementing these wines at each meal will be at least 3 regional cheeses, if you’re lucky, maybe a Chaumes from the Champagne region, a soft and creamy cheese hand-washed with Champagne.
The predominantly British crew consists of captain, chef and three to four stewards all of whom work well together to ensure the smooth running of the barge. Smartly turned out, the female crew are attentive to the guests’ needs at all times, talking through the menus, explaining the wines and cheeses, and acting as driver-guides on the short trips into the countryside to visit chateaux and castles.
Accommodation on Board a Barge
Cabins are surprisingly spacious (two with double beds) and there is a sundeck with Jacuzzi, a very comfortable saloon with small library on board and an eclectic collection of CDs. Dinner has been called a gastronomic adventure – a dining experience by candlelight in which food and wines harmonise – and there is an open bar all day for those who just can’t resist the lure of the exceptional wines carried on board.
Best of all, you don’t have to do anything at all if you don’t want to.
Cruising on large ships, dropping anchor and dashing off in coaches to the local mall to shop, may have a purpose but for a truly relaxing experience, the best way to travel on the water is with a barge cruise through Burgundy and no one does it better than European Waterways.
There are a few more photos of on-board scenes in the My Photo section.
Useful links
European Waterways
GoBarging.com
Email
Add to your Pocket Guide
