Aquitaine - Armagnac Barge Cruise

French food and wine at their very best!

Cruise the rivers and canals of France aboard a meticulously retrofitted six-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). Visit the historical province of Aquitaine in southern France, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, while savoring local wines and sampling the famous Armagnac spirits produced locally.

Enjoy the tasty local cuisine: cassoulet, duck confit, piperade and of course foie gras, the world-famous paté, also produced in the region. Along the way, tour quaint medieval towns and ancient cloisters, as well as a few modern marvels of 20th century canal navigation. Barging offers all the comforts of luxury travel with your onboard personal cook. Go with the flow, relax and have fun "slowly."

TYPICAL BARGE CRUISE ITINERARIES
This cruise offers two different routes centered on Agen:
1) downstream to Castets or 2) upstream to Montauban.
(actual program may vary)

AGEN TO CASTETS

Day 1 - Saturday: Agen. We meet around 3 p.m. at a designated place near Toulouse and travel by minibus to the barge. Champagne reception on board. Evening stroll, or perhaps a game of petanque (similar to Bocce Ball) by the barge.

Day 2 - Sunday: Agen to Serignac. After breakfast we cruise out of Agen, and immediately cross the amazing stone aqueduct over the River Garonne, followed by four beautifully landscaped locks. We moor for the night at the quiet port of Serignac sur Garonne. The evening can be spent wandering around this quaint little village and admiring its half-timbered houses and its most unusual church.

Day 3 - Monday: Serignac to Buzet sur Baise. In the morning, we tour the amazing medieval city of Nerac with the chateau of King Henry the 4th and the Gothic Pont Vieux. On the way back to the barge we go by a beautiful arched bridge at Lavardac and visit the walled town of Vianne, with its glass blowing workshops. We then cruise to Buzet sur Baise, where we moor for the night.

Day 4 - Tuesday: Buzet sur Baise to Mas d'Argenais. After breakfast, we can either tour a local traditional barrel-making factory or we can take a small boat down a pair of locks and into the River Baise, taking a picnic with us. In the afternoon, we cruise to Mas d'Argenais, where the river boat will be moored for the night.

Day 5 - Wednesday: Mas d'Argenais to Meilhan. In the morning we take a walk into the small market town, with its Romanesque church containing a painting of the crucifixion by Rembrandt. Then we cruise to Meilhan. Today is a good day to tour a few of the remarkable vineyards of the Bordeaux region where some of the finest wines in the world are produced.

Day 6 - Thursday: Meilhan to Castets. In the morning we take an excursion to the nearby town of La Reole, where we visit an interesting Town Hall in what was originally a 10th century Benedictine monastery. We also can visit a car museum before returning to the barge and cruising to our final port at Castets. On arrival, we take our final excursion to Fontet, where there is a matchstick building museum that features models of the Palace of Versailles and the Cathedral of Reims.

Day 7 - Friday: Castets. After a leisurely breakfast, we leave the river boat and travel by minibus to Toulouse (or Bordeaux).

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.

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MONTAUBAN TO AGEN

Day 1 - Saturday: Montech. We meet around 3 p.m. at a designated place near Toulouse and travel by minibus to the river boat. Champagne reception on board. Options for the evening include a visit to a local distillery or a stroll around the town of Montech or a game of petanque (similar to Bocce Ball) by the barge.

Day 2 - Sunday: Montech to Castelsarrasin. After breakfast, we take an excursion to Montauban, city of art and culture. There, we visit the central Italian square and the Pont Vieux over the River Tarn. Back at the river boat, we go through one lock and join the Canal Lateral a la Garonne. Then, we go down the amazing Montech Water Slope, an impressive experience for everyone. In the afternoon, cruise to Castelsarrasin, where we moor for the night.

Day 3 - Monday: Castelsarrasin to Moissac. After exploring Castelsarrasin in the morning, we cruise to Moissac, city of Roman Art, crossing the brick aqueduct over the River Tarn on the way. In the afternoon, we visit a famous goat cheese farm in Gensac and the lovely historic town of Auvillar.

Day 4 - Tuesday: Moissac to Pommevic. We start the day with a visit to the abbey and the 11th century cloister at Moissac, one the finest in Europe. After lunch, we cruise to Pommevic, where the barge is moored in a quiet area under a deep canopy of trees. In Pommevic there is an 11th century church to visit, or we can take an excursion up to the lovely medieval town of Lauzerte. There, we are likely to see some pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, following the ancient pilgrimage route which originated in the 6th century.

Day 5 - Wednesday: Pommevic to Golfech. After breakfast, we cruise first to Valence, where we stop for lunch. In Valence we visit the three Romanesque wash houses in the town, and admire the unusual pigeon houses and half-timbered buildings. We then cruise to Golfech, where we moor for the night.

Day 6 - Thursday: Golfech to Agen. Today we get an early start to cruise to the city of Agen, famous for its melons and prunes. On arrival, excursion to the amazing medieval city of Nerac, with the chateau of King Henry the 4th and the Gothic Pont Vieux. Alternatively, we can take a picnic and drive deep into the wine region of Bordeaux, where some of the finest wines are produced. There, we can visit some wonderful vineyards and taste some great wines.

Day 7 - Friday: Agen. After a leisurely breakfast, we leave the river boat and travel by minibus back to Toulouse.

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.

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Highlights: Agen to Castets

• Aqueduct over the River Garonne
• The medieval town of Nerac
• The walled town of Vianne with glass-blowing workshops
• Matchstick building museum in Fontet

Highlights: Montauban to Agen

• Montauban, city of art and culture
• The Montech Water Slope
• The aqueduct over the river Tarn
• Moissac Abbey and 11th century cloister
• Picturesque fruit-growing area
  

Included

• Accommodations with private bath or shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
• Wine with lunch and dinner and selected alcoholic beverages consumed aboard the barge
• Sightseeing excursions
• Round trip transfers from specified meeting points in Toulouse (or Bordeaux)

Not Included

• Transportation to and from beginning and end points
• Health and travel insurance
• Barge crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
• Superior vintage wines
• Personal expenses
• Optional activities when available
• Other items not specifically listed under "Included" above

Barge Features

• 3 cabins: can be set up as twin or double (6 passengers)
• Crew: husband and wife team plus one crew member
• Cabin size: 127 square feet
  
• Sundeck
• Air conditioning and central heating
• Air-conditioned minibus for excursions
  

Cruise Departures

Every Saturday subject to availability (except winter)

This river boat can be chartered for groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group.

Standard/Individuals	Charters/Groups

We have personally visited the regions of France where this river boat cruise takes place. See pictures from our trips:

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