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Barges In France: Saint Louis
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Cruise in France on the Canal Lateral a la Garonne and the Garonne River in the Bordeaux region aboard the Deluxe Hotel-Barge the SAINT LOUIS

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS

The 6-passenger Saint Louis welcomes you aboard for a cruise through the beautiful heartland of southwest France. It is a key part of our style on board to arrange the cruise and the excursions to suit your own personal preferences. We have the flexibility to make modifications, even at short notice, to fit in with your wishes and interests.

The facilities on board the Saint Louis are all designed to make your time with us as comfortable and interesting as possible. The three large cabins can be configured with twin beds or a queen bed and all have ensuite bathrooms. There is a comfortable salon and dining area with large picture windows for viewing the passing scenery and a small library, with a range of reference and fiction books, and a selection of indoor games for those rare rainy days.

We cruise on the canal and river system between Bordeaux and Toulouse. This is the first part of the route taken by Rick Stein on his barge trip joining the Canal du Midi at Toulouse, when he filmed the British TV series "French Odyssey." It is a region of rural calm, mediaeval villages, Roman art, some of the finest fruit in Europe, and of course in the Bordeaux area many of the finest vineyards in the world. We can guide you to these places and help you enjoy a wide range of activities on-board and on-shore; we can take you to wine tastings at some of the best vineyards in France, or you can simply sit back and relax on the terrace deck watching the world slip slowly by.

Let us take you to some of the more interesting places in this part of France. One of our favorites is Moissac, "City of Roman Art." The area abounds in other Roman works - bridges, washhouses, cloisters, etc. There are scores of Bastides (mediaeval fortified towns), many in a superb state of preservation as well as more recent chateaux and churches. There are also some impressive examples of canal engineering -- such as the water-slope at Montech, and the aqueducts at Moissac and Agen. Man's history in southwest France for the last 2,000 years, sometimes surprising and often turbulent, has left a rich legacy of architecture. If you find this particularly interesting, we can always arrange for a specialized history guide to join us for part of the cruise. We can also introduce you to a wide variety of cultural events, ranging from country markets to classical concerts as well as summer festivals. There is also a collection of Goya masterpieces on display in Agen. Perhaps you are interested in museums -- there is even a Cadillac museum, a Prune museum, and a Foie Gras museum!

For the more active, the Saint Louis offers a range of options. We carry six bicycles on board, for leisurely rides along the towpath or for exploring local villages. Tennis is a possibility - we have racquets on board, and we have made arrangements to play at various tennis clubs en-route. There are several golf courses in the area, and you can choose between taking the occasional game of golf or coming on one of our specialized Golf Cruises. If you want to do other things, let us know, it's your holiday! We carry equipment on board for the French game of Petanque. Or perhaps walking is your passion - this part of France is crossed by the main pilgrim's route of Santiago de Compostela, which since the 9th century has been one of the most important pilgrim routes in Christendom.

Many of our guests would consider a holiday in this area incomplete without savoring some of the really excellent wines produced here. We can take you to tastings in top-quality vineyards of world renown, or we can offer you a special Wine Cruise.

The superb food on board will very largely be based on traditional recipes from this region of France, with ingredients obtained fresh from local suppliers on a daily basis. Magret, foie gras and seafood will thus be among the basics of our cuisine. The food and the ambiance will be added to with a twist of our native Scotland. Dietary wishes, and special dietary needs, will always be well catered for. All meals will be served with quality wines. The bar will be stocked with a range of excellent aperitifs, as well as some superb malt whiskies from Scotland.


Features

  • Size of barge: 96 ft
  • Number of Passengers: 6
  • Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 3
  • Crew: 4
  • Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
  • Salon: Salon/dining area with comfortable sofas, bar, dining table and picture windows
  • Bar: Open bar for full board
  • Deck: Sundeck with loungers, umbrellas, and tables and chairs for dining on deck
  • Spa Tub: No
  • Cabin Features: Three cabins are 127 sq ft with twin beds or oversized double and tiled bath with large shower
  • Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions:Air-conditioned minivan
  • Accessibility: Stairs to salon and cabins
  • Bicycles: Yes


Saint Louis' Deck Plan
Saint Louis's Deck Plan



Dining Aboard the Saint Louis
SAMPLE MENU

  • Brick de foie gras, julienne de legumes sauce cèpes
  • Fresh fruit juice, cereals, fruit, yoghurt
  • Roti de porc aux pruneaux riz pilaf, légumes de saison
  • Plateau de fromage
  • Tartes aux framboises
  • Salade de chèvre chaud
  • Eventail de magret de canard au miel, legumes de saison
  • Plateau de fromage
  • Crème dessert rhum et caramel




Passenger Comments:

We had a wonderful time on the barge. The crew was fabulous. This is our fifth trip so we may not be the "average" barge tripper. Anyway we thoroughly enjoyed seeing a different part of France. We were on this barge in 2001. The new owners have done a wonderful job of decorating the boat. We enjoyed the informality of the Wylie crew. Barbara's son, Fraser, entertained us with an evening of guitar playing and put up with our attempt at singing some favorites. We were very happy with Alisdair's choice of wines. We supplemented it with some bottles we bought from a local winemaker which we happened upon on a bike ride. Barbara's cooking was great - simple yet very tasty.
--C.S.

SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Canal Lateral a la Garonne
Montauban to Agen

Saturday
Meet around 3pm, normally in Toulouse. Travel by car to the Saint Louis. Champagne reception on board. Options for the evening include a visit to the local Artisan Distillerie, or a stroll around Montech town, or a game of petanque beside the boat.

Sunday
After breakfast, we disembark for a short excursion around Montauban, City of Art and Culture. We visit the central Italian square, and the Pont Vieux over the River Tarn. We return to the Saint Louis and pass through one lock before joining the main Canal Lateral a la Garonne. We pass down the extraordinary Montech Water Slope, an impressive experience for everyone. We cruise through the canal to Castelsarrasin where we moor for the night.

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

Tuesday
We start the day with a visit to the Abbey and 11th century Cloisters at Moissac, reputed to be the finest cloisters in Europe. After lunch we cruise to Pommevic where we tie up at a small mooring 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. We are likely to see pilgrims walking the Santiago di Compostella, the ancient pilgrimage route which has been important since the 9th century.

Wednesday
After breakfast we cruise first to Valence where we stop for lunch. 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 stop at a quiet mooring.

Thursday
Today we make an early start to cruise to the city of Agen, (famous for fruit, especially melons and prunes) taking breakfast under way. On arrival we visit the amazing medieval city of Nerac where we see the Chateau of King Henry 4th and the Gothic Pont Vieux. Alternatively, we can take a picnic and travel deep into the wine region of Bordeaux where the finest wines of the world are produced - we visit and taste at some wonderful vineyards.

Friday
After a leisurely breakfast we leave the Saint Louis and travel by car back to Toulouse.

Note: This is only a sample itinerary and it is subject to change at the discretion of your hosts. On alternate weeks this itinerary may run in reverse. Saint Louis will make every effort to tailor a cruise to the interests and wishes of the guests on board. There will always be the opportunity to walk or cycle along the towpath, to stroll around local villages, to fish, to play petanque, or just to lie back and do nothing! Equally, we can always arrange wine tastings at some of the fine local vineyards, or excursions to other places of interest.


SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Canal Lateral a la Garonne
Agen to Castets
Saturday
Meet around 3pm, normally in Toulouse (or Bordeaux). Travel by car to the Saint Louis.
Champagne reception on board. Evening stroll around the city or perhaps a game of petanque beside the boat.

Sunday
After breakfast we cruise out of Agen and immediately cross the amazing stone arched aqueduct, the longest in France over the River Garonne, followed by four landscaped locks. We moor for the night at the quiet port of Serignac sur Garonne and in the evening we can wander around the quaint village with its half-timbered houses and its unusual church.

Monday
In the morning we take an excursion by car to the amazing medieval city of Nerac, where we see the Chateau of King Henry 4th and the Gothic Pont Vieux. On the return journey to the boat we see a beautiful Romanesque bridge at Lavardac and we visit the walled bastide town of Vianne, perhaps visiting one of its glass blowing workshops. We then cruise as far as Buzet-sur-Baise where we moor for the night under some shady trees.

Tuesday
After breakfast we can either visit a local traditional barrel-making works, or we can take a small boat down a pair of locks and into the River Baise, perhaps taking a picnic with us. In the afternoon we cruise as far as Mas d'Argenais where we moor for the night.

Wednesday
In the morning we take a walk up into the small market town where there is a Romanesque church housing a painting of the crucifixion painted by Rembrandt. From here we cruise as far as Meilhan. Yesterday or today would be good days for visiting and tasting at some of the remarkable vineyards of the Bordeaux region where the finest wines in the world are produced.

Thursday

In the morning we take an excursion by car to the nearby town of La Reole where we visit an interesting Town Hall in what was originally a 10th century Benedictine monastery. We return to the boat and cruise to our final port at Castets. On arrival we take our final excursion, this time to Fontet where there is a matchstick building museum, including models of the Palace of Versailles and of the cathedral of Reims.

Friday
After a leisurely breakfast, we disembark the Saint Louis and travel by car back to Toulouse (or Bordeaux)

Note: This is only a sample itinerary and it is subject to change at the discretion of your hosts. On alternate weeks this itinerary may run in reverse. Saint Louis will make every effort to tailor a cruise to the interests and wishes of the guests on board. There will always be the opportunity to walk or cycle along the towpath, to stroll around local villages, to fish, to play petanque, or just to lie back and do nothing! Equally, we can always arrange wine tastings at some of the fine local vineyards, or excursions to other places of interest.


Saint Louis
2008 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route Season
Mar 29 Agen-Montauban Regular
Apr 5 Montauban-Agen Regular
Apr 12 Agen-Montauban Regular
Apr 19 Montauban-Agen Regular
Apr 26 Agen-Montauban Regular
May 3 Montauban-Agen Regular
May 10 Agen-Montauban Regular
May 17 Montauban-Agen Regular
May 24 Agen-Montauban Regular
May 31 Montauban-Agen Regular
Jun 7 Agen-Montauban Regular
Jun 14 Montauban-Agen Regular
Jun 21 Agen-Montauban Regular
Jun 28 Montauban-Agen Regular
Jul 5 Agen-Castets Regular
Cruise Schedule* ... continued
Week Route Season
Jul 12 Castets-Agen Regular
Jul 19 Agen-Montauban Regular
Jul 26 Montauban-Agen Regular
Aug 2 Agen-Montauban Regular
Aug 9 Montauban-Agen Regular
Aug 16 Agen-Montauban Regular
Aug 23 Montauban-Agen Regular
Aug 30 Agen-Castets Regular
Sep 6 Castets-Agen Regular
Sep 13 Agen-Montauban Regular
Sep 20 Montauban-Agen Regular
Sep 27 Agen-Montauban Regular
Oct 4 Montauban-Agen Regular
Oct 11 Agen-Montauban Regular
Oct 18 Montauban-Agen Regular


*Note: Cruise directions and sample itineraries may be in reverse and are subject to change and may depend on bookings and local navigation conditions. Alternate excursions of equal appeal are substituted when needed. For charter cruises special itineraries can be arranged.


SAINT LOUIS
2008 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
ACCOMMODATION REGULAR
Mar 29 thru Oct 24
Cabin (per person, double occupancy)
$4,620
Single Occupancy Supplement
$2,310
Charter for 4
$23,000
Charter for 6
$25,600


What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabins with private baths
- Transfers from Toulouse to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday through breakfast on Friday, including any meals on shore with wine as selected by the captain.
- Wines with lunches and dinners on board
- Open bar
- All escorted side-excursions
- Use of bicycles and other on-board equipment

What's Not Included
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return or from Paris to the Toulouse area and return.
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be paid to the captain in equivalent Euros
- Travel or health insurance
- Personal items and purchases on shore
- Optional excursions such as golf, etc.


Special Places Travel, LLC
"Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™

For booking information,
Phone (toll-free): 1-877-64-BARGE (1-877-642-2743)
Outside of the U.S.: 001.443.321.3614
or E-mail: info@specialplacestravel.com



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Last Update: March 15, 2008