France has an almost innate connection to hot air ballooning. Hence it’s a popular addition to some hotel barge itineraries. Hot air ballooning in France provides another perspective on those glorious landscapes you see as you glide down the rivers and canals.
There’s also something of a real thrill to be high in the sky with just the power of the Montgolfier invention to keep you airborne. Read on to discover the origins of the globes aérostatiques and how you can enjoy this unique experience next time you’re on a luxury hotel barge cruise.
Age old form of flying
Being able to fly is one of our oldest ambitions and although air travel is accessible to almost everyone of us nowadays, boarding a low-cost flight offers nothing out of the ordinary. Climb into a balloon, on the other hand, and flying takes on a whole new dimension. Who hasn’t hankered after a ride up with the thermals as you enjoy a bird’s eye view of the world back down below?
Hot air ballooning hails from France where it was invented in the late 18th-century by the Montgolfier brothers from Annonay in the Ardeche. While technology has allowed the balloons themselves to soar to greater heights in safer conditions, not much has changed about the shape and form of this unique aerial transport itself. And hot air balloons still offer the same thrill of travel and excitement as they did nearly 250 years ago.

A first – hot air ballooning in France
As is so often the case with inventions, the idea for the globe aérostatique came about by chance. Inspired by laundry rising in the heat from the fire beneath it, brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier built several prototypes before creating a large-scale model. It took its maiden flight in early 1783 and managed 10 minutes in the air, reaching a height of 2,000m.
News of the invention travelled faster than the balloon itself and the brothers were summoned to Paris to demonstrate their prowess. King Louis XVI forbade human passengers, so the first live cargo (a sheep, duck and cockerel) ascended in a basket at Versailles in September 1783. The animals flew for 8 minutes over a distance of 460m. There’s no record of how they felt about their voyage, but the enraptured audience on the ground was hooked on flight.
By November of the same year, the first humans went up in an untethered hot air balloon. Their emblematic globe, painted in sky blue with zodiac and sun symbols, flew 8km from the Bois de Boulogne to the outskirts of Paris for 25 minutes. The era of hot air ballooning in France was born along with our love of air travel.
River and sky travel
Travel experiences form the bulk of bucket lists, and cruises and hot air ballooning often feature as absolute must-dos. The good news is that if you take a luxury barge cruise along one of the French waterways you can tick two items off your list. Several hotel barge cruises include optional hot air balloon flights giving you the best views of the glorious French countryside from river level to up high on the same holiday.
See Burgundy from its waterways and skies
As well as admiring the bucolic Burgundy vineyards as you glide through them on your barge cruise, you can also gaze at the grapes from above. Four hotel barges offer the chance to take a hot air balloon over Burgundy to add that extra thrill to your holiday.
Imagine a bird’s eye view of the unique timbered façades and iconic tiled roofs, the neat row upon row of vines producing France’s best reds and renowned whites, and the winding meanders of the Canal de Bourgogne. Enjoy your hot air balloon trip when you’re on board:
Rendez-vous – high ceilings and an open gallery below with a sundeck above, perfect for making the most of Burgundy.
L’Impressionniste – your luxury home as you glide your way through the Cote d’Or, one of the world’s premium wine-producing areas.
La Belle Epoque – step back in time with teak and mahogany below and spa pool, a beautiful setting for exploring Upper Burgundy.
Savoir-Vivre – discover how to truly live life as you sail past chateaux and abbeys on your way from Venarey-les-Laumes to Tanlay.
See Aquitaine from above and below
Another great destination for hot air ballooning in France lies in the south west between Gascony and Aquitaine. This is a land of rolling orchards, far-reaching vineyards and bastide villages, also home to some of the country’s best foodie experiences. Not for nothing does the Saint Emilion label hail from here. Delight all your senses from the waterways aboard Rosa and up in the sky in your Montgolfier balloon.
Rosa – this charming Dutch clipper complete with sundeck and jacuzzi hosted Rick Stein on his ‘French Odyssey’ TV programme so expect something very special as you cruise from Agen to Montauban or between Castets en Dorthe to Agen.
The most hot air balloons ever
If you’d rather admire the balloons from down on the ground or just love the sight of dozens in the sky at once, don’t miss the nation’s homage to the Montgolfier brothers. The world’s largest hot air balloon event happens every two years and the next takes place at Chambley aerodrome between Nancy and Metz from 26 July to 4 August 2019. Hundreds of globe aérostatique aficionados gather from all round the world to take to the skies in their multi-coloured balloons over ten days. Find out more about Grand Est Mondial Air Balloons.
And if hot air ballooning in France isn’t on your bucket list but cruising one of the country’s iconic waterways totally is, take a look at our list of suggestions. We cover the most iconic rivers and canals in France and on board the loveliest crafts for a holiday of a lifetime. Book yours now.
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