There are about 60 boutique hotel barges that cruise along the peaceful and beautiful canals and rivers of France. They vary in size, comfort level and price – and they can be found in all the most attractive regions of France. Some can be booked by cabin (room) others are chartered complete by groups and families.
Whatever the details of any particular barge, they all come complete with captain and crew who look after navigation; and professional chef and hostess to care for guests.
People often say that they feel they have been treated ‘like royalty’ and this is a very unique experience.
Here is just one example of what that fabulous luxury hotel barge cruise in France is like:
Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre
Burgundy: Fleurey-sur-Ouche to Escommes
Purpose built for stylish contemporary cruising, the owner operator of Savoir Vivre, as her name suggests, knows exactly how to live. Richard Megret comes from a famous barging family and has over 20 years’ experience of life on the water. With his two other crew he knows exactly what it takes to ensure you have a memorable holiday. The interior spaces are comfortably furnished and the four en-suite staterooms have enough space (110 square feet) for divinely restful orthopaedic queen-sized beds. There are shaded decks fore and aft, bicycles available to borrow and a flat screen TV so you can unwind with the occasional movie.
Completed in 1832, the historic Canal de Bourgogne follows the course of the River Armancon and then the River Ouche through eastern central France. Its southern reaches encompass one of the most highly-regarded winemaking region in the country – the celebrated Burgundy Route des Vins offers some of the best of French reds from the Côtes de Nuits to the Côte de Beaune and all stops in between. The regional capital is Dijon, where the Ducal Palace was once the official residence of the Dukes of Burgundy and now houses the Musée des Beaux Arts containing works by many Great Masters including Titian, Veronese, Brueghel and Rubens. In the 17th century Dijon was granted exclusive rights to produce mustard, a skill that locals have honed down the years and nowadays the famous Dijon mustard adds a piquant note to the cuisine for which the Burgundy region is so well known.
Most mornings tend to slip past in an indolent fashion as you sit on deck with a cooling drink in your hand and watch the beautiful countryside reveal itself all around you. You can take a stroll along the towpath, or the more adventurous can cycle to the nearest picturesque medieval village. The glazed tiled roofs are extraordinarily distinctive and well worth a photograph or two. After a delicious lunch, most afternoons will offer diversion in the form of a visit to a local attraction – for example you might want to lash out on a trip in a hot air balloon.
Evening meals are taken ashore at carefully selected restaurants including the renowned Abbaye de la Bussière, while lunches consisting of the finest locally sourced produce are delivered to the boat each day by visiting chefs. This system is unique to Savoir Vivre and ensures that guests can sample the whole rich range of gastronomic delights for which the region is so rightly famous.
A champagne welcome from the Captain and crew of this lovely barge sets the tone for the week ahead. While Savoir Vivre glides through the beautiful Ouche valley, you can dip in and out of life afloat with a programme of excursions tailor made to deepen your appreciation of this unspoilt part of France. The attractions on offer include an excursion to Clos de Vougeot in the famed Côte d’Or wine region to taste and learn about the world’s finest vintages; a guided tour of the regional capital at Dijon, where you can enjoy some retail therapy in the bustling streets, (do sample the city’s famous mustard!); cheese tasting in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune with goat-cheese maker, Laure Plait; a trip to Châteauneuf-en-Auxois with its attractive cobbled streets and breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside, and last but not least a guided tour of the superlative town of Beaune, viticultural centre of the Côte d’Or, where you can see some ancient tannery buildings and also the Hôtel Dieu, a charity hospital built in the 15th century – all the constituent parts of a perfect holiday.
These lazy days on Savoir Vivre, drifting through some of the most languidly beautiful landscapes and offset with just the right amount of cultural stimulation, will surely work their magic and leave you feeling renewed and replenished. The countryside, the culture and the cuisine really are the stuff of which dreams are made and when you surface at the end of a memorable week, you will probably find yourself wanting to dream again.
► Find out more about hotel barge Savoir Vivre
► Make an enquiry to get a firm quotation for this or any other hotel barge for the time of year that interests you.
Burgundy South ~ Saône
Famous for its red and white wines and its Grand Cru route through the vineyards, the region bursts with culinary prowess too. The Dukes of Burgundy left an historic legacy, including medieval Beaune, the modern city of Dijon and one of the most popular waterway routes from Paris, the Canal de Bourgogne, which meanders through the Côtes d’Or and into the peaceful Saône river southwards.
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Our Unique Expertise – France, Cruising the Waterways and Hotel Barging
We have explored the rivers and canals of France on our own boat since 2003, logging up over 10,000km along most waterways, in most regions, at all times of year.
Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every hotel barge, every owner-operator and fleet, published here.
