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 C’est la Vie
C’est la Vie’s three cruise options in Burgundy and the Upper Loire:
• Ravieres to Saint Florentin, Canal de Bourgogne
• Montargis to Saint Florentin – Canal du Loing, rivers Seine and Yonne, and Canal de Bourgogne
• Sancerre to Montargis, Canal de Briare and Canal Latéral a la Loire
Even the name of this beautiful ship captures the relaxed stylishness which the French have made their own. C’est la Vie is spacious and yet intimate, accommodating eight guests in four king size en-suite staterooms of 220 square feet each and offering unrivalled elegance in the saloon and on the sunlit deck. Owned and operated by Olivier and Deborah Megret, he is a trained chef as well as captain, while she brings her own professional experience to the mix, ensuring that nothing is too much trouble when it comes to your needs and comfort.
North Burgundy is a region steeped in culture and history. It is a land of castles and abbeys: the impressive renaissance Château at Ancy le France and the Château at Tanlay with its romantic moat are both a testament to former wealth and power, while the influence of the medieval church is more than evident in the abbey at Vézelay which is the starting point for one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago di Compostella. There are a number of well-defended towns tucked away in the pretty countryside harking back to a past full of conflict that included the Hundred Years War: even small farms and village churches had their own fortifications and the effect today is one of ancient charm.
Relaxation is the keynote here. While away your mornings gliding along this stunning waterway, unwinding on deck with a cooling drink in your hand as the verdant countryside unfolds around you, and for those keen to explore this bucolic region for themselves there are bicycles available. After a delicious three course lunch, most afternoons will offer diversion in the form of a visit to a local attraction – for example a wine tasting at Chablis or Sancerre.
Burgundy is considered by some to be the gastronomic heart of France, with its Boeuf Bourguignon, its buttery garlicky snails and its Coq au Vin, not to mention its stunning Chablis wine and chef Olivier rises magnificently to the challenge. Ingredients are locally sourced and freshly prepared and meals are served in style with a full explanation of the origins and character of each mouth-watering regional dish.
C’est la Vie’s Montargis to Saint Florentin itinerary is packed with interest. After a champagne reception and gourmet dinner to welcome you on board, the following morning you will cruise to Nemours for an excursion to the UNESCO listed Château de Fontainebleau which was built by Francois 1st in the 16th century, and is the only royal residence to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. The next day an idyllic cruise takes you to Moret-sur-Loing, an ancient town that has associations with Thomas à Becket and the Three Musketeers and was once home to the19th century English painter Alfred Sisley, who painted several notable landscapes of this area. Venturing onto the river Seine and then the Yonne, the fourth day’s journey ends at the historic town of Sens, famous for one of the first great Gothic Cathedrals which was built around 1140. Joigny is your next port of call and an excursion to the 12th century abbey at Pontigny will help you to build up an appetite for dinner at the two star Michelin restaurant, La Côte Saint Jacques. Your final mooring is at Saint Florentin on the Canal de Bourgogne and a visit to Chablis, home of one of the most famous white wines in the world, will enable you to make a toast to a remarkable holiday as a prelude to your farewell Gala dinner with the Captain back on board.
These lazy days on C’est la Vie, 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 C’est la Vie
► Make an enquiry to get a firm quotation for this or any other hotel barge for the time of year that interests you.
Burgundy North ~ Loire ~ Nivernais
This heartland of France offers sunny rolling vistas dotted with thousands of chateaux, famous vineyards, fields of sunflowers and picturesque villages. Well-served with waterways – both rivers and canals – you’ll be able to cruise by self-drive boat, hotel barge and riverboat through this wonderful countryside.
Just call us to make your dream cruise come true
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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.
