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 Lilas
Classic canal cruise in Alsace: Krafft to Arzviller, Canal de la Marne au Rhin
The Belmond group offers the dernier mot in luxury travel. With world class hotels such as the Cipriani in Venice they have gained a reputation for offering outstanding comfort and service and the Belmond Lilas (“Lilac”) continues this impressive tradition. With only four en-suite staterooms space is plentiful and communal areas include a beautifully appointed saloon and a sundeck complete with canopy and spa pool.
The rivers and canals of North-East France pass through the forests of the Ardennes, the Vosges Mountains and the breathtakingly beautiful Doubs valley, with the River Rhine marking the region’s eastern-most edge. Being so close to Germany and Switzerland, castles, steeply pitched roofs, decorative timberwork, hearty cuisine, Riesling wine and a vast selection of beers all add a distinctive character to the experience.
Relaxation is the keynote here. While away your mornings gliding along the liquid green canal and watching the lock k
eepers do the hard work: you can unwind on deck with a cooling drink in your hand and see the verdant countryside unfold around you, and for those keen to explore this unspoilt 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 you might be tempted by a tour of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, set in a spectacular glass edifice on the river in Strasbourg.
A personal chef will conjure up exquisite meals for you using only locally sourced fresh produce. These are served either in the dining room or up on deck, accompanied by carefully matched wines from the region. Vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan and non-allergenic dishes can be arranged given at least 8 weeks’ notice prior to departure.
A champagne reception and sumptuous dinner will launch your fabulous week on board Lilas. The next day a tasting at Sipp Mack, one of the Alsace region’s fabled vineyards, beckons before for a gourmet lunch on board and a leisurely afternoon’s cruising to Strasbourg. Day Three offers a guided walking tour of this fascinating city, including the soaring red sandstone cathedral, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the botanical garden, followed by a restful cruise to Hochfelden. The following morning sees a trip to the Meteor Brewery, the oldest brewing site in France before continuing on to Saverne for an elegant evening’s cocktail reception in the gardens of 18th-century Château des Rohan, capped off by an epicurean dinner back on board. On Day Five you are invited to explore part of the famous Route des Vins with a tasting tour of Domaine Mochel. The pretty half-timbered town of Lutzelbourg is your mooring this evening and private dining at the Michelin starred Villa René Lalique, former country home of the visionary art deco jeweller and glassmaker, will prove hard to resist. On your final day Lilas cruises to the amazing Arzviller lift, the only side incline-plane ship elevator in France, where you can toast the end of a great adventure at the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
These lazy days on Lilas, 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 Lilas
► Make an enquiry to get a firm quotation for this or any other hotel barge for the time of year that interests you.
Strasbourg ~ Alsace
Stunning mountain scenery and picture-book houses typify this region, with architecture and cuisine influenced by neighbouring Switzerland and Germany. Famous for its romantic sparkling Christmas markets, Alsace is a favourite for riverboat cruises on the river Rhine and hotel barge cruises on the canalised waterways of Strasbourg.
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.
