It is our mission to enlighten and enthuse you with the glorious experience of hotel barging in France and so we have been crafting a series of articles on how to do just that in some of the country’s most fabulous regions. In this article we bring you our guide to hotel barging in Aquitaine. This corner of southwest France is home to Bordeaux, Toulouse and perhaps the world’s most renowned wine, not forgetting its pretty medieval villages, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Pyrėnėes border. Aquitaine barge cruises steer you to some of the most exclusive, first hand experiences of the region’s viticulture, cuisine and heritage. Let’s begin…
An introduction to the waterways in Aquitaine
As far as hotel barging in Aquitaine goes, the geography is much simpler than say Burgundy. Here, the Canal de Garonne wends harmoniously and predominantly through the region. An oft-included hotel barge cruise diversion along the Canal du Montech leads to the important provincial town of Montauban.
The Canal de Garonne traces a pilgrimage route through Aquitaine to Compostela and picks up westwards where the Canal du Midi leaves Toulouse. Together these two waterways have been reclassified as the Canal des Deux Mers.
Did you know? Hotel barges only travel around 70 miles during a week’s cruise. The Canal de Garonne can therefore offer a number of different stretches of waterway to explore, from Castets-en-Dorthe to Lacourt St Pierre, with plenty of sights to see beyond the boat.
What to see when hotel barging in Aquitaine
The region of Aquitaine is really rather vast, stretching from the edges of the Massif Central in the north to the Pyrenees in the south via the impressive surf beaches of the Atlantic coast. The many renowned wine producing areas sweep along the line of the Gironde estuary as it wends inland. Medoc vineyards grace the area north of Bordeaux, you’ll find Sauternes grown to the south and St Emilion vineyards to the west. As the Aquitaine landscape ventures inland, the vineyards make way for fruit farms of equally renowned quality, such as the acclaimed Agen prune.
The history of Aquitaine was influenced for hundreds of years by the once strong and then tumultuous grapplings over land ownership in the region between British and French powers. Yet strong trade ties between the two nations were also garnered during the long peaceful periods when the region was a dominion of the English crown.
Fine chateaux in Aquitaine
It was the Hundred Years’ War that saw the construction of many of the Aquitaine châteaux, their exchange of hands through the conflicts and subsequent occupation by French royalty and nobility. Excursions to some of Aquitaine’s chateaux grace the itineraries of our luxury hotel barging in the region.
Our highlights are:
- Château de Nerac – built by the great great grandfather of Henri IV of France, it laid its foundations on a former Gascon fort. It was neglected, however, not long after Henri IV was crowned and was largely destroyed during the French Revolution. What remains of it today makes for a most enjoyable excursion taking in the permanent exhibition of the Albret family era in what was once the apartments of the Queen of Navarre.
- Château de Vayres – one of the most elegant of Aquitaine chateaux, it resides between Bordeaux and Saint Emilion nursing the banks of the Dordogne river. With its roots in the 13th century its style is mostly Renaissance having been damaged and restored following the Hundred Years’ War. Architecture aside, its gardens reflect periods of history and provide glorious walks.
> Read more about Aquitaine chateaux
Historic towns and cities
With such an abundance of history, it will come as no surprise that Aquitaine proffers more than a sprinkling of notable, memorable and aesthetically pleasing places to visit. Most hotel barge cruises take in at least one famous town or city so you can be sure to get a taste of the best of the region when you’re hotel barging in Aquitaine. Your itinerary may include:
- Agen – reached via an aqueduct as the Canal de Garonne crosses the river Garonne, come here on Wednesdays and Sundays to experience an exquisite market and the abundance of prune farming in the area.
- Bordeaux – France’s second city has every urban aspect you could wish for, including Europe’s biggest shopping area around Rue St Catherine. Wine fans adore the Maison du Vin in the city centre. It’s the perfect place to enhance your newly discovered knowledge and tastes acquired on exclusive premier cru chateaux tours as part of your hotel barging experience.
- Mas d’Agenais – stop here for an art fix and a glimpse at medieval village architecture. Cross the timber framed marketplace and peep inside the Church de St Vincent to discover an original Rembrandt dating back to 1631.
- Moissac – many a pilgrim en route to Santiago de Compostela has taken a moment’s rest and refreshment in Moissac and you’ll soon appreciate why when you set eyes on the Romanesque Abbey Saint Pierre in the town square.
- St Emilion – a visit to St Emilion is always going to be all about the wine, but that’s fine with us and seems to go down exceedingly well with fans of hotel barging excursions!
- Toulouse – the start (or end) of the Canal de Garonne where the region’s pink hued stonework gleams from one architectural masterpiece to another. Soak up the cafe culture, the exceptional shopping and its older, winding streets and stairways.
Did you know? Hotel barging life in Aquitaine flows at a leisurely and enjoyable pace. Another great way to enjoy all the sights and sounds is to cycle or walk along the towpath, keeping pace with your barge alongside.
What to eat in Aquitaine
When we look at the region’s history and geography, it’s not surprising that spices and seafood have had a marked influence on Aquitaine’s cuisine. Its proximity to Spain lends the use of peppers more frequently to dishes than elsewhere in France. And the rum used to infuse the region’s famous sweet treat, cannelé, is thought to stem from Caribbean trade entering Bordeaux’s port.
As we saw in Rick Stein’s French Odyssey series, the seafood available from its coastal environ plays beautifully into the hands of chefs and home cooks alike.
As far as renowned French gourmet dishes go, Aquitaine is home to foie gras production and duck confit, which can be traced as far back as the showy banquets of King Henri IV.
When you’re hotel barging in Aquitaine, local cuisine features heavily on lunch and dinner menus aboard your Bordeaux barge. Plus you’ll sample the celebrated ewe’s milk cheeses – soft and hard versions – and chocolates, especially those from Bayonne.
Want to blend in like the locals? In Bordeaux, they use the spelling ‘canelé, to establish the city’s distinctive take on the region’s sweet treat instead of cannelé used elsewhere in France.
What to drink in Aquitaine
Well it has to be Bordeaux wines; it is after all the largest wine producing region in France. The clarets that have been exported to England since medieval times began a centuries-long love affair with this region’s viticulture that has gone on to be celebrated worldwide.
As hotel barge guests you are spoilt for choice as you’ll cruise through the wine delights of the region – Médoc, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and the intense treat that is Cabernet Franc. Familiarise yourself with what’s grown where via this interactive map.
Bordeaux wine is predominantly red – more than 90% of production, in fact. The claret that Bordeaux is so well known for is weighted with the merlot grape variety, which accounts for about two thirds of the vines here and is the notable flavour of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion wines.
The white wine grapes given focus are semillon and sauvignon blanc. The former, combined with the glorious Gulf Stream climate encourages noble rot, which transforms these grapes into the world’s most savoured dessert wine, Sauternes.
It was here, in Médoc in 1855, that the classification of French wine began and it remains the marker of the very best of Bordeaux wines, followed by four other brackets. Looking at a bottle with no classification? No problem, it’s probably still one of the better wines you’ll drink anywhere in the world!
Did you know? Bordeaux wine is referred to as the king of vin. Find out more about it in our Bordeaux wine guide
Plan an Aquitaine hotel barge cruise
With so much to see, do, taste and absorb on your Aquitaine hotel barge trip, is it time to plan one for the future?
Our selection offers a range of itineraries on the peaceful waterways of this region. Choose your personal style with guidance from your on-the-spot French Waterways expert to ensure you experience the very best of this stunning part of France. Take a look
Looking for inspiration?
- Where to go hotel barging in France
- Where to go hotel barging in Burgundy
- Download your free guide to Bordeaux and Aquitaine
Enjoyed reading this? Feel free to PIN this post, we’d love you to share it with others:
