6-night all inclusive cruise onboard our casual luxury barge through the Gascony region

THE BARGE ITSELF ; 

 

• Our barge is one of the most luxurious and best-appointed barges on the canal network in France today.
• The team will work hard to bring you the ultimate experience in luxury cruising. We are one of the only 5* barge to cruise on this route!

 

THE TEAM AT YOUR SERVICE ; 

 

• Onboard the barge we have four full-time crew members, our pilot, chef, hostess, and tour guide to manage all aspects of your cruise and make sure you will feel at ease and well taken care of. 
• From the moment you are met at your agreed pick-up point for transfer to the barge at the beginning of your week to the final transfer to your agreed point of departure at the end of your cruise, our crew will be there to provide for you and deliver an outstanding service.

 

GASTRONOMY ; 

 

• The Barge cruises in the extremely abundant South West France where some of the finest fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and wines are all produced. The Atlantic is nearby and the lively local markets here are bursting with varieties of fish, oysters and "fruit de mer".
• We celebrate the rich cuisine of this region and our chef will tailor your menu to suit your personal preferences whilst being mindful of any allergies amongst your party. 
• We can arrange for some cooking lessons & tips with our chef: these lessons will be based on the preparation of fish, oysters or a stuffed filet mignon or specialty sauces.
• You will learn how to select the right cut of meat for a specific dish, how to cook different meats, and lots more! We can also engage the guests with the pairing of wine with food, what to look for and how to do it successfully without having extensive knowledge of wines.

 

OUR FOOD ; 

 

• We have developed strong and lasting relationships with the top local producers to ensure that we bring to your table distinguished locally sourced and seasonal products of the highest quality that rightly represents this region, it’s culture and traditions.
• Because of the unique quality of our ingredients and their freshness, our belief in the kitchen is: "cook it simply, cook it lightly, embrace seasonality and avoid heavy use of sugar, salt and fat, let the flavor and texture of the food be the focus " – and our guests always love it this way!

 

OUR WINES ; 

 

• Pairing wine with food is an art and we work closely with our wine distributor in Saint Émilion's famous wine town, himself a famous chef, to bring you a wide variety of wines of great quality from across this region that is specifically selected to accompany our food.
• We have an exceptional cellar and cruise with approximately 600 bottles on board. No worries, you won't get thirsty!

 

THE TABLE ; 

 

• The enjoyment of food is central to what we do; it is not only a taste experience it is also a visual one.
• Each evening our guests sit down to a different table setting, we carry a wide selection of table cloths, jacquard linen napkins, candles and other decorative finishings that uses to great effect to create a variety of themed table settings throughout the week – she’s even been known to hold napkin folding classes with inquisitive guests!

 

This trip runs two ways depending on the previous charter:

 

• EITHER Gascony Cruise (Route 1) from Lacourt St. Pierre to Boé Port
• EITHER Gascony Cruise (Route 4) from Boé Port to Lacourt St. Pierre.

 

• Our pick-up point for this cruise is either Toulouse or Agen train station.
• Our departure point is either Toulouse, Bordeaux or Agen train station. Other points may be possible with prior agreement.
• A crew member will meet guests at the agreed point of arrival and all transfers and tours are in our fully air-conditioned Mercedes V Series people carrier.

Pick-up times

• Toulouse or Agen: 4.00 pm. The journey time is approximately 1 hour.

Departure times

• The latest departure time of the barge is 10.00 am.

Approximate transfer times

• Toulouse: 1hr 45mins
• Bordeaux: 1hr 30mins
• Agen: 20min

 

Day 1-Saturday: Arrival onboard and champagne on the deck!

 

• Transfer to the barge to arrive around 5 PM. Champagne reception upon arrival, then time to settle in, get to know your crew, a short safety briefing and a general talk through the itinerary for the week.

 

Day 2-Sunday: First-morning cruise and locks passing, and visit of Lauzerte

 

• After breakfast, we enjoy our first cruise through to a series of five locks, which will be your first taste of navigation on a barge. We will then disembark and drive in our mini-bus to the 12th-century town of Lauzerte. A hilltop Castle-Nau with a bloody history behind it but now a crossing point for pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostella.
• We will then enjoy lunch together in this picturesque village before returning to the barge at Saint Porquier.
• Our cruise then continues through the afternoon; you can relax while observing the beautiful landscapes passing by; to our evening mooring at Castelsarassin, another beautiful an typical town.

 

Day 3-Monday: Explore Castelsarassin, cross the aqueduct and reach the Tarn river

 

• After breakfast there is time to explore the local village where we spent the night before we cruise again along the tree-lined canal to our next mooring for lunch, in the middle of nature, observing the wildlife around you.
• Afterward, we cruise again, and you can enjoy laying on deck while we cross the aqueduct and enter Moissac port. It leads us onto the potent river Tarn for an afternoon river cruise followed by a visit to the Monastery and Cloisters at Moissac Abbey, a renowned world heritage site.
• We then return to the barge for dinner, where our chef will have prepared you its amazing dishes, cooked with locally sourced products (see our pictures for a glimpse).

 

Day 4-Tuesday: Morning market tour, coffee on the square and afternoon cruise

 

• After your succulent daily breakfast on board, it is off again! This time, we go to Valence d’Agen and its flitting weekly market. We will stroll through the jungle of stalls offering an astounding array of fresh local products, such as fish, meats cheeses and a wide array of locally crafted artisanal. There you will discover the variety of things this region has to offer!
• We will then relax for a coffee and pastries in the local square, wherefrom you will observe the habits and ways of doing of locals, and enjoy its unique ambiance.
• We then return to the barge for lunch and our afternoon cruise through to our evening mooring berth at Pommevic village.

 

Day 5-Wednesday: Visit Auvillar and learn about its historic trading routes

 

• After a short drive, we will reach the elegant town of Auvillar. In the past, it was a major trading town and will discover it with a captivating history and tales.
• We will visit the antique corn exchange and learn about the potent trading route that used to exist along the river before the canal network opened up and caused its progressive demise.
• Afterward, we return to our piece of paradise; your barge; and cruise our way to our next native mooring at La Magister. Enjoy dinner, drinks and chilling onboard while looking at the stars.. what a plan!

 

Day 6-Thursday:  Beautiful landscapes, Lily Gardens, and Lakeview lunch!

 

• Enjoy a laid-back breakfast and then a stunning drive through the countryside. That will be how we reach the Lily Gardens at Temple Sur Lot that was founded in 1875 and inspired Monet. Take your time to visit this quite unique gardening piece of art!
• We arrive in time to enjoy a relaxed walk around the ponds and gardens before lunch overlooking the lake, in a delicious restaurant we will have selected for you.
• Afterward, we return on board for a cruise to Boé port, our final destination, and the endpoint of our adventure. But no worries, you can join us next year for a new adventure! 

 

Day 7-Friday: day of departure, enjoy your last breakfast with your new family, the crew! 

 

• After breakfast depart the barge for transfer onwards.