The Barge
 | Our cruise of local and culinary discovery was in the canals of Burgundy, France, aboard La Belle Époque, the flagship barge of
European Waterways, Ltd. Before it was
converted to a floating hotel in 1995 and refurbished in 2006, La Belle Époque was a freight barge
carrying logs from |
Each day is an experience in local culture through its regional wines and cuisine, outings, and casual observations. You might travel past little-known communities or visit a medieval village, historic town, or troglodyte dwelling carved out of the rocks. Your afternoon might be spent sampling wine at a small vineyard or at a grand palace.
 | La Belle Époque has a sundeck, a small spa pool, a wood paneled saloon, a small library, and a dining room with a table large enough to accommodate all passengers. |
 | The seven comfortable passenger cabins have twin or double beds and en-suite facilities and are referred to as two suites (150 and 165 sq. ft.), one at each end, four junior suites (125-130 sq. ft.), and one single cabin (90 sq. ft.). The barge is fully air-conditioned, and electricity is French 220 voltage. |
 | We found ourselves in the midst of medieval villages and in a landscape reminiscent of Impressionist paintings. |
 | We were in the Burgundy
region of |
 | Our back door route revealed vignettes of everyday life in a way seldom seen by tourists. |
The route is usually on the lower
 | Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses is named for its seven steep 350-year-old locks. There was time to explore the charming village on our own before settling in for dinner. |
 | Our first day’s excursion was a tour of the building site at Guédelon in Puisaye in Yonne. Most people saw the site simply as an abandoned quarry in the woods, but Michel Guyot, who rescues historic sites throughout France, saw the building blocks-- wood, stone, sand and clay—of a 13th century castle. Using only the medieval construction techniques available at that time, a team of 50-- quarrymen, blacksmiths, carpenters, ropemakers and more-- work on a project expected to take 25 years. |
 | Then we were off to the village where the Briare canal spans
the |
 | The next day’s excursion was to wine villages. In Chablis we toured a former 9th century monastery, site of a 13th century oak press and other historical treasures. A wine tasting followed at the Domaine Laroche, producer of Chablis wine for five generations—since 1850. |
 | At Domaine Bersan in St. Bris we walked amidst aged oak barrels in a sometimes eerie underground labyrinth of vaulted medieval passageways, some dating to the 11th century. |  |
 Montargis market |  interior of praslines shop |  Mazet confiseur chocolatier, exterior of praslines shop |
Mooring that night was at Montargis, a city known as the
 | Later that day we were off to a
fortified hilltop, Chateau Landon, the birthplace of King Henry II’s father and
a wealthy town in the Middle Ages. The Royal abbey we visited was devoted to
St. Severin, who healed King Clovis. Stone from this area was used to build
Notre Dame and the Pantheon in |
 | Men were gathered in the center of town for a spirited game of lawn bowling known as pétanque. |
On our fifth day, Thursday, we explored the grand
 | In the morning, the last full day of our trip, we were back
to |
After lunch back on the barge we headed to Vaux-le-Vicomte,
the grand Renaissance-style chateau that became the inspiration for
 | The six night cruises run from Sunday to Saturday and are all-inclusive--meals, regional wines with the candlelit dinner, open bar with alcoholic and soft drinks available at all times, daily excursions with your onboard guide, bicycles, binoculars and local transfers. Dress code is casual. Dress up as much as you like for the Captain’s Dinner on the final night, but you need not add more to your suitcase than a blazer for men and a dress or pantsuit for women. There is no phone or Internet service onboard this barge. This is a true getaway. Smoking is allowed only on deck and away from other guests. |
Barges continue to travel through this agricultural region, and today many have been converted to floating luxury hotels. Barge travel provides a behind-the scenes view while offering the convenience of cruising—unpacking once and traveling while relaxing, dining, and enjoying onboard amenities. Everything is taken care of, including local excursions with your own tour guide in an air-conditioned minibus.
 | The barge travels slowly, about the pace of a brisk walk, along tree-lined canals. The pace is never rushed and is as active as you like. Stroll or ride a bicycle along the towpaths, explore a local village, and wait for the barge to catch up with you at a lock. |
Watch the lockkeeper operate hand-swung bridges and locks in the centuries-old way as his children wave from their garden or the windows of their historic cottage. If you arrive at a lock during or too close to lunch time in this country where break times are strictly observed, you will wait. This is part of the experience. This vacation is about immersion in local life, not the speed or distance traveled.
Regional cuisine--bon appétit!
 | This agricultural area is also known for producing the ingredients that go into creating renowned gastronomic delights, including legendary sauces, cheeses and wines. |
We were in the heartland of
The day began with a continental breakfast that included fresh
breads from local bakeries. Ah, those
chocolate croissants! Lunches were typically salads with cold meats or quiche. Dinner was a regional specialty like Pork
Dijonnaise or Duck à l’Orange by candlelight.
Evening meals included vivid descriptions of the regional wines
and their appellations -- Pouilly-Fumé, St.
Véran, Nuits-St-Georges. Cheese
plates were served with colorful legends like that of Ossau-Iraty, said to have
been created by the shepherd son of Apollo and Valançay designed for Napoleon in
a pyramid-shape during the Egyptian campaigns but made with a flat top since the
defeated General severed the peak with his sword.
General information
To barge through
 | Barges travel throughout Europe—including the canals,
rivers, and lagoons of France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, Holland, and
Belgium. Cabins may be booked individually or the entire boat can be chartered
with family or friends. Charter itineraries can be customized to accommodate special
interests. For a birds-eye view of the Burgundy storybook countryside, the crew can arrange a hot
air balloon ride. |
For more information
contact:
European Waterways
Ltd.
(800) 394-8630
