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ENCHANTÉ
| Luxury barge cruise vacations on the French hotel barge ENCHANTÉ cruising the South of France along the Canal du Midi and also the regions of Provence & Camargue |  |
French Hotel Barge ENCHANTÉ
PROVENCE & CAMARGUE
Agde to Avignon, France
We begin our day with a cruise along the Canal du Midi, the oldest complete canal in France to Marseillan, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village on the edge of the Thau Basin. Today’s excursion is to Pezenas, a delightful town nicknamed Versailles of the Languedoc, mostly famous for its associations with the famous French playwright Moliere, who is said to have written many plays while staying here. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 : Marseillan to Maguelone
This morning we go into Marseillan where passengers can tour the cellars and distillery of the world famous vermouth Noilly Prat, followed by a tasting or visit the street market. Around lunchtime we sail out onto the Thau Basin to Frontignan. The Basin is a large, inland salt-water lagoon full of mussel and oyster beds where the water is so clear that you can sometimes see miniature sea horses passing on the tide. On arrival at the vineyard-encircled Maguelone Abbey, just a short stroll or cycle from the nearby Mediterranean, we moor up for the night. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 : Maguelone to Aigues Mortes
Leaving Maguelone we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete through the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant sea bird life and flocks of elegant pink flamingoes. After lunch we arrive at our mooring outside Aigues Mortes town walls and visit the town and its famous Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning 13th century crusaders. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, Day 5 : Aigues Mortes to Vallabregues
We leave Aigues Mortes early and enjoy three waterways today starting with the Canal du Rhone à Sete, then the Petit Rhone and finally the Rhone itself, which leads us to Arles, gateway to Provence and old capital of the Camargue. After lunch we explore Arles. Choose between the Roman Arena and Theatre, St. Trophime's Basilica and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit some of Vincent van Gogh's haunts on foot through the heart of this old capital of the Camargue before rejoining the barge for our cruise to Vallabregues. Optional early evening tour of Tarascon with its famous Castle of King René. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 : Vallabregues to Villeneuve-les-Avignon
An early start takes us up the mighty Rhone River, passing the foothills of the Alpilles, to Avignon. Here we spend an enjoyable afternoon, with a visit to the Palais des Papes, an impressive monument to the era of the 'Other Rome' when the popes moved to France, go shopping in the vibrant centre or take a trip out to Chateauneuf du Pape for an optional wine tasting. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 : Villeneuve-les-Avignon to Montpellier
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer by minibus to Montpellier by about 11am.
Note:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.
ENCHANTÉ HOME > ITINERARIES > Agde to Avignon
PROVENCE & CAMARGUE
Agde to Avignon, France
Sunday, Day 1 : Montpellier to Agde
Guests are met at 4pm at a designated meeting point in Montpellier and
escorted by minibus to Enchanté for a Champagne Welcome. Dinner
is preceded by a gentle stroll into Agde with its cathedral built of
lava blocks from the nearby Black Mountains.
We begin our day with a cruise along the Canal du Midi, the oldest complete canal in France to Marseillan, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village on the edge of the Thau Basin. Today’s excursion is to Pezenas, a delightful town nicknamed Versailles of the Languedoc, mostly famous for its associations with the famous French playwright Moliere, who is said to have written many plays while staying here. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 : Marseillan to Maguelone
This morning we go into Marseillan where passengers can tour the cellars and distillery of the world famous vermouth Noilly Prat, followed by a tasting or visit the street market. Around lunchtime we sail out onto the Thau Basin to Frontignan. The Basin is a large, inland salt-water lagoon full of mussel and oyster beds where the water is so clear that you can sometimes see miniature sea horses passing on the tide. On arrival at the vineyard-encircled Maguelone Abbey, just a short stroll or cycle from the nearby Mediterranean, we moor up for the night. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 : Maguelone to Aigues Mortes
Leaving Maguelone we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete through the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant sea bird life and flocks of elegant pink flamingoes. After lunch we arrive at our mooring outside Aigues Mortes town walls and visit the town and its famous Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning 13th century crusaders. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, Day 5 : Aigues Mortes to Vallabregues
We leave Aigues Mortes early and enjoy three waterways today starting with the Canal du Rhone à Sete, then the Petit Rhone and finally the Rhone itself, which leads us to Arles, gateway to Provence and old capital of the Camargue. After lunch we explore Arles. Choose between the Roman Arena and Theatre, St. Trophime's Basilica and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit some of Vincent van Gogh's haunts on foot through the heart of this old capital of the Camargue before rejoining the barge for our cruise to Vallabregues. Optional early evening tour of Tarascon with its famous Castle of King René. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 : Vallabregues to Villeneuve-les-Avignon
An early start takes us up the mighty Rhone River, passing the foothills of the Alpilles, to Avignon. Here we spend an enjoyable afternoon, with a visit to the Palais des Papes, an impressive monument to the era of the 'Other Rome' when the popes moved to France, go shopping in the vibrant centre or take a trip out to Chateauneuf du Pape for an optional wine tasting. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 : Villeneuve-les-Avignon to Montpellier
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer by minibus to Montpellier by about 11am.
Note:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.
ENCHANTÉ HOME > ITINERARIES > Agde to Avignon