Leave your worries behind and put yourself in the hands of the experienced crew, who will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the barge. They’ll carry your luggage, prepare and serve delicious meals accompanied by fine wines from the region, and take you to explore villages, local markets, chateaux, churches and vineyards. There’ll be time to relax on deck and watch the countryside unfold, to stroll along the towpath or go exploring on one of the boat’s bikes. Each morning, wake up to fresh pastries and coffee and another glorious day lived at 5kms an hour. Fully crewed barges sleep between 4 and 50 passengers in air-conditioned, en suite cabins. The price includes all meals, wine, excursions, bikes and transfers, usually to and from Paris, so they're very easy and convenient. These boats cruise all over the great network of French canals and navigable rivers and come in various shapes and sizes, from lovingly restored vintage boats taking 4-6 passengers, to the large river cruisers, which often have swimming pools, gyms and hot tubs. Most barges take individual bookings or charters. A charter booking gives you and your group the whole boat, plus excursions tailored to your party's interests (wine, golf, cooking, architecture, art, etc).  We’ve worked on hotel barges and cruised on most French canals, and we can find you the hotel barge that best suits your plans and budget. To help you decide, have a look at a couple of our favourite boats - The Luciole Twenty-five years ago, John Liley bought the boat which, after a complete re-fit, became the Luciole, which is the French word for firefly. The boat is specially designed to navigate on the Nivernais Canal, it’s light enough to cruise in the shallow sections of this old and very scenic Burgundy waterway. John has always understood that good food and wine are an essential part of the French inland cruising experience, but he credits his wife with raising the standards to their present level. "Today, twenty years after she first saw our barge, Penny runs the show to a standard I never dreamed of," he says. Penny first came on board as a cook, and now she and John run the business together. They have a loyal and skilled crew, but they are very hands-on owners, commuting frequently from their home in Cheshire to work on, and for, the boat. The Lileys have put their personal stamp on every aspect of the Luciole, from the kitchen to the engine room and all the bits in between. We have a bulky file of letters from clients who loved their week on board - full of praise for the crew, the food and wine, the escorted visits and the chance to walk or cycle off and explore the local countryside. Some have been back two and three times! Who Knows is a traditional Dutch barge, decorated in traditional dark wood panelling and brass finishings. She is one of the finest examples of classic boats on the French waterways and cruises in Burgundy, our favourite boating region. Owners Jason and Dawn cruise the peaceful and historic Burgundy Canal between Pont de Pany, just outside Dijon, and Pouilly en Auxois, passing through the beautiful Ouche Valley. Guests are met at the Dijon railway station and transferred to the barge for a champagne welcome. The week’s itinerary includes chateau and cellar visits, wine tastings, of course, in this famous wine region and the chance to enjoy a selection of local restaurants. Who Knows sleeps six in one double and two twin cabins, each with its own bathroom, and is available for whole boat charters for between two and six people. Emma The Emma is a turn-of-the-century Belgian barge, which now has three roomy, well-designed cabins, with great bathrooms and she cruises on the Canal du Midi. In spring and autumn the route is between Beziers & Carcassonne and in mid-summer they they cruise between Beziers and Sete, on the coast (it’s slightly cooler and less crowded.) Liz & Rene love their boat and have refurbished her beautifully, with personal touches like several generations of family photos, watercolours by local artists and the propellor of René’s late father’s plane decorating the saloon. Liz is a superb cook, and loves to introduce her passengers to the best of the local cuisine. Rene is a native of Sete and an engineer with wide boating experience and is a mine of information on this famous canal and the surrounding area. Other boating companies we work with: European Waterways (19 barges) French Country Waterways (4) St Louis (1) Papillon (1) Savoir Vivre (1) Etoile (2) In addition to barges in France, we can arrange barge cruises in Germany, Holland, the UK and Ireland, as well as on the six-passenger La Dolce Vita, exploring Venice and the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, a unique area and perfect for boating. for a bit of history, see my story of barge cruising since the 1970s and contact us - BESPOKE FRANCE Robert Buchanan & Barbara Keen PO Box 5489 DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND ph : 03 472 7856 fax : 03 472 7855 email : bestour@xtra.co.nz info@bespokefrance.co.nzbarging%20then%20%26%20now.htmlmailto:bestour@xtra.co.nz?subject=inquiry%20from%20websitemailto:info@bespokefrance.co.nz?subject=inquiry%20from%20websiteshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2
HOTEL BARGE CRUISING WITH BESPOKE FRANCE
the perfect one week wind-down
Luciole - top left - evening mooring,  right - the saloon   bottom left - Saussois, Nivernais canal, right - Auxerre
Who Knows - top left -riverside mooring,  right - on the Doubs River  
bottom left - the saloon, right - the sundeck
Emma in lock, Canal du Midi
Sundeck, Emma