It
has been said that barges are floating fantasies. For
those travelers who have dreamed of escaping to the
perfect world, the ultimate travel adventure may be
aboard a luxury barge from Afloat in France. Each is
a sumptuous traveling inn with its own personality,
gracious ambiance and elegant comfort. The itineraries
include magical places such as Champagne, Saône,
Burgundy, Rhône, Dijon, Seine, Chablis, Beaune
and Avignon.
There
are five barges to choose from - the Fleur de Lys, Amaryllis,
Hirondelle, Alouette and Napoléon. Cruises include
candlelight dinners created by the on-board chef, tours
through ancient towns, castles and vineyards, exploring
country châteaux, visits of local museums, bicycle
rides through medieval villages, shopping at local bazaars,
and balloon rides over farm hamlets cradled in verdant
valleys.
The
Fleur de Lys is impeccably appointed with a gracious
elegance and amenities that epitomize the concept of
ultimate luxury. Similar in size to a large hotel barge
(which ordinarily carries up to 22 passengers) the
Fleur de Lys is completely air-conditioned and accommodates
a maximum of six guests in 2500 sq. ft. of living space.
The
Amaryllis, sister ship to the Fleur de Lys, is a proud
addition to the Afloat in France fleet. Designed in
conjunction with La Fluviale, a prominent boat company
in St. Jean de Losne, it has been decorated by some
of the most respected names in France and Italy. The
interior exudes an uncompromising attention to detail
and the specially designed window casings incorporate
huge windows that panoramically frame the passing countryside.
Napoléon
is Europe's finest river cruiser, combining all the
amenities of a fine luxury hotel with the friendly ambiance
of a quaint country inn. This year, she will cruise
between Arles and Tain l'Hermitage on the Rhône
itinerary and Lyon, Mâcon, Tournus, Beaujolais,
Mâconnais and Côte d'Or wine regions on
the Saône itinerary.
The
Alouette and Hirondelle cruise some of the most tranquil
and beautiful waterways in all of Europe. Burgundy and
Franch-Comté are renowned for their vineyards,
Gothic churches and abbeys, Renaissance châteaux
and picturesque villages. It is a region of France in
which gastronomic delights and the art of living have
reigned supreme since Roman times. Excursions take travelers
to places with storybook names and are arranged according
to individual interests, whether it be to the quaint
town of Dole, the famous museum in Dijon, the castle
in Châteauneuf or to Besançon, birthplace
of Victor Hugo, with its magnificent citadel designed
by Vauban.
Afloat
in France offers cruises in spring, summer and autumn
through The Barge Lady Collection. Biking and Opera
itineraries are available. For more information, visit
www.bargelady.com or call 800-880-0071.
(Source:
Maison
de la France) |
