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Canal & Company
Welcome to the wonderful world of waterways cruising. We may be a little biased after our combined 60 years of being involved in the growth of this unique industry, but we think you will agree that this is a special way to discover the heart of France. You will see the French countryside in its full glory. You will discover her secrets at 4 mph, allowing plenty of time to see the detail you would miss with any other form of travel. This is the graceful way of life that seems long forgotten to us today. In fact, this may be the first time you experience such a relaxed voyage. We are proud to have the opportunity to welcome you aboard these five unique vessels. You will have the vacation of a lifetime, and will return home with fond memories and new found friends that you will never forget. One of our recent guests described her experience on the Anacoluthe as “unpretentious luxury.” We hope you will agree. Why is "Canal & Co French Hotel Barging" so popular? A Canal & Co French Barge Vacation is a change of pace from what most people have experienced – There is a certain intimacy that comes from slowness, from being with a small group and from the realization that as you amble through the cobble stone streets of a medieval village that the very stones you are walking on have been walked on by people like yourself for centuries. The light of course has been a big attraction in France. - It gave a life to the impressionists painters of the 1800’s. In the morning the sun shines soft, highlighting the orange and reds, in the afternoon it filters through the trees overhead the canal as you glide through the forests and fields, and in the evening it lights up the greens and forms the pastels in the Burgundy vineyards as it makes its journey westward toward sunset. The tours of course are special - you will visit private castles with their magnificent gardens, quaint villages where time seems to stand still, vineyards where we will stop for a taste, world historical sites that help give us an insight as to who we are and why, and lots more. Each day brings a new shore excursion in one of our air conditioned buses with one of our licensed tour guides. It is all included in the price.
Who said
that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?”–
The boats offer a
high comfort level. All Canal & Co barges offer air
conditioned comfort on a vessel that is tastefully decorated
with a mix of beautiful wood and brass complimented by
lovely fabrics. Most of your time will be spent in the
public areas of our Canal & Co. offers a customized level of service. Normally there is one crew member for every three passengers - your guarantee of first class, highly personalized service. Our experienced bilingual crew, most of whom have been with us for many years, include experienced pilots, well-informed tour escorts and friendly hosts and hostesses intent on sharing their local knowledge with you to ensure that your cruise is a delightfully memorable experience. A
towpath runs alongside the canals,
giving you the option to either walk or
In Praise My heart overflows with gratitude to you. The trip on the Anacoluthe was truly fabulous. The crew, led by Scott, was at our constant service, the food was superb, and we all left with only praises for all. — Anacoluthe, 30 April 2005 Neil, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and could not do enough for us. One morning, for instance, he took three ladies on an impromptu side trip to the shrine of St. Odile, then they all met us later to reboard at a lock. The bicycles were great, excursions informative, and if a lot of walking was required, we were advised ahead of time and given alternate choices with less walking if we wanted. The ride in the barge lift up the side of the mountain and through the tunnels was a wow. — Lorraine, 14 May 2005 The cabin was even better than expected. Overall, the experience was wonderful, and we certainly recommend this trip to others. — Litote, 7 May 2005 My second barge trip was every bit as enjoyable as the first. The lower Burgundy area is very beautiful and the Saône is a magnificent river with delightful towns all along the way. The cruise into Lyon was majestic, and I felt like Cleopatra herself! The cuisine on the barge used all the delicious produce of the area and wines from all the vineyards that we had been cruising past or visiting along the way. Magnificent! — Libellule, 14 May 2005 Go to Boats A Typical Day in the Life on a Canal and Company Holiday
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Of
course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.”
You will dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in
some of the finest schools in France.
The
complimentary w
barges which feature a spacious saloon, dining area, bar and
sundeck. Anacoluthe even has a piano. Cabins are all
outside with portholes or windows, private shower bathrooms,
drawers, wardrobe, bookshelf, and reading lamp.
bicycle
between locks, or stay on board and watch the world go by as
the scenery changes with every bend in the river or canal.
All barges have bicycles so you can explore nearby villages
and countryside or ride the towpath alongside the barge,
which stops at locks along the way.