BOATING GUIDE 2023 BOATING GUIDE 2023


the most beautiful and historic places along the Canal du Midi.” The rates for a six-night cruise start at US$15,950 for two passengers with full-board catering; or US$7,450 if you opt for self-catering. www.bargesaraphina.com


Nicols Built in 1924, the Saraphina sails along the Canal du Midi offering unforgettable holidays to guests


RIVERS & CANALS The Loire, the Meuse, the Rhône, the Seine, the Garonne, the Moselle – France’s larger rivers snake through some of the most beautiful countryside in western Europe. Even the mighty Rhine brushes France’s eastern border. On most of these waterways you can hire river-cruisers, motorboats, narrowboats or hotel-barges, either crewed or self-navigated. Then there’s the vast network of canals. The most famous is the Canal du Midi, a 240km link between Toulouse and the


Mediterranean coast which, when built in the 1600s, was considered one of the greatest construction works in the world. Along with the Canal de Garonne, it forms a waterway joining the Atlantic and the Med. Other important canals include the Canal de Bourgogne, Canal du Nivernais, Canal de Briare, and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin.


136 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Feb/Mar 2023 Barge Luciole


The hotel-barge Luciole has been gliding passengers along the glorious Nivernais Canal since 1976. A tranquil 174km band of water connecting the Yonne and Loire rivers, this picturesque waterway slices through the middle of Burgundy. The friendly crew are always on hand to deliver a memorable experience as you watch the shifting landscape from the comfort of the barge’s deck. Up to 12 guests can stay in the eight en-suite cabins. Expect excellent gourmet meals and regional wines, as well as daily excursions or cycling (there are bikes on board) around local villages. Prices start at £4,100 per person. www.bargeluciole.com


Barge Saraphina


A Dutch barge built in 1924, the Saraphina has been lovingly converted into a hotel-barge with a sun-deck and two en-suite double cabins. She now plies her trade along the Canal du Midi,


where guests can relax as the three-person crew takes care of their every need. “We invite you to cruise with us through tiny bridges, unique oval locks, and the French countryside enveloped by vines,” they say. “Saraphina is a charismatic, old-fashioned boat with a contemporary, bright and welcoming interior. During a stay on-board you’ll not only enjoy full hotel services from owners and hosts Finnegan and Emily, but the


opportunity to wine, dine and relax whilst taking in some of


The boat-building team at Nicols have produced a new model, available for hire for the 2023 season. It’s an updated version of the two-cabin Quattro B, but with even more on-board comfort. Called the Quattro B+, it’s perfect for crews of four, and features a sun awning on the upper deck and air-conditioning using shore power. Nicols, which is based in the Loire Valley town of Cholet, offers a choice of boating holidays in Anjou, Alsace, Aquitaine, Burgundy, Brittany, the Camargue, Charente, Franche-Comté, the Lot, the Canal du Midi, the Loire Valley and the Saône Valley. www.boat-renting-nicols.co.uk


Hotel-barge Elisabeth Elisabeth is a beautiful hotel-barge which operates on the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal de Bourgogne, offering luxury, all-inclusive cruising holidays. Redesigned in 2019, according to the owners, “she offers


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Hotel-barge Elisabeth offers luxurious, all-inclusive holidays


IMAGES © DAMIAN MCARTHUR PHOTOGRAPHY, HOTEL-BARGE ELISABETH, BARGE SARAPHINA


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