Boating Holidays in Aquitaine

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Overview

You chose this barge holiday in France for its diversity! Languid days tied up in medieval towns wash the tension away as you get into the fun of travelling by boat through the Garonne Valley. You smile as you stop to breathe in the fragrance of Castets-en-dorthe’s wonderful gardens or sip a Bordeaux in Nérac, aside the great Henry IV castle. Agen delights you with urban pleasures!

Top highlights:

• Indulging in fresh chocolate from L’Attrape Rêves in Sauveterre-St-Denis
• The monuments and circular grain market of Auvillar
• Exploring the fortified walls of Vianne
• Walking along the canal banks of Castets en Dorthe

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colorful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colorful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Agen: Agen is a large city with a rich medieval past. Discover the typical timbered houses, the church of the Jacobins, and the rich history of this pretty town.
• Sauveterre-St-Denis: This stop is for chocolate lovers. Moor at St-Jean-de-Thurac, cross the bridge and walk across to the small village of Sauveterre-St-Denis (2km away). The chocolate master Philippe Jarasson invited you to discover his original creations in his store ‘L’Attrape- Rêves. 
• Valence d’Agen: Stroll around Valence d’Agen’s pretty streets and see the unusual ancient round wash houses.
• Auvillar: Shortly after Valence-d’Agen is the small village of Pommevic. Moor here to go to Auvillar, classified among ‘the most beautiful villages of France’. (5km south of the Canal – the slope is steep to get there). Auvillar is worth the detour for its circular, covered market and its impressive viewpoint over the Garonne valley. 
• Moissac: Cruising along the Garonne, you will arrive at Moissac and immediately see a luxurious hotel located on the banks. It’s called the Moulin de Moissac. The great abbey Saint-Pierre de Moissac is also pleasant to visit.
• Vianne: Vianne has a long history to tell you. It begins in the Roman period. War after war, new fortifications appeared, which explains why the church is so well-fortified. It is now a charming and welcoming village with very good restaurants.
• Lavardac: Discover Lavardac, a brilliant example of a typical bastide – an organised village built in the 14th century in southern France.
• Nerac: Nerac will offer you wonderful landscapes of a typical village of southern France. Visit and discover the huge d’Albret Castle. Don’t forget the impressive Saint-Nicolas church.
• Marmande: In Marmande, the church Notre-Dame de Marmande is really interesting, with its beautiful cloister and its great gardens. Downtown, you will appreciate the decoration of the Place Clemenceau, and also the garden of Verdun.
• Meilhan-sur-Garonne: In Meilhan-sur-Garonne, there is a place you have to see. Located along the left bank, a beautiful vista across the valley of the Garonne awaits you. It is a perfect spot to have a rest, to fish, or go for a bicycle ride.
• Castets en Dorthe: In Castets-en-Dorthe, a green and quiet city, you will enjoy having a walk along the canal banks of the Garonne. See the great Hamel Castle and the Eiffel bridge.

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Overview

Aquitaine river cruises are often all about indulging in fine dining and savouring local wines, a nod to your passions and sensory pleasures. As you explore the waters at the heart of this region, it becomes clear why famous French painters favoured the area. Medieval towns with bustling market squares, soaring ramparts and stone fortresses make river cruising in France delightful.

Top highlights:

• Trying your luck at petanque with the locals in Damazan
• Wine tasting in Buzet
• Exploring the fortified walls of Vianne

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colorful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colourful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’
• Lavardac: Discover Lavardac, a brilliant example of a typical bastide – an organised village built in the 14th century in southern France.
• Vianne: Vianne has a long history to tell you. It begins in the Roman period. War after war, new fortifications appeared, which explains why the church is so well-fortified. It is now a charming and welcoming village with very good restaurants.

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Overview

The River Baïse stretches before you, sparkling in the sunshine and leading you closer to charming Buzet. In a few more minutes, you’re tied up and going ashore for some cycling before you and your friends head to an intimate waterside café for dinner. As you lift a glass of Bordeaux, you think your cruise couldn’t get much better!

Top highlights:

• Wine tasting in Buzet
• The Chateau de Nérac and Église Saint-Nicolas de Nérac in Nérac
• Exploring the fortified walls of Vianne

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colourful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colourful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Lavardac: Discover Lavardac, a brilliant example of a typical bastide – an organised village built in the 14th century in southern France.
• Vianne: Vianne has a long history to tell you. It begins in the Roman period. War after war, new fortifications appeared, which explains why the church is so well-fortified. It is now a charming and welcoming village with very good restaurants.
• Nérac: Nerac will offer you wonderful landscapes of a typical village of southern France. Visit and discover the huge d’Albret Castle. Don’t forget the impressive Saint-Nicolas church.

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Overview

Romanesque churches, fortified mills, picturesque market squares, and pastoral scenery make a history and heritage canal vacation in France a true delight. This engaging itinerary includes both the Canal Latéral à la Garonne and the River Baïse, two of the Aquitaine’s most beautiful waterways. The varied medieval architecture captivates the eye and transports you back in time.

Top highlights:

• Playing petanque with the locals in Damazan
• Wine tasting in Buzet
• Exploring the fortified walls of Vianne
• Indulging in fresh chocolate from L’Attrape Rêves in Sauveterre-St-Denis

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colourful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colourful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Lavardac: Discover Lavardac, a brilliant example of a typical bastide – an organised village built in the 14th century in southern France.
• Vianne: Vianne has a long history to tell you. It begins in the Roman period. War after war, new fortifications appeared, which explains why the church is so well-fortified. It is now a charming and welcoming village with very good restaurants.
• Nérac: Nerac will offer you wonderful landscapes of a typical village of southern France. Visit and discover the huge d’Albret Castle. Don’t forget the impressive Saint-Nicolas church.
• Agen: Agen is a large city with a rich medieval past. Discover the typical timbered houses, the church of the Jacobins, and the rich history of this pretty town.
• Sauveterre-St-Denis: This stop is for chocolate lovers. Moor at St-Jean-de-Thurac, cross the bridge and walk across to the small village of Sauveterre-St-Denis (2km away). The chocolate master Philippe Jarasson invited you to discover his original creations in his store ‘L’Attrape-Rêves.
• Valence d’Agen: Stroll around Valence d’Agen’s pretty streets and see the unusual ancient round wash houses.
• Auvillar: Shortly after Valence-d’Agen is the small village of Pommevic. Moor here to go to Auvillar, classified among ‘the most beautiful villages of France’. (5km south of the Canal – the slope is steep to get there). Auvillar is worth the detour for its circular, covered market and its impressive viewpoint over the Garonne valley. 
• Moissac: Cruising along the Garonne, you will arrive at Moissac and immediately see a luxurious hotel located on the banks. It’s called the Moulin de Moissac. The great abbey Saint-Pierre de Moissac is also pleasant to visit.

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Overview

It’s a study of contrasts in the beautiful Aquitaine — rural villages are juxtaposed with venerable châteaux on vast estates. Stately churches perch on the shore, often dominating a town’s skyline. As your boat holiday in France progresses, you find yourself admiring your surroundings more and more! Visit historic Nérac with its famous churches and Castets-de-Dorthe’s château!

Top highlights:

• Fishing in Meilhan-sur-Garonne
• Walking along the canal banks of Castets-En-Dorthe

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colourful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Marmande: In Marmande, the church Notre-Dame de Marmande is really interesting, with its beautiful cloister and its great gardens. Downtown, you will appreciate the decoration of the Place Clemenceau, and also the garden of Verdun.
• Meilhan-sur-Garonne: In Meilhan-sur-Garonne, there is a place you have to see. Located along the left bank, a beautiful vista across the valley of the Garonne awaits you. It is a perfect spot to have a rest, to fish, or go for a bicycle ride.
• Castets-en-Dorthe: In Castets-en-Dorthe, a green and quiet city, you will enjoy having a walk along the canal banks of the Garonne. See the great Château du Hamel and the Eiffel bridge.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colorful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-Baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Vianne: Vianne has a long history to tell you. It begins in the Roman period. War after war, new fortifications appeared, which explains why the church is so well-fortified. It is now a charming and welcoming village with very good restaurants.
• Lavardac: Discover Lavardac, a brilliant example of a typical bastide which were organised villages built in the 14th century in the south of France.
• Nérac: Nérac will offer you wonderful landscapes of a typical village of southern France. Visit and discover the huge Albret Castle. Don’t forget the impressive Saint-Nicolas Church.

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Overview

Passing through the Cacor Aqueduct, you smile with pleasure as you head for Moissac, known for its famous market. You are in the midst of a fantastic barge holiday in France, cycling the towpaths, exploring quaint towns like Agen with its 15th-century church, sampling fois gras, and kicking back on the sundeck just admiring the scenery as you travel.

Top highlights:

• Wine tasting in Buzet
• Indulging in fresh chocolate from L’Attrape Rêves in Sauveterre-St-Denis
• The monuments and circular grain market of Auvillar

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colourful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colourful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet-sur-baïse: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Agen: Agen is a large city with a rich medieval past. Discover the typical timbered houses, the church of the Jacobins, and the rich history of this pretty town.
• Sauveterre-St-Denis: This stop is for chocolate lovers. Moor at St-Jean-de-Thurac, cross the bridge and walk across to the small village of Sauveterre-St-Denis (2km away). The chocolate master Philippe Jarasson invited you to discover his original creations in his store ‘L’Attrape-Rêves. 
• Valence d’Agen: Stroll around Valence d’Agen’s pretty streets and see the unusual ancient round wash houses.
• Auvillar: Shortly after Valence-d’Agen is the small village of Pommevic. Moor here to go to Auvillar, classified among ‘the most beautiful villages of France’. (5km south of the Canal – the slope is steep to get there). Auvillar is worth the detour for its circular, covered market and its impressive viewpoint over the Garonne valley. 
• Moissac: Cruising along the Garonne, you will arrive at Moissac and immediately see a luxurious hotel located on the banks. It’s called the Moulin de Moissac. The great abbey Saint-Pierre de Moissac is also pleasant to visit.

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Overview

On the Canal de Montech, you pass through the scenic Agre forest, where you can’t resist stopping for a picnic lunch of a baguette and local cheese washed down with Bordeaux. Ahead is an amazing boatlift to get you to the Canal latéral à la Garonne and the River Baïse on what is turning out to be a wonderful boat holiday in France!

Top highlights:

• Wine tasting in Buzet
• Indulging in fresh chocolate from L’Attrape Rêves in Sauveterre-St-Denis
• The monuments and circular grain market of Auvillar
• The beautiful garden of Clairefont in Castelsarrasin

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday:

• Le Mas d’Agenais: Usually awash with colourful flowers, Le Mas d’Agenais is home to a marvelous old wash basin, and the ruins of a destroyed castle which are both worth a visit.
• Damazan: Damazan is a pretty, quiet and colourful town. Esplanade des Promenades is a beautiful place, where old men sometimes play petanque in the shade of cedars.
• Buzet: Discover Buzet, a pretty town where the great wine Buzet is made. Visit the house of the wine growers and sample a delightful glass of the ‘good stuff’.
• Agen: Agen is a large city with a rich medieval past. Discover the typical timbered houses, the church of the Jacobins, and the rich history of this pretty town.
• Sauveterre-St-Denis: This stop is for chocolate lovers. Moor at St-Jean-de-Thurac, cross the bridge and walk across to the small village of Sauveterre-St-Denis (2km away). The chocolate master Philippe Jarasson invited you to discover his original creations in his store ‘L’Attrape- Rêves. 
• Valence d’Agen: Stroll around Valence d’Agen’s pretty streets and see the unusual ancient round wash houses.
• Auvillar: Shortly after Valence-d’Agen is the small village of Pommevic. Moor here to go to Auvillar, classified among ‘the most beautiful villages of France’. (5km south of the Canal – the slope is steep to get there). Auvillar is worth the detour for its circular, covered market and its impressive viewpoint over the Garonne valley. 
• Moissac: Cruising along the Garonne, you will arrive at Moissac and immediately see a luxurious hotel located on the banks. It’s called the Moulin de Moissac. The great abbey Saint-Pierre de Moissac is also pleasant to visit.
• Castelsarrasin: Castelsarrasin is a flower-filled city with many open gardens, most notably the garden of Clairefont.
• Montauban: Walk under the beautiful arches in Montauban, the most populated city in the area. It is a good place to stay for a few days. Note that there is also a huge golf course.