The Barge Company 2006 Season - Barge of the Month

Taking 6 guests in great comfort she offers everything you could wish for when seeking a tranquil, luxurious escape from the modern world...The following pages showcase our most recent visit to the barge et the end of April 2006.

With a dedicated crew of 4 to look after your every need, you can really relax and soak up the scenery. Whether you’d like to relax in the air-conditioned comfort of the inside lounge (below left—aperitifs before dinner) or on one of the comfortable loungers on deck (see next page) - the choice is yours...

The cabins on La Tortue are not huge or spacious (see above-left) but are reasonably sized and pleasantly ‘boaty’ in feel. Curtain and cushion fabrics are obviously very carefully chosen, perfectly co-ordinated and are of a very high quality, as are the bed linens and pillows, thus contributing to the feeling of pampering that one is seeking on this barge. The bed we slept in (above) was a generously large double and was probably the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in on a barge. Bedding down at night to read before putting the light out, a specially gourmet meal in my stomach and fine wines lingering in the memory, was a sheer pleasure...Falling alseep to the sound of the buzzing cicadas outside in the trees are a constant reminder that you’re cruising through the south of France.

There are 3 cabins on La Tortue, each with their own, private, en suite bathroom (see ours, above right). One cabin is a double (with one big bed for two people), and the other two cabins can be configured as either a twin (with two single beds) or double.

Bathrooms are prettily tiled, largely in white, with a very attractive, blue and yellow Provence-style frieze incorporated around the bathroom at shoulder height. We found our bathroom was kept spotlessly clean at all times, and an extensive array of good quality toiletries was provided throughout the cruise, together with wonderfully thick, fluffy, white towels.

Natural, varnished hardwoods form the decor in the interior lounge area of La Tortue (see below left), on the walls and throughout the barge. This creates a cosy, welcoming and very classic atmosphere which we found to be very comfortable. Excellent quality fabrics have been used for sofa covers, the thick, plush curtains and tablecloth linens. Large mirrors and professionally framed pictures adorn the walls to very good effect. The overall atmosphere inside La Tortue is classic and welcoming, and we found ourselves feeling instantly ‘at home’.

The open plan lounge area accommodates two large sofas which easily seat up to 3 people on each with a large coffee table between them, and a large 6 seater, solid dining table where a gastronomic feast is served each evening (when you are not dining on deck).

To enjoy a preview of La Tortue food and wine please click here.

A significant highlight and very strong point of cruises on La Tortue is the daily cuisine which is prepared especially for you with market-fresh ingredients and much care and attention to detail. Peter Shaw (right) is your Barge Chef and also the co-owner of the barge. We caught him enjoying a rare moment of relaxation with a glass of red wine on our cruise! Usually guests will see relatively little of him as he spends most of each day preparing your next courses or sourcing the best ingredients with which to prepare them.

To view a variety of menus from our cruise week please click here.

Throughout the week you will cruise for half a day (either morning or afternoon) each day and during the other half of the day you will enjoy an excursion of historic or cultural interest with Iole who is La Tortue's congenial and knowledgeable Barge Guide. You will be driven to and from the visits by Iole in the large, comfortable air conditioned minibus.

Excursions on La Tortue are always fun and interesting. One of the highlights of our cruise was the visit to the ancient Abby of Malras set way up in the Minervois Hills. The bendy roads that took us there prepared us well for this rustic and hidden gem of many centuries past! Wandering the now deserted abbey was a spiritual experience and the village that lay closeby was also a real treat to explore. We even took time to enjoy a cool drink under a shady parasol of a café in the quaint little square. At that point we felt really French! Then, back to the comfort of the barge for a delicious lunch (see below left) in the shade of the olive trees.

If you like the look of La Tortue and are interested in cruising on her, please contact us to request further information or to check available dates for your possible cruise. We’d love to hear from you.

To get back to the main information showing prices, etc., for La Tortue, please click here.

For more information and pictures of the Canal du Midi (the barge’s cruise route), please click here.

If you have any questions about barging and wish to e-mail The Barge Company, please simply click here.

TO CONTACT US

Phone: +33 563 02 87 04, Fax: +33 563 02 24 11

Phone (Toll-Free from USA + Canada):1-800-688-0245

Email:info@bargecompany.com

Web:www.bargecompany.com

The Barge Cruise Company Ltd.

501 Chemin Lacoste

82170 Grisolles

FRANCE

	Welcome to another exclusive ‘Barge of the Month’ feature. This month we focus on the classically resplendent La Tortue barge which cruises between Beziers and Carcassonne on the prettiest stretch of the UNESCO Heritage listed Canal du Midi in southern France.