Impressioniste - The Barge Company 2008

Avignon to Agde Cruise Itinerary

Sunday, Avignon
Guests are met at 4pm at the delightful Grand Hotel in Avignon and escorted by minibus to L'Impressionniste for a Champagne Welcome. Dine aboard in Avignon.

Monday, Avignon to Arles
This morning we visit the Palais des Papes, an impressive monument to the era of the 'Other Rome', when the popes moved to France, or enjoy a superb wine tasting at Chateauneuf du Pape. After a stroll though the vibrant shopping district of Avignon, we return to the barge for lunch. In the afternoon we cruise down the mighty Rhone River to Arles, passing the intriguing citadel of King René at Tarascon and the foothills of the Alpilles. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Arles to Aigues Mortes
This morning we explore Arles, the Roman Arena and Theatre, St. Trophime's church and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit some of Vincent van Gogh's haunts on foot through the heart of this old capital of the Camargue before rejoining the barge for our cruise up the Rhone. We join the Petit Rhone and then the Canal du Rhone a Sete that carries us to our mooring beside the medieval fortified town of Aigues Mortes. Dinner ashore at a local auberge.

Wednesday, Aigues Mortes to Frontignan
Stroll from our mooring outside the Aigues Mortes town walls to visit the Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning 13th century crusaders. In the afternoon, we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete through the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant sea bird life and flocks of elegant pink flamingos, to the hamlet of Les Aresquiers where we are close to the Mediterranean. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Frontignan to Marseillan
An early morning cruise brings us to Frontignan. This is followed by a chance to explore Sete, 'the Venice of the Languedoc', with its thriving fishing fleet and fish market. In the afternoon we sail out onto the Thau Lake, a large, inland salt-water lagoon full of mussel and oyster beds. The water is so clear that you can sometimes see miniature sea horses passing on the tide. After lunch on board we arrive in Marseillan, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village. Before dinner on board, you might enjoy an aperitif wine tasting in a local Languedoc vineyard.

Friday, Marseillan to Agde
Before the ship sails we have an opportunity to tour the cellars and distillery of the world famous vermouth Noilly Prat, followed by a tasting. In the afternoon we cruise on the Canal du Midi, the oldest complete canal in France, to the town of Agde, followed by a tour of Agde itself, including its Cathedral built of lava blocks from the nearby Black Mountains. Captain’s Dinner on board.

Saturday
Return transfer by minibus to Agde TGV station by 10am or Montpellier TGV station, airport or hotel by 11am.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise in reverse direction and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.

Agde to Avignon Cruise Itinerary

Sunday, Agde
Guests are met at The Metropole Hotel in Montpellier at 4pm and escorted by minibus to L’Impressionniste for a Champagne Welcome. Dinner is preceded by a gentle stroll into Agde, with its cathedral built of lava blocks from the nearby Black Mountains. Dinner aboard.

Monday, Agde to Marseillan
We begin our day with a cruise along the Canal du Midi, the oldest complete canal in France to Marseillan, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing village on the edge of the Thau Basin. Today’s excursion is to Pezenas, a delightful village, mostly famous for its associations with the famous French play write Moliere, who is said to have written many plays while staying here. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Marseillan to Les Aresquieres
This morning we go into Marseillan where passengers can tour the cellars and distillery of the world famous vermouth Noilly Prat, followed by a tasting or visit the street market. Around lunchtime we sail out onto the Thau Lake to Frontignan. The Thau Lake is a large, inland salt-water lagoon full of mussel and oyster beds where the water is so clear that you can sometimes see miniature sea horses passing on the tide. On arrival in Les Aresquieres we moor up for the night. Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Les Aresquieres to Aigues Mortes
Leaving Les Aresquieres we cruise the Canal du Rhone à Sete through the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses, abundant sea bird life and flocks of elegant pink flamingos. After lunch we arrive at our mooring outside Aigues Mortes town walls and visit the town and its famous Tour de Constance, built in 1248 as a lighthouse for the returning 13th century crusaders. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Thursday, Aigues Mortes to Arles
We leave Aigues Mortes early and enjoy three waterways today starting with the Canal du Rhone a Sete, then the Petit Rhone and finally the Rhone itself, which leads us to Arles, gateway to Provence and old capital of the Camargue. After lunch, we explore Arles, the Roman Arena and Theatre, St. Trophime's church and the Museum of Provencal life. We also visit some of Vincent van Gogh's haunts on foot. Dinner on board.

Friday, Arles to Avignon
An early start takes us along the mighty Rhone River passing the intriguing citadel of King Rene at Tarascon and the foothills of the Alpilles to Avignon. Here we spend an enjoyable afternoon, with a visit the Palais des Papes, an impressive monument to the era of the 'Other Rome', when the popes moved to France, shopping in the vibrant centre or take a trip out to Chateauneuf du Pape for an optional wine tasting. Captain’s dinner on board.

Saturday
Return transfer by minibus to Avignon train station or The Grand Hotel in Avignon by about 11am.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise in reverse direction and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.