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Please note. These itineraries are indicative only. We will always tailor a cruise to the interests and wishes of the guests on board. There will always be the opportunity to walk or cycle along the towpath, to stroll round local villages, to fish, to play petanque, or just to lie back and do nothing! Equally, we can always arrange wine tastings at selected local vinyards, or excursions to other places of interest.
Cruise 1 - Montauban to Agen (or vice versa)
Saturday Meet around 3 pm, normally in Toulouse. Travel by car to the Saint Louis. Champagne reception on board. Options for the evening include a visit to the local Artisan Distillerie, or a stroll around Montech town, or a game of petanque beside the boat.
Sunday After breakfast, we take the car for a short excursion around Montauban, City of Art and Culture. We visit the central Italian square, and the Pont Vieux over the River Tarn. We return to the Saint Louis, and pass through one lock before joining the main Canal Lateral a la Garonne. We pass down the extraordinary Montech Water Slope, an impressive experience for everyone. We cruise through the canal to Castelsarrasin, where we moor for the night.
Monday After exploring the town in the morning, we cruise to Moissac, City of Roman Art, crossing on the way the brick aquaduct over the River Tarn. In the afternoon, we visit a famous goat cheese farm at Gensac, and the lovely historic town of Auvillar.
Tuesday We start the day with a visit to the Abbey and 11th century Cloisters at Moissac, reputed to be the finest cloisters in Europe. After lunch, we cruise to Pommevic where we moor at a small halte under a deep canopy of trees. In Pommevic there is an 11th century church to visit, or we can take an excursion up to the lovely mediaeval town of Lauzerte. We are likely to see pilgrims walking the Santiago di Compostella, the ancient pilgrimage route which has been important since the 6th century.
Wednesday After breakfast, we cruise first to Valence, where we stop for lunch. We visit the three Romanesque wash houses in the town, and admire the unusual pigeon houses and half-timbered buildings. We then cruise to Golfech, where we moor at a quiet Halte.
Thursday Today we make an early start to cruise to the city of Agen, (famous for fruit especially melons and prunes) taking breakfast under way. On arrival, we take an excursion by car to the amazing mediaeval city of Nerac, where we see the Chateau of King Henry 4th, and the Gothic Pont Vieux.
Friday After a leisurely breakfast, we leave the Saint Louis and travel by car back to Toulouse.
Cruise 2 - Agen to Castets (or vice versa)
Saturday Meet around 3pm, normally in Toulouse (or Bordeaux). Travel by car to the Saint Louis. Champagne reception on board. Evening stroll around the city, or perhaps a game of petanque beside the boat.
Sunday After breakfast we cruise out of Agen, and immediately cross the amazing stone aquaduct over the River Garonne, followed by four landscaped locks. We moor for the night at the quiet port of Serignac sur Garonne, and in the evening we can wander around the quaint village, with its half-timbered houses and its unusual church.
Monday In the morning, we take an excursion by car to the amazing mediaeval city of Nerac, where we see the Chateau of King Henry 4th, and the Gothic Pont Vieux. On the return journey to the boat we see a beautiful Romanesque bridge at Lavardac, and we visit the walled bastide town of Vianne, perhaps visiting one of its glass blowing workshops. We then cruise as far as Buzet-sur-Baise, where we moor for the night under some shady trees.
Tuesday After breakfast, we can either visit a local traditional barrel-making works, or we can take a small boat down a pair of locks and into the River Baise, perhaps taking a picnic with us. In the afternoon, we cruise as far as Mas d’Argenais, where we moor for the night.
Wednesday In the morning we take a walk up into the small market town, where there is a Romanesque church where there is a painting of the crucifixion painted by Rembrandt. From here we cruise as far as Meilhan.
Thursday In the morning we take an excursion by car to the nearby town of La Reole, where we visit an interesting Town Hall in what was originally a 10th century Benedictine monastery. We also can visit a car museum, before returning to the boat and cruising to our final port at Castets. On arrival, we take our final excursion, this time to Fontet where there is a matchstick building museum, including models of the Palace of Versailles and of the cathedral of Reims.
Friday After a leisurely breakfast, we leave the Saint Louis and travel by car back to Toulouse (or Bordeaux)
A Two Week Sample Bordeaux Itinerary
(between Montauban and Castets-en-Dorthe)
on the Canal Latéral à la Garonne
Please note most cruises are one week only.
Saturday—Meeting Point - Toulouse, at 3.30 p.m. Drive to St. Louis, moored at her home port at Lacourt St. Pierre passing by Grenade with its ancient market square. Captain's reception on board, familiarisation with the boat. After settling in, possible canal-side stroll before dinner.
Sunday—After breakfast, excursion into Montauban by car looking at some of the main features of the City of Art and Culture including the fine Pont Vieux over the Tarn. Lunch on board then departure through the first lock and passage to Montech. Join the main Canal Laterale a la Garonne, pass down the famous Montech Water Slope, and moor for the night in open country. We are joined for dinner by Tom Stevenson who has a wealth of knowledge of the history of these parts and who is an excellent ‘raconteur’.
Monday—Cruise to Castelsarrasin. Moor and wander through the small town. Here we will be joined by Alistair and Liz Moon, who have lived in south-west France for many years. Cruise over the superb 19th century brick and stone aqueduct which passes over the River Tarn and moor for the night just outside Moissac.
Tuesday—After breakfast, visit some of the fine features of Moissac, including the Abbey whose 11th century cloister is reputed to be one of the most beautiful in the world. This is an amazing small city, called the City of Roman Art and fully worth the half day we will stop there. Cruise down the canal to Pommevic where we moor the night. In Pommevic there is an 11th century church with a 14th century altar piece. We take a gentle excursion in the car to the lovely village of Auvillar where there is an ancient round grain hall set in a unique triangular square, as well as a museum devoted to the history of commerce on the Garonne river.
Wednesday—Cruise to Valence where we visit a range of interesting town features, including three public wash houses and "dovecot square". Excursion in the car to visit some of the local ‘bastides’ villages and some vineyards, taking a picnic lunch with us.
Thursday—Cruise down the canal to Agen, stopping on the way to visit some interesting small villages by car. Wander through the old part of the town, visit the fine arts museum and take a look at the 12th century church of St. Hilaire.
Friday—’Turn around day’. We stay in Agen for the day, situated on the banks of the Garonne, to wander among the beautiful flower gardens and view some of the very old buildings; some dating back to the 11th century. Agen also has the famous covered market for plums and peaches, which are grown in
the valleys of the Lot and Garonne rivers. Agen is known as the ‘cite du soleil. In the evening we are joined by two more guests from Scotland, who will be with us for the second week.
Saturday—In the morning we pass over the remarkable 15th century aqueduct crossing over the river Garonne - at 354 metres the longest aqueduct in France. After passing down a flight of four locks, we moor
close to Colume. In the afternoon, we take an excursion in the car to visit the lovely town of Nerac on the River Baise and the Chateau of King Henry IV, and also view its famous gothic Pont Vieux.
Sunday—Cruise to Buzet-sur-Baise which gives its name to a famous red wine of the region. In the late afternoon, excursion by car to the mediaeval village of Viannes. This ancient ‘bastide’ of English origin was founded in 1284 and has remained almost intact. See the church situated near the north gate with a beautiful bell tower and ancient cemetery.
Monday—Visit a traditional barrel maker and winery in Buzet, or the 13th century castle and church. Then cruise to Mas d'Argenais, passing by the 11th century St. Vincent church with its Crucifixion painted by Rembrandt.
Tuesday—Visit by car to the mediaeval country town of Marmande. Then cruise to Forques-sur-Garonne with the possibility of visiting the obelisk erected in memory of those who died in the explosion on the boat Gascon in 1908. Otherwise visits to nearby mediaeval villages.
Wednesday—Cruise to Hure, with an excursion by car to the interesting village of Meilhan-sur-Garonne, and beginning to pass through some of the famous Bordeaux vineyards.
Thursday—Excursion to the village of Fontet where there is a fascinating museum devoted to monuments made in matchsticks. Cruise to Castets sur Dorthe. Farewell dinner on board.
Friday—After breakfast, depart for Toulouse by car arriving there in time for lunch.
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