Enticing Excursions
Abbaye de la Bussière Eilean Donan Castle
Every hotel barge cruise includes daily excursions to some fascinating local places of interest - imposing citadels or elegant châteaux, colourful markets or renowned wine cellars, medieval hilltop villages or magnificent palaces and cathedrals. Many of the excursions are a brief walk away from the hotel barge or, if further, the ever present air-conditioned minibus will carry you there in comfort. Each excursion is led by a crew member as guide, who usually has some amusing stories to tell about the places you visit and is adept at finding those lesser known, hidden away gems. For the history lovers amongst you, there will be visits to famous royal palaces and castles such as Hampton Court and Windsor beside the River Thames; spectacular medieval fortified cities such as Carcassonne in the Midi; battlefields in Scotland – even Troglodyte cave dwellings in the Loire Valley! variety of cultural experiences on offer is vast. You can browse the The tiny shops of skilled craftsmen in the villages of Burgundy or admire the stunning Renaissance architecture and art of Venice, Ferrara, Mantua and Chioggia. In Holland, see the delicate Delft porcelain being hand-painted, while in England you can tour riverside art galleries and boatyards where classic wooden riverboats have been built for generations. And if you want to indulge fully in the local gastronomic delights, there are visits to local producers of regional specialities such as olives, truffles, foie gras, scotch whisky and Armagnac. Finally, no cruise would be complete without sampling some fine wines at a respected domaine nearby, maybe in Chablis, Beaune, Sancerre or St-Émilion.
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The Historic Waterside City of Mantua
Above all, the excursions are designed for you to experience the richest treasures in the area surrounding your cruise route so that you can really gain an appreciation of the local culture and way of life. After every sightseeing trip you return to relax on your welcoming floating hotel, which is never far away.
History & Culture Optional hot-air ballooning is available on some cruises