Experiencing History from a Loire Valley Paddleboat Cruise

The Loire Valley is a treasure trove of historical attractions and architectural marvels to discover and explore. The Loire River is a little over a thousand kilometers long making it the longest among France’s waterways. It runs from the area of Mont Gerbier de Jonc through Nevers and through Tours then into Nantes before it empties out into the Atlantic at Saint Nazaire. It has several tributaries that can also be traversed by paddle boats or barges.

Excursions from a Loire Valley cruise give travelers a close look into French historical and cultural heritage. The beautiful landscape have attracted a good number of royals and aristocrats. Over the years, the Loire Valley has grown to be a favored spot for castles and chateaus that served as homes for the rich and powerful.

Croisi Europe Loire Princess Paddleboat

Saumur

The city of Nantes is the starting port for the Loire Princess paddleboat cruises. Nantes is known as Europes’ most livable city and is a convenient access to the Loire chateau attractions as well as the lush pastures and forests. The history of this city, spanning the 15th to the 18th century, is housed within the walls of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. Outside, the castle stands magnificent with its Renaissance facade. Inside, it is teeming with historical heritage meticulously curated in a museum.

A collaboration of the old and new, the Saint Machines of the Isles of Nantes is another must-see when you go on a Loire paddleboat cruise. Artistic machine builders took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s mechanical world and combined it with the industrial heritage of Nantes. Some parts of the exhibition are interactive and can be operated by the guests. One of the popular attractions is the 12-meter high Gigantic Sultan’s Elephant.

Cruises and tours of the Loire may also include a guided tour of Angers. This is quite a modern city, but rich in history and culture. At the Chateau de Angers, you will find one of the most important pieces from the locale, the Apocalypse Tapestry. Other Loire chateau attractions that can be found in the Chateau of the Loire Valley include: the master piece of the first French Revolution, the Chateau d’ Azay-le-Rideau; the centenary trees and vineyards of Chateau de Brissac; the colorful patterned gardens of Chateau Villandry, and the fairy tale-like Chateau d’ Usse.

Chateau_Chaumont_sur_Loire

Many of the attractions and destinations in Loire Valley take you down memory lane into the pages of Loire history as far back as the Renaissance. The flourishing of arts and culture during that period is evident in the design and construction of the chateaus and structures all around the Loire Valley. The management of many of these chateaus is now in the hands of current generations of royalties.

The French and English language 96 passenger Loire Princess paddleboat offers 6 and 8 day cruises.  A pre cruise package visiting additional chateau is available on limited dates.  As the Loire Princess is the only passenger cruise ship on the Loire, and with her small size, she books up  well in advance.  The upper deck features private balconies.  Rates start at $2248 for the 8 day lower deck and $2700 for the upper deck.  The 6 day cruise starts about $2000 for the lower deck and  $2372 for the upper deck.  The per person rate includes the cruise, all meals, a beverage package, port taxes and Wi-Fi.  Sightseeing packages are not included and can be pre ordered or booked on board.

Contact  Europeanbarging.com for availability, pricing and special offers.  888-869-7907  Jan@europeanbarging.com

Touring the Loire Valley on a Loire Valley Cruise

The Loire Valley is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in France. It lies in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. The valley has numerous vineyards, fruit orchards (such as cherries), and artichoke and asparagus fields lined along the banks of the river. Due to such an abundance of fauna in the Loire Valley, it is often referred to as the Garden of France. It is also popularly called as the Cradle of the French Language. The city of Tours in the Loire Valley is renowned for speaking the purest French.

Loire Valley has been inhabited since the Middle Palaeolithic period. It is remarkable for its historic towns, architecture and wines.  The central part of the Loire River valley got listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000.

Loire Valley is famous for its historic towns such as Ambiose, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Orleans, Saumur, and Tours. These historic towns display excellent architectural heritage. But specifically, Loire valley is considered exceptional for its châteaux, such as the Château d’Amboise, Château de Chambord, Château de Chinon, Château du Rivau, Château d’Ussé, Château de Villandry and Chenonceau.

The undulating riverside terrain of the Loire Valley and especially its many cultural monuments are reminiscent of the influence of ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on Western European thought and design.

The Loire Valley has an extensive wine territory encompassing several French wine regions situated along the river from the Muscadet region on the Atlantic coast to the regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. Many wineries in the region offer tours.

As mentioned earlier, the central part of the Loire Valley got recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The honor came for the Loire Valley region between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire on December 2, 2000. While adding this part to the list of esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the committee bestowed high praises on the region in these words: “an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments – the Châteaux – and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself.”

Loire Valley is a wonderful region to explore. Book your vacation on our Loire Valley cruise for a memorable experience with your family!

For more information contact: Europeanbarging, 888-869-7907, jan@europeanbarging.com