Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

A Burgundy Barge Cruise On The River Rhone and Hospices du Beaune history

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A Burgundy barge cruise along the River Rhone

ID-1007958The Hospices du beaune, nestled among the gently rolling hills of Burgundy, is one of the most popular travel destinations in all of France. As one travels south down the Rhone River on the Burgundy barge cruise towards the Mediterranean sea, the cheerful roofs of the Hospices will beckon for a closer look.

The History of the Hospices of Beaune

The Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, also known as the Hospices, is one of the iconic buildings of Burgundy that you can see while vacationing the Burgundy barge cruise. It was built as an “almshouse,” or a home for the poor and needy. It was founded by Nicholas Rolin, a man who lived at the time of Joan of Arc. burgundy was not then part of France, but a rival kingdom, though Rolin was one of those who would help broker the peace that ended the Hundred Years War and paved the way for the eventual union of burgundy and France. Rolin and his formidable wife, Guigone de Salins, founded the Hospices as a charitable institution in 1443.

Burgundy is a rich province and always has been. The history of the province goes back thousands of years, to the legendary Merovingians. The Hospice was built with the same sumptuous quality and attention to detail that one sees all throughout Burgundy. The famous roof of the Hospices, with its distinctive checkerboard of golden tiles, is visible from kilometers away. At the time the hospice was one of the finest hospitals anywhere in the world, and the poor could be sure of good treatment there. The hospital maintained its tradition up to the present day, with an exceptionally interesting role in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and continues to serve the poor and indigent today. However, the patients are now served in a modern hospital. The original Hospices is now a museum, visited by thousands of people every year. It is also home to a world famous charity wine auction every November. The auction is held in the spectacular “Grande Salle des Pôvres,” or the Great Hall of the Poor.

A Burgundy barge cruise on the River Rhone

The Hospices is especially delightful to visit by the Rhone River. A Burgundy barge cruise can leave from Dijon or Provence and travel down the pleasant river for a wonderful excursion to the city. We welcome your inquiry into these spectacular barge cruises.

Wine and Barge Cruise in the Cote Du Rhone of France- Rhone River Cruise

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Rhone River Cruise- Do Not Miss The Opportunity

Rhone River CruiseA wine-growing Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for the Rhône wine region of France, Côtes du Rhône may be used throughout the region, also in those areas which are covered by other AOCs. In a limited part of this long narrow region, the AOC Côtes du Rhône-Villages may be used, in certain cases together with the name of the commune.

The Cotes du Rhone appellation was introduced in November 1937 with the purpose to provide a catch-all title for Rhone wines of admirable quality, but which come from less well-known viticulture areas. The Cotes de Rhone- Villages appellation is way ahead from this, being given to those communes that show particular viticulture qualities.

Côtes du Rhône stands for the basic regional red, rosé and white wines covering the length and breadth of the Rhone Valley in eastern France generally dominated by Grenache (reds and rosés) or Grenache blanc (whites).

A Well Known Wine Town- Rhone River Cruise

Côtes du Rhône is such a well-known wine, almost a synonym for a not-too-fancy French red. Still the fact remains that few wines can match Côtes du Rhône in exemplifying the countless changes which have brought a revolution in the French wine industry in the last 20 years.

At the most exacting level of distinction, a total of 16 crus are permitted to be recognized by their village name without requiring the mention of Côtes du Rhône on the label. With the distinctive exception of Château-Grillet, a white septentrional within the AOC Condrieu, a feature of the nomenclature of CDR wines is that at the top level they are named only after their villages, and not after châteaux as usually happens in the case of Bordeaux wines.

Regardless of the fact that it does not share the honour associated with Rhone’s more famous names (such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cote Rotie and Hermitage), the Cotes du Rhone title stands for some very fine wines indeed. Often you will find that your fine Cotes du Rhone comes from a particularly dedicated winemaker whose vineyard happens to be justoutside the boundaries of the famous appellations.

We offer the 18 passenger Le Phenicien barge and several Rhone river cruises in the Cote Du Rhone region of France. So book one of these and visit the beautiful Cote Du Rhone!

Explore the Wonderful Sanssouci Palace

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Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam

A brief hop over from the beautiful Elbe River is one of the most breathtaking historical culture sites in all of Germany. The elegant city of Potsdam is home to the Sanssouci Palace and the grounds of Frederick the Great. This German palace was the summer playground of the Prussian royalty, and has recently been renovated to some of its former glory. Sanssouci is one story tall and is designed in the Frederician Rococo style, so named after Frederick the Great. It is definitely worth taking a short bus ride from your Elbe river cruise to see the palaces, grounds and the nearby town.

894444_sanssouci2Why Sanssouci Palace is “care free”?

Unlike nearby Berlin, Potsdam was spared much of the bombing during World War II, so continues to display the charm and opulence that it has always had. The entire city is worth exploring, and they make sure that their crowning jewel of Sanssouci along with the surrounding grounds and other palace stay immaculate and ready for visitors year round. Every season is beautiful at these culture sites, and you can spend an entire day perusing this German palace and park. It is certain to be a day that you will never forget. Along with the Neue Palais and all the surrounding temples, statues, and unbelievable gardens, you will leave Sanssouci with a complete understanding of why Frederick the Great named this place “care free.” He designed Sanssouci to be a great escape from court life in Berlin, and you too might find it to be an excellent short retreat away from your Elbe River Cruise.

Berlin vs Sanssouci

If you have the time, you should definitely take the short train ride from Potsdam to the amazing capital city of Berlin. In stark contrast to the quiet of Sanssouci, Berlin is a bustling city full of vibrant life in every corner. You can continue with the royal theme by visiting Charlottenburg Palace and wandering around the beautiful gardens there sure to be full of picnickers  if the weather allows. You can travel to the city center and go up in the Television Tower to view the city in its entirety. Take a stroll around the city that has been at the center of so much history, and you are sure to be amazed.

Cruising the Elbe River

By the end of your Berlin and Sanssouci excursions, you will be ready to float away on your Elbe River Cruise once more. Contact us today to learn more about cruising the Elbe River.


The Belgium River Cruise

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Experience Beauty- The Belgium City of Antwerp On The Belgium River Cruise

The Belgium River CruiseAntwerp is a charming and relaxed city that’s very much medieval at heart. It is the second city of Belgium and is more captivating than the capital Brussels. Antwerp takes pride in being the birthplace of Rubens and being a place where 70% of world’s diamond trade takes place. Antwerp is filled with exemplary architecture, fine cuisine, thousands of bars, enthralling river cruises, wonderful museums and its red-light district. The city is compact but has a lot to offer and everyone will find something exciting in this relatively small city.

Antwerp is a wonderful walking city. Opt for a walking tour various sights as the major sightseeing attractions are easily accessible from one major street that changes its name as you move along: Italielei, Frankrijklei, Britselei, and Amerikalei. Some of the major sites that can be experienced on a walking tour include: Antwerp Castle, known as Het Steen ( “The Stone”). At the time of The Stone’s rise in the 13th century most buildings were still made of wood. The Grote Market is a masterpiece of 16th century architecture. It is beautifully surrounded by the Town Hall and the so-called houses of the Guilds or corporations richly decorated with golden statues, like in Brussels’ Groote Markt. Brabo Fountain stands in the middle of the Grote Market. The Rubens House, former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 17th century Flemish Baroque painter is a an amazing place. Antwerp Cathedral, which houses two of Rubens’s masterpieces, the ‘Descent from the Cross’ and the ‘Elevation of the Cross’ is yet another wonderful place you can see on your walking tour of Antwerp. The superb architecture and sights of the city are something you do NOT want to miss!

You Do Not Want To Miss The Belgium River Cruise

With so many attractions, Antwerp is a superb place where you can find everything from history to beauty to architecture to art and culture. Our Belgium River Cruises and Barge Cruises in Belgium offer walking tours of Antwerp where you get an excellent opportunity to see its attractions, marvel at its architecture and imbibe the Antwerp culture. Call us to book your holiday on one of our Belgium River or Barge Cruises and visit the wonderful city of Antwerp!

Casual Bike and Barge Cruise to the Italian City of Ferrara off the Po River

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lotg_mooredCruise and Casually Bike along the Po River

A casual Bike and Barge cruise is offered along the Po River that includes excursions to the historically and culturally significant city of Ferrara. Located in Northern Italy in Emilia-Romagna, Ferrara is the capital city of the province of Ferrara, and it lies along a branch of the main Po River named the Po di Volano. The cultural attractions of the city have been recognized by UNESCO, and numerous palaces that date from the 14th and 15th centuries– a time during which the city was the home of the court of the House of Este. In recognition of the city’s historical significance, the Italian Hermitage Museum began using the location for its headquarters in 2006. A barge cruise on the Po River is a perfect way to explore this fascinating city.

Enjoy Italian Culture Cruising the Po River

The cultural resources featured around the city mainly consist of a variety of architectural landmarks. The city wall itself, which was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries, still stands and is in fact one of the best preserved Renaissance walls in all of Italy.

One of the most important structures to visit in the city is the Castello Estense. This building is found in the absolute center of town, and its construction began in the late 14th century. The Castello Estense is a brick building that is surrounded by a moat and four impressive bastions.

Another must-see building is the City Hall. The City Hall was at one point a residence of the Este family, and it is found near another important architectural landmark, the former Cathedral of St. George. This cathedral is an interesting combination of several different architectural styles– Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance– that were incorporated as additions were made to the cathedral over the years.

Italian culture is reflected in the many palazzi that are found in and around the city. Some possible places to visit when wishing to view a typical Italian Renaissance palazzo are the Palazzo dei Diamanti, the Palazzo Schifanoia, and the Casa Romei.

Barge Cruise on the Po River 

There is no better way to take in all of these sites and enjoy the landscape of the areas surrounding the Po River than by barge. Contact us today to book a casual bike and barge cruise in Italy.