Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

The Landscape of Scotland

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Tartan plaid, Whiskey, Castle Ruins and Heather:  All on our Scottish Barge Cruise

For centuries, Scots and many thousands of young lovers, writers, painters and travelers have recognized and relished the beauty, magic, mystery and the special tranquility of the Scottish landscape which can be summed up in the word “romantic”. The romance of Scotland is endless and more you explore this country, more you fall in love with it.

Scots are famously proud of their amazing history and rich culture. The stereotypical Scot wearing a kilt with tartan patterns, playing bagpipes and eating haggis is not as widespread as visitors might hope, but if you know where to look you won’t be disappointed.

Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. It is a pattern consisting of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Scottish kilts usually have tartan patterns. Tartan is one of the patterns known as plaid in North America, but in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder or a blanket.  Several years ago kilts came back into fashion and young men started wearing them again. They’re very popular at rugby matches, especially the international matches at Murrayfield.

If you want to indulge in the romance of Scotland, get onboard our eight passenger Scottish Highlander which has the atmosphere of a Scottish Country House with subtle use of tartan furnishings and landscape paintings. This Scottish barge cruise is spacious and has every comfort needed for year round cruising. She is also equipped with eight bikes and your tour guide will be happy to recommend the best routes to explore.

Cruise the length of the Great Glen on the ‘Scottish Highlander,’ through lochs and down the scenic Caledonian Canal. This is inland cruising at its finest, with ancient castles and heather-clad hillsides along the way. Pass stunning highland countryside and visit battlegrounds of the Jacobite Rebellion; then stop at Glen Nevis distillery, where you learn whiskey-making secrets and enjoy a dram or two.

The Caledonian Canal links the west of Scotland to the East, and makes it possible to navigate right through Scotland’s Great Glen, between William and Inverness Fort. It is scenically spectacular along its whole length, surrounded as it is by Scotland’s highest mountains and most beautiful scenery.

The cruise highlights are Cawdor Castle, home of Shakespere’s Macbeth, Culloden Moor, the last British based battleground in 1746, Cruise Lochs’ Ness, Oich, Lochy and the Caledonian Canal, spectacular scenery, Wildlife and Folklore. You also get the chance to visit Glencoe, treachery between the Campbell and MacDonald clans as well as to see Eilean Donan and Urquhart castles.

The tour of the Ben Nevis Whisky distillery is so exciting; you will get an insight into the secrets of the various stages of whiskey preparation and taste a wee dram or two.

The Scottish Highlander, with some variations in the stops discussed above, offers cycling and golf cruises as well.

Scottish Highlander cycling cruise

Aboard your bike barge cruise, your ride begins from Culloden to Inverness where you take views over Moray Firth. You come across General Wade’s military road on the east shore of Loch Ness, the village of Dores, Urquhart Bay and the ruins of Urquhart Castle. At Foyers, you stop to enjoy the spectacular Falls of Foyers. Fort Augustus is also on your cycling route and you enjoy watching the lovely village. On your way from Fort Augustus to Invergarry, you come across mighty Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. You also get the chance to join part of the Great Glen Cycle Route. The cruise takes you to Gairlochy. You get a chance for more cycling along the towpath to Banavie, then back to your barge for dinner.

Scottish Highlander golf cruise– From Dochgarroch, your golf barge cruise arranges for a visit to Royal Dornoch Golf Course for a round on the Championship Golf Course. Designed by Tom Morris, Royal Dornoch is one of Scotland’s famous links courses.  Dornoch dates back to 1616 and is internationally acclaimed. Back to barge, you cruise to Fort Augustus. Nairn Golf Club- a one hour drive – is your next golf destination where you play on the Championship Golf Course. Nairn’s reputation is well founded, hosting many professional and amateur events. You also get the chance to have a round of golf at nearby Fort Augustus Golf Course; probably the only course in the world kept manicured by a herd of sheep!  Later on, you cruise to Banavie and Neptune’s Staircase of locks. You are taken to Newtonmore Golf course. Newtonmore, established 1893, is a comparatively flat, easy-walking, parkland course full of exciting and invigorating challenges.  After your round on Newtomore, you return to your barge for a farewell dinner.

We offer golf cruise vacations in Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France.

Strasbourg

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Strasbourg – A Starting Point for Short River Cruises

After the excitement of the holidays have settled down, start planning your get away with  our marvelous Rhine River cruise!  One of Europe’s major rivers, the Rhine flows through Switzerland, Germany, France and Holland. The area around the river – Rhineland – has a natural beauty that is simply stunning.  Picturesque mountain ranges, enchanting forests, mysterious castles and traditional vineyards provide a wonderful backdrop to a river cruise.

Strasbourg is one of the various beautiful destinations on Rhine River. The city is a starting point for various short river cruises such as Strasbourg to Koblenz etc. The port of Strasbourg is the second largest on the Rhine River.

Situated in the north-east of France, Strasbourg is the ultimate European city. It is a great metropolis and very cosmopolitan. Strasbourg is located on the border of France and Germany and absorbs the flavor of both the countries.  A unique thing about the city is that residents have mixed feelings of being French or German and they often agree that they are not totally either French or German, but a mix of both. As you visit this city, you too will be amused to see that the signs are in both languages and find it hard to decide which country you are visiting- France or Germany!

The intellectual and cultural capital of Alsace, and the official seat of the European Parliament, Strasbourg is famous throughout the world for its sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its renowned astronomical clock and nearby one of the finest collections of museums anywhere in France. The medieval cityscape of Rhineland with black and white timber-framed buildings is truly captivating.

Strasbourg also has the distinction of being famous for its beautiful historical Centre – the Grande Île – which was the first city center to be classified entirely as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  And not only this, the place is the best area in France when it comes to delicious cuisine as the dishes here have a boldness that originates from its German roots. You’ll find there is always attention to quality and detail that is the essence of the French food. Visitors will also have a wonderful time shopping here.  There is a wide range of markets and great shopping venues such as the new shopping Centre Rivetoile at Place d’.Etoile that was opened at the end of 2008.

Being so unique, beautiful and amazing, Strasbourg is a must visit destination. Your trip to Strasbourg will be an experience for a lifetime!

Cruising on the Moselle

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http://www.europeanbarging.com – 713-240-6753 / 888-869-7907  The Moselle Valley has a splendid countryside. The cool and delicious wines, the picturesque little towns with rich histories, and the excellent conditions for cycling are a few of the high points of this area. Here you can enjoy your vacation whether you want it to be simply onboard a barge or a combination of bike and barge.

 

Cochem on the Mosel River

Your cruise takes you on a tour of this wonderful region where you come across several interesting places. Metz is designated a ‘town of art and history’ because of its rich historical and cultural background. Contact European Barging and River Cruises to book your amazing cruise on the Moselle today!

For years the Mosel River was vital for commerce and transport, with many settlements, such as the town of Cochem, springing up on its banks.  Along with Reichsburg Castle.

Castles such as Burg Eltz near Koblenz were built for both protection and as a sign of wealth and power.

During the Industrial Revolution, The Mosel region underwent significant changes when became more connected with rail and roads.  During WW2  the region suffered from heavy bombing.

Post-war reconstruction and modernization have brought prosperity. Today, the Mosel River region is known for its wine production, beautiful landscapes, and rich historical heritage.

 

Porta Negra Gates in Trier Germany on the Mosel River

In Roman times Trier had thermal baths, places of assembly, and an amphitheater today the colossal Porta Negra town gate, the imperial baths, and the impressive basilica keep that history alive. Trier is also the largest Roman city north of the Alps.

Cruises on the Moselle River, include:

BARGE CRUISES:

8 passenger L’Nouvelle Etoile

SHORT RIVER CRUISES

A-ROSA offers 5-night and 7-night cruises
Croisi River Cruise offers 4-night cruises

7-NIGHT RIVER CRUISES

AmaWaterways

Contact European Barging and River Cruises to book your amazing cruise on the Moselle today! Europeanbarging.com  713-240-6753  jan@europeanbarging.com

 

Louvre Museum

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A destination in France that should not be missed

The Louvre, the world’s most famous museum, was originally a royal palace. The greatness and popularity of this museum can be easily understood from the fact that it is the most visited museum in the world. So, no doubt, it is a must see destination for anyone who visits Paris and particularly for those interested in art and history. A visit to the Louvre after a French barge cruise is a great way to see famous artist’s renderings of some of the sites you have seen on your while on your cruise.   So, get on board a Paris river cruise and discover the wonders of artistic expression both inside and out.

Though the Louvre Museum is house to countless number of works, the most celebrated ones include the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo. One of the finest art galleries in the world, the Louvre takes pride in a collection of over one million classic and modern masterpieces. However, about 35 000 are on display, spread out over three wings of the former palace. The works include Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings. This is a jewel in the crown of French culture and a grand celebration of European history and civilization.

Some of the greatest works of art in the museum are the Venus of Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and of course Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

The Louvre Museum put up its first exhibition of works in the 16th century as the private collection of King Francis I. He purchased some of the works of art, one of which was the now famous Mona Lisa painting.

You enter the museum through the Louvre Pyramid or via the Carrousel du Louvre, thereon you have access to three large wings: Sully, Richelieu and Denon. As you walk through the museum, you feel as if you are walking through the history of France and into the minds of kings and revolutionaries. The major contribution towards making this museum what it is today is attributed to the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. During their reigns, there was major expansion and a linking of the palaces and halls.

The iconic pyramid building of the Louvre Museum is surrounded by Carrousel gardens. These gardens are enchanting and are a fascinating area in France to relevant to discuss Paris art and reflect on the wonders of the great Louvre Museum!