Brittany is home to only one charter barge cruise, the 4 passenger Libje

BRITTANY	Barge	2012 Prices	Comments
	Libje 4 passengers First Class Canal de Nantes a Brest	Charter Prices - Full Board $11,500 Half Board $10,150	LIBJE is the only barge cruise in Brittany as the canals are inaccessible by inland waterways. Owners, Ian and Jane Slade, brought Libje up the Atlantic Coast and across the Bay of Biscay to cruise the beautiful waterways of Brittany. Filled with Celtic history and lore, the half timbered villages are adorned with flowers, the countryside is lush green and the canal is calm and tranquil. This hidden corner of France awaits you.

What makes Brittany so special?

Its waterways
Brittany’s canals and rivers are not connected to the other French inland waterways making them inaccessible except by traversing the Atlantic. That is a courageous feat with a flat bottomed barge and explains why Libje, a 4 passenger barge, is the only charter barge cruise in Brittany. Its owners, Ian and Jane Slade, already have our respect for being so adventurous and for finding the perfectly sized barge to fit the locks in Brittany.

Its history
Though part of France for over 450 years, Brittany drew its heritage from the Celts of Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland. It was the center of a sophisticated prehistoric culture that had strong links with Britain and Ireland. It is thought that Brittany has the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the world, and the megalithic remains are both spectacular and of great historic importance. Dating from 6,000 BC, these remains pre-date Stonehenge, Knossos on Crete and even the pyramids of Egypt. 

The Canal Nantes à Brest
In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte started work on an inland link between Brest on the western coast of Brittany and Nantes on the river Loire to allow the transport of cargo to the navy at Brest without interference from the English who were blockading the English Channel at that time. The Nantes à Brest canal uses existing rivers with weirs and locks to make them navigable to river craft. As most of the towns in Brittany were built along the sides of the rivers, the canal cuts through the center of some beautiful medieval towns such as Rennes, Redon, Josselin and Malestroit. The waterways are no longer used for commercial traffic and pleasure boat activity is relatively light.

Art, Flowers and Scenery
Brittany was a favorite location for Paul Gauguin to create his many paintings depicting scenes of Brittany which have changed very little even today. Every town in Brittany seems to compete to have the best floral displays and the locks and lock cottages along the canal are no exception. The countryside is lush green, and the rolling hills and valleys provide rich grazing pastures. Large and unspoiled, it is usual to see an abundance of bird life and wildlife with herons, egrets, raptors, woodpeckers, red squirrels, wild boar, deer, badgers and even otters. Birdwatchers and photographers are delighted with the scenic bounty. 

Fabulous Food 
Brittany is a gourmet’s delight. It is the source for much of France's top quality fruit and vegetables. Its long rocky coast also makes it the center for seafood of all sorts. A favorite dish here is the seafood platter and is so highly rated that there are strict laws stating the number of varieties that must appear and the freshness of the ingredients. A visit to one of the many outdoor markets rewards shoppers with a vast choice of fresh quality products. Local specialties are crepes, cheese, seafood, organic beers and cider.



The Climate
As Brittany is essentially a large peninsula, the climate is moderate and enjoys a relatively even and pleasant temperature throughout most of the year. The weather is often described as the perfect southern English summer.

Myth and Legend
With its connection to Celtic England and Wales, Brittany has a huge wealth of folklore relating to Arthurian legend. Merlin the Wizard was supposed to have come from the central forest of Broceliande. It is no coincidence that a large number of the 'knights of the round table' were French.

                                                       For information on Libje, visit their webpage . . .