• Every dinner is a delight!
  
  Bouchée à la Reine
  Puff Pastry filled with Shrimp,
  Scallops, Mushrooms, and
  Béchamel Sauce
  Served on a Bed of Greens
  
  Poulard à L'Ancienne
  Traditionally Prepared Chicken
  in a Delicate Wine Vinegar Sauce
  Served with Sautéed Potatoes
  and Fresh Seasonal Vegetables
  
  Sorbet Citron
  
  Plateau de Fromages
  Brie de Meaux, St. Félicien,
  Epoisses, St. Agur, Livarot
  
  Fruit Tart Flambéed with Cognac
  Served with French Custard
  
  Café, Thé, Tisane
  et Petit Chocolats

Highlights of a
Week on L'Etoile in Provence

• Visit of Pont du Gard and the Pope's Palace in Avignon
• The hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence
• Saint Rémy de Provence
• Arles and the Café van Gogh and Roman Amphitheatre
• Walled medieval town of Aigues Mortes
• Maguelone Abbey Church
  

Highlights of a Family Barge Cruise
with Children

• Kayak or Canoe to the Pont du Gard
• Treasure hunt at Les Baux de Provence
• Horseback riding in Aigues Mortes
• The Mediterranean beach or the Adventure park at Maguelone
• Play "boules" the traditional French game for all ages
• Explore the Roman antiquities in Arles

L'Etoile in Provence
River Rhone, Petit Rhone,
Canal du Rhone a Sete

Your cruise combines well-known sites of Provence with intimate and unusual moorings in the Camargue and on the Mediterranean - for an entirely personalized experience. Captain Cobie loves customizing the cruise for families with children. Contact us about the family itinerary.

Sunday
You will be met at the location of your choice in Avignon, which is easily accessible by TGV train from Paris or Nice, or as a rental car return point. You will be transferred to your charming barge home, moored in the nearby port of Villeneuve-les-Avignon/Beaucaire. You will be welcomed aboard with a champagne toast and the first of many gourmet dinners.

Monday
A whole day out in fabulous Provence! In the morning we are off to visit the impressive roman aqueduct - Pont du Gard; then back to the barge to have lunch. Next, you will have the opportunity to tour the largest gothic palace in Europe, the Palais du Pape in Avignon with a possible wine tasting before returning to the barge. Dinner will be back at your cozy home, still moored in Villeneuve-les-Avignon/Beaucaire.

Tuesday
This morning you begin your cruise. We float on the scenic Canal du Rhone a Sete to moor in Bellegarde, a typical, charming provençal village. After lunch you will visit the famous and enchanting hilltop village of Les Baux, known for its gorgeous views over the provencal landscape and its artisans colony. Dinner on board with a view of the river will be memorable.

Wednesday
A morning cruise on the "Petit Rhone" to our mooring in the picturesque village of St. Gilles. After lunch you will have an opportunity to visit Arles, where van Gogh fell in love with the lights and colors of this fascinating countryside. Heading to the heart of town we will see Les Arenes, a roman amphitheater built in the first century AD. Dinner back on board rounds out a wonderful day.

Thursday
We start our day cruising on the canal du Rhône a Sète through the stunningly beautiful Camargue National Park, home to various wildlife including black bulls and the beautiful white Camargue horses. We moor at the gates of the amazing 13th century walled town of Aigues-Mortes, an embarkation port for the crusades. There are many historical sites to visit and there will be time to walk along the walls, shop for souvenirs or relax in one of the many outdoor cafés. A relaxing gourmet dinner awaits you back on board.

Friday
We set out this morning to the most peaceful and romantic mooring of this cruise located at the 6th century Maguelone Cathédral on a peninsula, with the canal on one side and the beautiful blue of the mediterranean on the other! Lunch will be served during the cruise. Spend your afternoon walking or biking to this cathédral, observing flamingos and other wildlife, lounging away the afternoon at the beach. You will enjoy your final gourmet dinner on board.

Saturday
You'll say "Au Revoir" and depart after breakfast for transfer to Montpellier. There are TGV train departures to Paris and Nice. If you prefer, you may also be transferred to the airport, rental car office, or hotel of your choice.

This route is run in reverse on alternate weeks. Our sightseeing schedule is flexible and can be customized to reflect your interests. Occasionally an itinerary will be changed due to canal closures or inclement weather. The Captain will substitute an equally interesting route. Change in itinerary will not be accepted as a cause for cancelling your cruise.

*******

L'ETOILE offers a very special itinerary for families with children with fun to be had by all.

Special Provence Itinerary for a
Barge Cruise for Families with Children

This is the perfect holiday for families with children, lots of activities, both interesting for adults and child friendly. A relaxing holiday for the family, and please tell us about you and your children’s food preferences!

The barge has a plunge pool on deck, dvd’s for children, (do not hesitate to bring your own, the dvd player is region-free), an Ipod docking station, lots of games, bikes and helmets are available.

Sunday
You will be met at the location of your choice in Avignon, which is easily accessible by TGV train from Paris or Nice, or as a rental car return point. You will be transferred to your charming barge home, moored in the nearby port of Beaucaire. You will be welcomed aboard with a champagne toast and the first of many gourmet dinners.

Monday
A whole day out in fabulous Provence! In the morning we are off to Collias, here we can rent a kayak or canoe and we will head for the impressive roman aqueduct - Pont du Gard. There is also a very informative, interactive museum which is great fun. After lunch on the barge, you will have the opportunity to tour the largest gothic palace in Europe, the Palais du Pape in Avignon with a possible wine tasting before returning to the barge. If you have very young children, we can go to the Place d’Horloge for a ride on the carousel. Alternatively, we can go to Uzes and visit ‘Le Musee du bonbon Haribo’, the sweety museum with tastings! Dinner will be back at your cozy home, still moored in Beaucaire.

Tuesday
This morning you begin your cruise. At the lock, the children are invited to go with our tour guide into the lock house. He will explain how it all works, and invite the children to ‘push the button’ to operate the lock. We float along the scenic Canal du Rhone a Sete to moor in Bellegarde, a typically charming provençal village. After lunch you will visit the famous and enchanting hilltop village of Les Baux, known for its gorgeous views over the provencal landscape and its artisans colony. There is also the treasure hunt to do here with the children; a fun and enriching way to discover the Villa through a series of puzzles. A free booklet of games is available for children aged between 7 and 12 years. Dinner on board, if weather permits on deck, will be memorable.

Wednesday
A morning cruise on the Canal du Rhone a Sete to moor near Franquevaux, a tranquil countryside mooring. Here we have great possibilities to walk or bike or why not go to the little village to play ‘boules’, the traditional french game of young and old. There will be also an opportunity to visit Arles, where Van Gogh fell in love with the lights and colors of this fascinating countryside. Heading to the heart of town we will see les Arenes, a Roman amphitheater built in the first century AD. Dinner back on board rounds out a wonderful day.

Thursday
We start our day cruising through the stunningly beautiful Camargue National Park, home to various wildlife including black bulls and the beautiful white Camargue horses. We moor at the gates of the amazing 13th century walled town of Aigues-Mortes, an embarkation port for the crusades. There are many historical sites to visit and there will be time to walk along the walls, shop for souvenirs or relax in one of the many outdoor cafés. It will also be possible to go horse back riding with the children. A relaxing evening and dinner await you back on board.

Friday
We set out this morning to the most peaceful and romantic mooring of this cruise located at the 6th century Maguelone cathedral on a peninsula, with the canal on one side and the beautiful blue of the Mediterranean on the other! Lunch will be served during the cruise. Spend your afternoon walking or biking to this cathédral, observing flamingos and other wildlife or lounging away the afternoon at the beach. Alternatively you can go to the adventure and discovery park Les Rochers at Villeneuve les Maguelone. Activities are available for three year olds and upwards. You can make this a half day activity with lunch back on board, or a day long activity with picnic at the park. We are flexible, and will organize the cruise to your convenience. Your final gourmet dinner on board rounds out your very special holiday.

Saturday
You'll say "Au Revoir" and depart after breakfast for transfer to Montpellier. There are TGV train departures to Paris and Nice. If you prefer, you may also be transferred to the airport, rental car office, or hotel of your choice.

Our sightseeing schedule is flexible and can be customized to reflect your interests. Itinerary runs in opposite direction on alternate weeks.