Lorraine
Barging in Alsace-Lorraine

Passengers: 22
Size: 128 feet long
Rating: First Class, A/C

2011 Value SEASON Rates*

Whole Boat Charter: $55,800
Individuals: $2,790
per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $1,290

2011 VALUE SEASON DATES

April 2 - 8	July 30 - Aug 5	October 22 - 28
April 9 - 15	August 6 - 12	October 29 - Nov 4
July 16 - 22	August 13 - 19
July 23 - 29	August 20 - 26

2011 Regular Season Rates*

Whole Boat Charter: $59,800
Individuals: $2,990 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $1,290

2011 Regular SEASON DATES

April 16 - 22	May 28 - June 3	July 9 - 15	October 1 - 7
April 23 - 29	June 4 - 10	August 27 - Sept 2	October 8 - 14
April 30 - May 6	June 11 - 17	September 3 - 9	October 15 - 21
May 7 - 13	June 18 - 24	September 10 - 16
May 14 - 20	June 25 - July 1	September 17 - 23
May 21 - 27	July 2 - 8	September 24 - 30

* Prices do not include open bar, crew gratuity, or transfers to and from the routes. We would be happy to coordinate and book train transfers.

Lorraine is owned by an experienced American investor-operator. He pledges to run the barge at the same quality level enjoyed by guests in previous seasons. Lorraine will spend the first half of the 2010 season in Southern Burgundy, returning to Alsace in mid-July.

When in Alsace, Lorraine holds down a fascinating route in Alsace - Lorraine, where French and German cultures intertwine. (The villages look German, the wines taste French! ) This beautiful route contains some of the most interesting and varied sightseeing in all of barging, including a barge "lift" that hauls Lorraine up 150 feet from the River Marne to the Rhine Canal! Other excursions include Strasbourg, a wonderful city with great shopping; Colmar, renowned for Renaissance and Medieval architecture; wine tasting in typical village; and the Chapel of Cordeliers, with its famed Chagal window.

Young and enthusiastic crew keeps the ambiance festive and a French chef rules the kitchen. A great choice for 11 couples on a whole-boat charter, as the cabins are identical. Highly praised by our guests!

Lorraine

Alsace-Lorraine Cruise Itinerary

strasbourg to xouxange

Saturday: Meet in Strasbourg
Get to Know Strasbourg
Passengers will be met at the Strasbourg Rail Station at 2:45pm. (TGV train tickets to/from Paris are in addition to the cruise fare and must be purchased separately. We can coordinate this purchase before departure.) You will transfer to Lorraine, moored right in Strasbourg, for a quick orientation and then immediately enjoy the city tour of Strasbourg. Return in time for the first of many gourmet dinners on board.

Sunday: Moored in Strasbourg
Fabulous all-day excursion to Colmar - plus private winetasting
Guests will be taken on an all day excursion to Colmar, pictured at left, with its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, its 13th century collegiate church and the world famous waterside section called Little Venice. Lunch will be in a local restaurant and some free time will be allowed afterward for shopping and exploring. Later guests will return to Lorraine for a drive back to Strasbourg along the "Routes Des Vins." This road runs at the base of the foothills of the Vosages Mountains, parallel to the Rhine and through the famous vineyards of Alsace. We will stop for a private wine tasting in the ancient village of Riquewihr before returning to the boat in Strasbourg for dinner.

Monday: Strasbourg to Hochfelden
Begin to cruise into the heart of Alsace
Cruise past the European Parliament before disembarking for a walking tour of Strasbourg, including the picturesque Petite France riverside district and the remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame. Afterward, explore on your own. Visit a museum, take advantage of the excellent shopping or simply stroll the cobbled streets. Return to the Lorraine in the nearby village of Hochfelden, pictured below.

Tuesday: Hochfelden to Lutzelbourg
Taste French Beers!
After breakfast and a short cruise, we will visit a small local brewery, all the best French beers are brewed in the Alsace region. Afterwards we return to Lorraine for lunch and a cruise through Saverne and the Zorne valley to the fairytale town of Lutzelbourg, nestled in the Vosges mountains.

Wednesday: Lutzelbourg to Hess
Amazing inclined barge lift!
After breakfast, visit a crystal workshop and see how some of the most famous products of this area are still individually fashioned by hand. Back on board cruise into Lorraine, where the canal follows the steep-sided, tree-lined valley of the river Zorn to the famous inclined plane of Arzviller. Here a counterbalanced barge lift, pictured at right, hauls us up nearly 150 feet to the summit level of the Marne to Rhine canal. We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges Mountains before mooring for the evening at a quiet spot near the village of Hess.

Thursday: Hess to Xouxange
Petite Chapel with a window designed by Chagall
Cruise along the summit pound, or highest section, of the Marne to Rhine canal, passing through the regional park of Lorraine, a nature reserve with vast woodlands and lakes. After lunch drive to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel of the Cordelieres, with its famed Chagall window. We return to Lorraine, moored in Xouxange for our farewell gala dinner.

Friday: Coach Transfer to Strasbourg Rail Station
A Sad Farewell
You will be driven back to the Strasbourg Rail Station. Expected arrival is noon. Breakfast is your last on-board meal. Please make your departure plans from Strasbourg based on this arrival time. If you are flying out of Strasbourg, the Barge Manager will arrange a taxi at your expense to the Strasbourg Airport.

Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks. Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Barging and river cruises in France Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

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xouxange to strasbourg

Saturday: Strasbourg to Xouxange
Moor in the heart of rural France
Passengers will be met at the Strasbourg Rail Station at 2:45pm. (TGV train tickets to/from Paris are in addition to the cruise fare and must be purchased separately. We can coordinate this purchase before departure.) You will transfer to Lorraine moored in Xouxange, a small rural community. As the luggage is taken to the cabins, the crew will welcome us aboard with Kir Royal. Feel free to have a walk around the village before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Sunday: Xouxange to Lutzelbourg
How elegant crystal is created
We leave the boat after breakfast for a coach drive to a crystal workshop to see how some of the famous products of this region are crafted by hand. We return to Lorraine for lunch and cruise through the afternoon past a number of typical villages. After going through two tunnels we reach Arzviller. We continue cruising along a delightful stretch of the canal tot he fairytale town of Lutzelbourg.

Monday: Lutzelbourg to Saverne
Shop and stroll in Saverne
Morning excursion to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel des Cordeliers to see the beautiful stained glass window created by Marc Chagall before returning to the barge for lunch. Afternoon cruise towards Saverne, a bustling market town of some ten thousand inhabitants. The numerous locks and an asphalt-covered towpath give excellent opportunities to walk or cycle. The attractive red sandstone palace built by the Rohan family in the 18th century is in full view across the canal and the Alsatian archetecture and narrow main street make this a delightful town. There will be time to stroll and shop before dinner.

Tuesday: Saverne to Hochfelden
Taste French Beers!
Morning cruise through several villages and afternoon visit to a local small microbrewery in the town of Uberach en route we will drive through the hopfields. The Alsace region is justly known for its breweries and all good French beer is produced in this region.

Wednesday: Hochfelden to Strasbourg
So much to see in Strasbourg!
After an early start this morning, we cruise to Strasbourg, with plenty of opportunities for walking and cycling along the towpath. Afternoon guided walking tour of the principal sights of the Capital of Alsace, including the picturesque "Petite France" riverside district and the remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant gothic spire. Afterwards there will be free time to explore the city center, its museums and shops before returning to the Lorraine at her nearby mooring.

Thursday: Moored in Strasbourg
Fabulous all-day excursion to Colmar - plus private winetasting
After breakfast we leave Lorraine for a full day excursion. First we will visit beautiful Colmar. We will join a guided tour of the city center with its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th cnetury collegiate church and waterside "Little Venice" area. Afterwards there will be free time to explore the city further, its shops and museums, particularly the Unterlinden museum, famous for its collection of Renaissance art works and specifically for the masterpiece of Mathias Grunewald, the Issenheim altarpiece. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. Towards the end of the afternoon we return to the Lorraine via the "route des vins" where we will have a wine tasting in the village of Riquewihr at a private cellar before returning to Lorraine. Farewell gala dinner served on board this evening.

Friday: Coach Transfer to Strasbourg Rail Station
A Sad Farewell
You will be driven back to the Strasbourg Rail Station. Expected arrival is 10:00am. Breakfast is your last on-board meal. Please make your departure plans from Strasbourg based on this arrival time. If you are flying out of Strasbourg, the Barge Manager will arrange a taxi at your expense to the Strasbourg Airport.

Lorraine

Guest Book

"There were seven crew members - all helpful and personable.  The bathroom was better than expected - great, thick towels and washcloths!  The sightseeing featured Roman history and wonderful churches.  The route is 80 miles long with over 40 locks!  At every port, guests can get off and walk or bike along the beautiful path.  We cruised through fields full of red poppies, saw rural views, and also cruised past adorable villages."
- Bill and Pat Fleming, 2010

"Fantastic!  The food was outstanding!  After telling friends about this experience, they are planning to book a barge trip in 2010."
-Jo Anne Eschler, 2009

"The tours were varied.  Our favorite was the beertasting - and we loved Colmar!"
-Cliff and Laura Wood, 2008

"Just a quick note from Kelly and I to say that we thoroughly enjoyed the trip.  The crew, the boat, the tours, everything including the weather were absolutely awesome and we will certainly recommend it to our friends.  Thanks, too, for your attention to detail and speedy responses."
-Greg and Kelly Banks, 2008

"Great Trip, can't wait to do another next year!"
-Doug and Paula Groseclose, 2008

"Fellow passengers were lots of fun and interacted very well with six in our Seattle group.  The entire staff was always friendly and helpful.  Helen, cruise manager, made special accomodation for Jane's allergy to "oaked" wines."
-Louis and Jane Lambert, 2008

Lorraine Floor Plan

128 feet long
-11 Cabins 110 sq ft, all with twin beds and large windows.
-Lounge/bar and separate dining room with modern decor and large windows.
-Sundeck with canopy.
-Laptop computer - extra charge
-French cell phones for rent.