Barge Cruises in Gascony

Gascony lies deep in the untouched French countryside in an area where time seems to have stood still.

Situated in southwest France at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, just east of the French Basque coast, Gascony is awash in sunflower fields, verdant forests, and placid lakes. Gascony’s relaxed and rural lifestyles are aligned with the daily pleasures of food and wine. Here, the rich flavors of the region’s signature foie gras is proudly paired with the craft production of small batch brandy known as Armagnac. Accessible via Toulouse, Bordeaux, or Agen, barge cruising in Gascony can be easily combined with several days in the adjacent Bordeaux region.

Cruises in Gascony

Canals & Waterways

Situated in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Canal de Garonne and the Rivers Garonne and Tarn form the region’s waterways. The canal skirts the right bank of the Garonne, crosses the river in Agen via the Agen Aqueduct, then continues along the left bank. It connects to the Canal du Midi at its source in Toulouse, and emerges at Castets-en-Dorthe on the Garonne, southwest of Bordeaux, a point where the river is navigable.

Sightseeing Highlights

Natural beauty, botanical abundance, and boutique wines inspire the region’s enriching excursions ashore. Immerse in floral gorgeousness at the Latour-Marliac Lily Gardens, where thousands of lovely water lilies are on riotously colorful display. Spend a day touring and tasting in St. Emilion, an historic wine village. Visit an Armagnac producer, and enjoy samples of Gascony’s bracing signature spirit. Swirl, sip, and savor the sweet wines made exclusively from the pampered grapes of Sauternes.

Indulgent Insights

Traditional fare from Gascony is savory and sumptuous, reflecting the region’s year-round sunshine and rustic abundance. Complex flavors and piquant aromas take center stage on the Gascon plate; typical menus on barge cruises include prime cuts of meat sourced from local purveyors served with the season’s freshest produce. Generous pours of the region’s robust wines spotlight the best of local vineyards. Don’t forget dessert, as Gascony’s “pastis landais”, a cake flavored with orange blossom, vanilla, and rum, is the perfect finish to any regional meal.

Why Barge in Gascony?

As Gascony is the least populated area of France, the cruise route entices with placidity and quietude. Beautifully maintained towpaths lining the canal beckon for leisurely walking and exhilarating cycling. The pursuit of everyday pleasures in culture and cuisine are embraced as a key part of the Gascon lifestyle, extending to the freshest of locally-sourced ingredients and a newly enlivened wine production. Charming villages, idyllic scenery, and gorgeous greenery also abound.