With year-'round sun warming lavender fields and Mediterranean shorelines, and an ancient culture dedicated to supplying every need of mind, body and soul, Provence and the South are blissful places for rest and relaxation.
These are the lands of olive oil and honey, rosemary and sunflowers, hilltop villages and cypress avenues. Van Gogh painted here, and here the Popes fled to escape the turmoil of 00th century Rome. In recent years, Provence has become a potent symbol of “the good life,” and every visitor would agree that there’s something magical in the Provençal air.
Canal and river cruising is one of the most relaxing and intimate ways to experience the beauty of Europe, without crowds and in great comfort. For those who appreciate fine food and wines, peaceful vistas and an exciting new destination each day without ever leaving “home,” this has become a favorite way to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary or time together as a family.
It’s no wonder that Van Gogh, Cézanne and Chagall came to Provence for inspiration. The scent of lavender fields and olive groves wafts across rolling hills, and the almost constant sunshine brings a natural glow to daily life. On a barge vacation in Provence you can experience it for yourself.
With a natural palette so vibrant, great master artists were able to paint and share the beauty of Provence with the world. The father of modern painting, Paul Cézanne, was raised in a wealthy family in Aix-en-Provence. He immortalized the Provençal countryside with his broad, panoramic views. Cézanne saw himself as an interpreter and composed the landscape as he wanted it — arranging trees and houses, for example — in an attempt to bridge nature and art. Along the route of your luxury barge cruise in Provence, you’ll see many of the same sights that fueled the great painter’s fertile imagination. His works can be viewed in museums throughout the world and at a permanent exhibition, L’Atelier Cézanne, in Aix-en-Provence.
After moving to Arles, Vincent Van Gogh was taken by the hot reds and yellows of the Mediterranean that he increasingly used in his paintings to represent his moods. Many of his famous works were either created in Arles or were inspired by Provence, including Starry Night Over the Rhône and Café Terrace at Night. Cruise on the luxury barge ‘L’Impressionniste’ or ‘Napoléon,’ and you can take a walking tour of Arles to visit some of Van Gogh’s old haunts.
Barging in France is a leisurely way to see these palettes of color and experience the châteaux and sleepy vineyards of the Mediterranean. Your floating hotel barge can travel passages too narrow for larger vessels, giving you a unique vantage point. In the South of France travel along the tree-lined Canal du Midi in the Languedoc, home to the largest wine-growing region in the world. The towpaths here make this route an excellent choice for family cycling and walking excursions into neighboring villages. Since your canal barge moves at a leisurely pace you are able to bicycle alongside or stop in the nearest town, easily catching up with the on-board passengers. Because your barge always moors beside a village or town while on a canal cruise, you have easy access to local nightlife, shops and attractions.
‘L’Impressionniste,’ ‘Anjodi,’ ‘Alouette,’ ‘Napoléon’ and ‘Roi Soleil’ all cruise through Provence and Southern France and take you to medieval walled towns, Roman colonies and cliff-top villages. Your barge vacation includes everything you need to make your holiday complete, from guided sightseeing and entry fees to transfers and accommodations to three delicious meals daily with wine — always featuring the best local flavors and ingredients.
