6 Night Cruise sailing from Montauban to Boe aboard Rosa.

NOTE: On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. Please check at time of enquiry/booking.

Sunday, Day 1 Montauban
Embark Rosa for a champagne welcome. Dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Montauban to Montech
This morning take a short drive to an artisanal dairy farm at Ramier, where we experience the entire cheese-making process, culminating in a delicious tasting with the opportunity to purchase a few slices to take home! Following lunch on board, we head to old Montauban for a short stroll around this charming redbrick town on the banks of the River Tarn. Back on board, Rosa will then meander up the flight of nine locks on the beautiful, recently restored branch canal skirting the Forest of Agre and moors in the heart of the little town of Montech. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 Montech to Castelsarrasin
After breakfast, we head into the Côtes du Frontonnais wine region for a wine tasting at the renowned Château Bellevue la Fôret. Lunch on board is followed by a guided tour of an inclined Water Plane, an amazing feat of engineering that bypasses five locks and, when back in service in the future, will lower vessels 43 feet all in one go. An afternoon cruise to Castelsarrasin before dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 Castelsarrasin to Moissac
This morning we visit the UNESCO-classified 7th century Abbaye St-Pierre de Moissac for a private tour and lunch at its excellent restaurant, ‘Le Florentin’, situated in front of the spectacular entrance of the abbey. Later, we cruise the river Tarn via the 1,000-foot-long aqueduct, the Pont Canal du Cacor, then descend towards Moissac through a staircase of delightful locks. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Moissac to Pommevic
We visit Castelsarrasin’s market for breakfast this morning before starting our cruise, when Rosa rises up from the Tarn and turns west on the brick-lined canal through Moissac. After negotiating the swing bridge, we cruise between the placidly-flowing waters of the Garonne and the foothills of the Quercy massif, before mooring at Pommevic. After lunch, we visit the 18th century Château de Lamotte-Bardigues, where we are given a private guided tour by the resident Countess. At the end of the tour we are even invited to take tea with her in the private apartments, as she explains to us her family’s famous association with the Kings of France. Before returning to Rosa we will see the 15th century hillside village of Auvillar, a 15th century village atop a gorge above the River Garonne. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Pommevic to Boé
A leisurely morning cruise through the bucolic countryside to our final mooring at Boé. After lunch, we visit Domaine de Lapeyrade for a guided tour and private tastings of their esteemed Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne wines in delightful surroundings, before visiting the medieval town of Nérac and its castle, once home to Henry IV of France. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Boé
After breakfast, guests disembark.

Rosa is an old Dutch “Klipper” barge that was built early in the last century to carry different cargoes on the offshore waterways of Holland. Now, as a charming hotel barge, she navigates the calmer canals of southwest France.

The prettily decorated saloon is particularly welcoming and features attractive wood panelling, comfortable seating, dining area and a cosy bar. The four cosy staterooms accommodating 8 passengers have individually controlled air-conditioning and heating, and full en suite facilities. Two staterooms have double beds, the other two staterooms have twin beds.

Outside there is a spacious sun deck with a dining area and parasols for enjoying an alfresco prepared by your chef. Comfortable loungers are also there to relax in as you take in the passing countryside on your sedate cruise along the Canal de Garonne.

Eight bikes are available for your use if you wish to perhaps venture into the next village along the towpath.

Rosa also featured with Anjodi in the successful television series, Rick Stein’s French Odyssey and you are sure to enjoy your own personal ‘odyssey’ through this colourful, captivating part of southwest France.

We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for over 35 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.

Our fully crewed, all inclusive luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of nine European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lochs, giving you the opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective.

Our hotel barges are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those choosing a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.

On your all-inclusive cruise, your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides gently along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers. There will be guided tours to castles, chateaux, vineyards, markets and when you return to the barge, you can be sure our dedicated, professional crew will be there to look after you once more.