Bordeaux - Serignac to Castets-en-Dorthe

Day 1: Serignac
Day 2: Serignac-Buzet
Day 3: Buzet-Le Mas d’Agenais
Day 4: Le Mas d’Agenais-Meilhan
Day 5: Meilhan
Day 6: Meilhan-Castets-en-Dorthe
Day 7: Castets-en-Dorthe

Day 1: Serignac
You will be collected from the agreed pick-up point at 15h30 and transferred for arrival at the barge around 17h00. You will be welcomed with a champagne reception. On our way to the barge, you will stop to see the famous Aqueduct, the second largest aqueduct in France which opened in 1849. It carries the Canal de Garonne over the Garonne River and is an engineering marvel. Relax and unwind, before indulging in a gourmet dinner.

Day 2: Serignac-Buzet
The highlight on today’s agenda is the tour of The Lily Gardens at Temple sur Lot that was founded in 1875 and inspired Monet. The barge will depart Boé Port at 9 am and you will enjoy your first cruise through Agen and across the magnificent aqueduct. Leaving the barge, you will take the minibus to the gardens in time for lunch overlooking the lake. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely stroll around the ponds and gardens before returning to the barge which will have moved on to your evening mooring spot at Serignac.

Day 3: Buzet-Le Mas d’Agenais
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast followed by a visit to a 4th generation Armagnac (French brandy) producer, where you will learn about and taste this traditional local spirit. Armagnac pre-dates Cognac by approx. 200 years and is still produced in a time-honored way. During the visit, you will have the opportunity to choose a memorable year (perhaps of your wedding, birth of a child, etc), select a bottle size, and then watch the Armagnac being drawn from your chosen barrel, corked, and the wax seal applied. A unique memento of your visit.

Time permitting (or if Armagnac is not a preferred visit), you may also visit the 11th-century town of Nérac: which includes the Château Henry IV (built around 15th century) and home to the King and his wife Queen Margot between 1577 and 1582. There is also the Garenne royal park nearby. The visit is an opportunity to explore this ancient town and learn about the development of this region. You will also visit the medieval Bastide town of Vianne. Bastide towns were built across southern France during the 13th and 14th centuries to provide security and safety and to develop trade.

In July and August, a visit to the night market at Damazan can be arranged. A very small local village, about 20 mins from your mooring by car, this is a taste of rural France in full swing. The night market is entirely geared to locals: it features live music, food stalls and is an interesting insight into local festivities. The visit usually takes place after the dinner main course on board, where you will then return for dessert! Later you will learn the secrets of our signature cocktail, the Saint Louis Sundowner from hostess Julia - featuring Armagnac from your visit!

Day 4: Le Mas d’Agenais-Meilhan
A morning cruise through to Lafalotte will relax you followed by lunch on board. At your mooring point, there is a privately owned semi-precious gem museum. As lunch is being prepared, you can take a short stroll to the museum where the owners will give a guided tour through their unique collection of fossils, minerals, and semi-precious gems from around the world collected by them over 50 years of travel. A thought-provoking visit for those who enjoy natural history. After lunch, the barge continues cruising through to La Mas d’Agenais. After mooring, you can take a short walk to visit the center of this quaint and unspoiled 12th-century town and go inside its church where there is an original Rembrandt painting of Christ on the Cross. You continue your afternoon cruise to Forques where the boat will moor for the evening.

Day 5: Meilhan
In the morning you will continue to cruise followed by lunch on board. After lunch, you are driven to a private visit to Chateau d’Arche, one of the top Grand Crus Sauternes Chateaux. The visit includes a guided tour of the production process, their cave, and tastings. You will be returned to the barge which will have moved on to the evening mooring at Meilhan. There should be time to go to the superb viewpoint at the port which provides a fantastic vista out over the Garonne River and the canal below - about a 5-minute walk up steps from the mooring point.

Alternatively, the following tour can be arranged on request:

Optional: Guided tour of Chateau d’Yquem
The tour will last approx. 1hr 20mins and will showcase the Chateau d’Yquem, the number one Sauterne Chateaux with a global reputation. You will have a tour of the wine production, cave, and beautiful grounds followed by a tasting. Must be booked at the time of reservation (limited spots and subject to availability). Please see pricing.

Day 6: Meilhan-Castets-en-Dorthe
After breakfast, you will enjoy a beautiful tree-lined cruise towards Fontets before our full-day visit to the remarkable world heritage site of St Émilion. Here, you will enjoy shopping, sightseeing, and private wine tastings with your negociant - a French term for a wine merchant who collects grapes, grape juice, and wine from smaller vineyards and bottles the wine for sale. Guests may also go on a guided tour of the 12th-century underground church. Lunch is included in one of the top restaurants in St Émilion.

Optional: Full wine experience day
For wine lovers, the full wine experience outing on day 6 is recommended. Your négociant will meet you at 10:30 to begin a full day’s immersion in the world of Bordeaux wine. This will include the classification of St Émilion wines, how to taste wine, pairing wine with food, tasting of fine old wines, a private Chateaux visit, a tour of the 1st Grand Crus estates by car, and a Michelin Star lunch. Your experience ends around 16h30. A minimum of 4 people is required. Must be booked at the time of reservation (limited spots and subject to availability). Please see pricing.

You will return to meet the barge in Castets-en-Dorthe in time for a short cycle or walk to the end of the canal before it joins the mighty Garonne River on its way to Bordeaux. You can also be driven to see the huge double lock that was the gateway to the river and the trade route to the Mediterranean via the Canal du Midi in one direction and to the Atlantic Ocean in the other. The river is spanned at this point by a bridge designed by Monsieur Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame!). Then back on board for cocktails and canapés, followed by the final dinner of the week.

Day 7: Castets-en-Dorthe
You will be transferred to the agreed drop-off locations, leaving the barge around 10 am.

Day 1: Castets-en-Dorthe
Day 2: Castets-en-Dorthe-Meilhan
Day 3: Meilhan
Day 4: Meilhan-Le Mas d’Agenais
Day 5: Le Mas d’Agenais-Buzet
Day 6: Buzet-Serignac
Day 7: Serignac

Day 1: Castets-en-Dorthe
You will be collected from the agreed pick-up point at 15h30. You will then be transferred for arrival at the barge around 16h30 where you will be welcomed with a champagne reception. At Castets-en-Dorthe, you can visit “The end of the canal” before it joins the mighty Garonne River on its way to Bordeaux. You can opt to walk or drive to see the huge double lock that was the gateway to the river and the trade route to the Mediterranean via the Canal de Midi in one direction and to the Atlantic Ocean in the other. The river is spanned at this point by a bridge designed by Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame!). Then back on board for cocktails and canapés, followed by a gourmet dinner.

Day 2: Castets-en-Dorthe-Meilhan
The highlight on today’s agenda is a visit to Saint Émilion World Heritage Site, the heart of Bordeaux wines. Here, you will enjoy shopping, sightseeing, and private wine tastings with your negociant - a French term for a wine merchant who collects grapes, grape juice, and wine from smaller vineyards and bottles the wine for sale. You will also have a chance to visit the 12th-century underground church of Saint Émilion, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site.   Return to meet the barge where we will cruise further into Meilhan Port for the evening and dinner on board. There should be time for you to go to the superb viewpoint at the port which provides a fantastic vista out over the Garonne River and the canal below - about a 5-minute walk up steps from the mooring point.

Optional: Full wine experience day
For wine lovers, the full wine experience outing is recommended. Your négociants will meet you at 10h30 to begin a full day’s immersion in the world of Bordeaux wine. This will include the classification of St Émilion wines, how to taste wine, pairing wine with food, tasting of fine old wines, a private Chateaux visit, a tour of the 1st Grand Crus estates by car, and a Michelin Star lunch. Your experience ends around 16h30. A minimum of 4 people is required. Must be booked at the time of reservation (limited spots and subject to availability). Please see the pricing.

Day 3: Meilhan
Spend the morning on the sundeck as you cruise to our next destination, with lunch on board. After lunch, you are driven to a private visit to Chateau d’Arche, one of the top Grand Crus Sauternes Chateaux. The visit includes a guided tour of the production process, their cave, and tastings.

Alternatively, the following tour can be arranged on request:

Optional: Guided tour of Chateau d’Yquem
The tour will last approx. 1hr 20mins and will showcase the Chateau d’Yquem, the number one Sauterne Chateaux with a global reputation. You will have a tour of the wine production, cave, and beautiful grounds followed by a tasting. Must be booked at the time of reservation (limited spots and subject to availability). Please see pricing.

You return to the barge which will have moved on a little to our evening mooring near Forques.

Day 4: Meilhan-Le Mas d’Agenais
A morning cruise through to La Mas d’Agenais and lunch on board. Whilst lunch is being prepared you can take a short walk from the mooring point to visit the center of this quaint and unspoiled 12th Century town and go inside its church where there is an original Rembrandt painting of Christ on the Cross. After lunch, we continue our cruise through to our mooring at Lafalotte where there is a privately owned semi-precious gem museum. Take a short stroll to the museum where the owners will give a guided tour through their unique collection of fossils, minerals, and semi-precious gems from around the world collected by them over 50 years of travels. A thought-provoking visit for those who enjoy natural history. 

Day 5: Le Mas d’Agenais-Buzet
Enjoy a morning cruise through to Buzet Port with lunch served on board. Afterward, you will visit a 4th generation Armagnac (French brandy) producer to learn about and taste this traditional local spirit. Armagnac pre-dates Cognac by approx. 200 years and is still produced in a time-honored way. During the visit, you have the opportunity, if you wish, to choose a memorable year (perhaps of your wedding, birth of a child, etc), select a bottle size, and then watch the Armagnac being drawn from your chosen barrel, corked and the wax seal applied. A unique memento of your visit and it tastes great as well!

Back at the barge, you will learn the secrets of the Saint Louis Sundowner from our hostess, a cocktail featuring Armagnac from your visit.

Time permitting (or if Armagnac is not a preferred visit), you may also visit the 11th-century town of Nérac: which includes the Château Henry IV (built around the 15th century) and home to the King and his wife Queen Margot between 1577 and 1582. There is also the Garenne royal park nearby. The visit is an opportunity to explore this ancient town and learn about the development of this region. You will also visit the medieval Bastide town of Vianne. Bastide towns were built across southern France during the 13th and 14th centuries to provide security and safety and to develop trade.

In July and August, a visit to the night market at Damazan can be arranged. A very small local village, about 20 mins from your mooring by car, this is a taste of rural France in full swing. The night market is entirely geared to locals: it features live music, food stalls and is an interesting insight into local festivities. The visit usually takes place after the dinner main course on board, where you will then return for dessert!

Day 6: Buzet-Serignac
Morning cruise followed by lunch. You will then have a chance to visit The Latour-Marliac Lily Gardens at Temple Sur Lot and the Agen Aqueduct. The garden is the original one that inspired and provided Monet with his lilies for his world-famous paintings and his own gardens at Giverny. Dating from 1875, the Latour-Marliac Gardens are a delight to visit and explore. On your return to the barge from the Lily gardens, you will stop to see the Aqueduct, the second largest aqueduct in France which opened in 1849. It carries the Canal de Garonne over the Garonne River and is an engineering marvel. You will return to the barge which will now be moored for the evening at Serignac for cocktails, canapés, and a final dinner the week.

Day 7: Serignac
You will be transferred to the agreed drop-off locations, leaving the barge around 10 am. 

In addition, Saint Louis Barge also follows the following routes below on certain dates. Please ask us for further details.

Lacourt St. Pierre to Boé Port

Day 1: Lacourt St. Pierre
Day 2: Lacourt St. Pierre-Castelsarassin
Day 3: Castelsarassin-Moissac
Day 4: Moissac-Pommevic
Day 5: Pommevic-La Magistere
Day 6: La Magistere-Boé Port
Day 7: Boé Port

Boé Port to Lacourt St. Pierre

Day 1: Boé Port
Day 2: Boé Port-La Magistere
Day 3: La Magistere-Pommevic
Day 4: Pommevic-Moissac
Day 5: Moissac-Castelsarassin
Day 6: Castelsarassin-Lacourt St. Pierre
Day 7: Lacourt St. Pierre