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 3:30 pm and transferred to the barge, arriving around 5 pm. Upon arrival, enjoy a Champagne welcome. En route, stop to see the famous Agen Aqueduct, the second-largest aqueduct in France, opened in 1849. It carries the Canal de Garonne over the Garonne River and is an impressive feat of engineering. Relax and unwind onboard before enjoying a gourmet dinner.

Day 2: Serignac – Buzet
The highlight of today’s agenda is a visit to the Lily Gardens at Temple-sur-Lot, founded in 1875 and famously inspiring Monet. The barge departs in the morning, and you will enjoy your first cruise through Agen and across the magnificent aqueduct. Leaving the barge, travel by 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 its evening mooring.

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 predates Cognac by approximately 200 years and is still produced in a time-honored way. During the visit, you may choose a memorable year, perhaps a wedding anniversary or your birth year, select a bottle size, and watch as the Armagnac is drawn from the barrel, corked, and wax-sealed, creating a unique memento of your visit.

Time permitting (or if Armagnac is not a preferred visit), you may also explore the 11th-century town of Nérac, including the Château Henry IV and the nearby Garenne Royal Park. You may also visit the medieval bastide town of Vianne, one of many towns built across southern France during the 13th and 14th centuries to encourage trade and provide protection.

In July and August, a visit to the Damazan night market can be arranged. This lively local event features music, food stalls, and a vibrant village atmosphere. The visit typically takes place after the main course of dinner onboard, with a return to the barge for dessert. Later, learn the secrets of the Saint Louis Sundowner cocktail from hostess Julia, featuring Armagnac from your visit.

Day 4: Le Mas d’Agenais – Meilhan
Enjoy a relaxing morning cruise to Lafalotte, followed by lunch onboard. At the mooring, visit a privately owned semi-precious gem museum located just a short walk away. While lunch is being prepared, the owners will guide you through their remarkable collection of fossils, minerals, and semi-precious stones gathered over more than 50 years of travel. After lunch, the barge continues cruising to Le Mas d’Agenais. Once moored, take a short walk to explore this charming and unspoiled 12th-century town and visit its church, home to an original Rembrandt painting of Christ on the Cross. The afternoon cruise continues to Forques, where the barge moors for the evening.

Day 5: Meilhan
Continue cruising in the morning, followed by lunch onboard. In the afternoon, enjoy a private visit to Château d’Arche, one of the top Grand Cru Classé Sauternes estates. The visit includes a guided tour of the production process, cellar, and tastings. Return to the barge, which continues to the evening mooring at Meilhan. There should be time to walk up to the superb viewpoint overlooking the Garonne River and canal below, approximately a five-minute walk from the mooring.

Optional: Guided Tour of Château d’Yquem
This optional visit lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes and includes the production facilities, cellars, grounds, and a tasting. Must be booked at the time of reservation and is subject to availability. Please see pricing.

Day 6: Meilhan – Castets-en-Dorthe
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic tree-lined cruise toward Fontets before a full-day visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saint-Émilion. Here, enjoy shopping, sightseeing, and private wine tastings with your négociant. Guests may also take a guided tour of the 12th-century underground church. Lunch is included at one of Saint-Émilion’s top restaurants.

Optional: Full Wine Experience Day
Wine enthusiasts may choose a full-day Bordeaux wine immersion. Your négociant will meet you at 10:30 am for an in-depth experience covering Saint-Émilion wine classification, tasting techniques, food pairings, tastings of fine aged wines, a private château visit, a tour of First Growth estates by car, and a Michelin-star lunch. The experience concludes around 4:30 pm. A minimum of four guests is required, and booking is essential. Please see pricing.

Return to the barge in Castets-en-Dorthe in time for a short walk or cycle to the end of the canal, where it meets the Garonne River on its journey to Bordeaux. You may also visit the impressive double lock and see the bridge designed by Monsieur Eiffel. Return on board for cocktails and canapés, followed by the final dinner of the week.

Day 7: Castets-en-Dorthe
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to the agreed drop-off location, departing around 10 am.

Day 1: Castets-en-Dorthe
Day 2: Castets-en-Dorthe – Meilhan
Day 3: Meilhan – Forques
Day 4: Forques – La Mas d’Agenais
Day 5: La Mas d’Agenais – Buzet
Day 6: Buzet – Serignac-sur-Garonne
Day 7: Serignac-sur-Garonne

Day 1: Castets-en-Dorthe
You will be collected from the agreed pick-up point at 3:30 pm and transferred to the barge, arriving around 4:30 pm, followed by a Champagne reception. At Castets-en-Dorthe, there is time to visit “the end of the canal” before it joins the mighty Garonne River on its way to Bordeaux. You may walk with the crew (or be driven) to see the impressive double lock that once served as the gateway to the river and the historic trade routes linking the Mediterranean via the Canal du Midi and the Atlantic Ocean. The river is spanned here by a bridge designed by Monsieur Eiffel. Dinner is served onboard.

Day 2: Castets-en-Dorthe – Meilhan
Today is devoted to a visit to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of Bordeaux wine country. Enjoy private wine tastings with local négociants and time to explore the village. You may also visit the underground church of Saint-Émilion, an extraordinary monolithic structure carved from limestone. Return to meet the barge and continue cruising to Meilhan Port for the evening. Dinner is served onboard, and there is time to walk up to the viewpoint overlooking the Garonne River and the canal below, approximately a five-minute walk from the mooring.

Optional: Full Wine Experience Day
For wine lovers, a full wine experience day can be arranged at an additional cost. Your négociants will meet you at 10:30 am for a full immersion in Bordeaux wines, including wine classification, tasting techniques, food and wine pairing, tastings of fine aged wines, a private château visit, a tour of First Growth estates by car, and a Michelin-star lunch. This experience requires a minimum of four guests and must be booked in advance.

Day 3: Meilhan – Forques
Enjoy a morning cruise followed by lunch onboard. In the afternoon, visit Château d’Arche, one of the top Grand Cru Classé Sauternes estates. The visit includes a guided tour of the production process, cellars, and tastings. Return to the barge, which continues cruising to the evening mooring near Forques.

Optional: Guided Tour of Château d’Yquem
This visit lasts approximately 1 hr and 20 mins, includes the production facilities and cellars, and is available at an additional cost. Advance booking is required.

Day 4: Forques – La Mas d’Agenais
Cruise in the morning to La Mas d’Agenais, followed by lunch onboard. While lunch is being prepared, take a short walk from the mooring to explore this charming and unspoiled 12th-century town. Visit the local church, home to an original Rembrandt painting of Christ on the Cross. After lunch, continue cruising to Lafalotte.

Day 5: La Mas d’Agenais – Buzet
After mooring at Lafalotte, visit a privately owned semi-precious gem museum located just a short stroll away. The owners provide a guided tour of their remarkable collection of fossils, minerals, and semi-precious stones gathered from around the world over more than 50 years of travel. This thought-provoking visit is especially appealing to those with an interest in natural history. Continue cruising onward to Buzet.

Day 6: Buzet – Serignac-sur-Garonne
Enjoy a morning cruise to Buzet Port followed by lunch onboard. In the afternoon, visit a 4th-generation Armagnac producer to learn about and taste this traditional local spirit, which predates Cognac by approximately 200 years and is still produced in a time-honored way. Guests may choose a memorable year, select a bottle size, and watch their Armagnac drawn from the barrel, corked, and wax-sealed. Back onboard, learn the secrets of the Saint Louis Sundowner cocktail from your hostess, featuring Armagnac from your visit.

Time permitting (or if Armagnac is not a preferred visit), you may also explore the 11th-century town of Nérac, including the Château Henry IV and the nearby Garenne Royal Park, as well as the medieval bastide town of Vianne. In July and August, a visit to the Damazan night market can be arranged, featuring live music, food stalls, and a lively local atmosphere.

Day 7: Serignac-sur-Garonne
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to the agreed drop-off location, departing around 10 am.

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

Lacourt-Saint-Pierre to Boé Port

Day 1: Arrival in Lacourt-Saint-Pierre
Day 2: Lacourt-Saint-Pierre –Castelsarrasin
Day 3: Castelsarrasin – Moissac
Day 4: Moissac - Pommevic
Day 5: Pommevic – La Magistère
Day 6: La Magistère – Boé
Day 7: Departure from Boé

Day 1: Arrival in Lacourt-Saint-Pierre
Guests are met at Toulouse or Agen train station and transferred to the barge, arriving around 5 pm. Upon arrival, enjoy a Champagne welcome followed by time to settle into your cabin and meet your crew. A short safety briefing and overview of the week’s itinerary will be given before dinner is served onboard.

Day 2: Lacourt-Saint-Pierre – Castelsarrasin
After breakfast, the barge begins its first cruise, passing through a flight of five locks before you disembark for a guided visit to the 12th-century hilltop town of Lauzerte. Once a fortified stronghold with a turbulent past, Lauzerte is now an important waypoint on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Enjoy lunch together before returning to the barge at Saint-Porquier, where cruising resumes to the evening mooring at Castelsarrasin.

Day 3: Castelsarrasin – Moissac
Following breakfast, there is time to explore the local village before cruising along a peaceful, tree-lined stretch of canal to a wild mooring for lunch. In the afternoon, the barge crosses the aqueduct into Moissac and descends onto the River Tarn for a scenic river cruise. You will then visit the renowned Moissac Abbey and its remarkable cloisters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before returning to the barge for dinner.

Day 4: Moissac – Pommevic
After breakfast, travel by minibus to Valence d’Agen to experience its bustling weekly market. Enjoy a coffee in the town square before wandering through the maze of stalls offering an impressive variety of fresh local produce, meats, fish, cheeses, and regional specialties. Return to the barge for lunch, followed by an afternoon cruise to the quiet evening mooring at Pommevic.

Day 5: Pommevic – La Magistère
This morning’s excursion takes you to the charming riverside town of Auvillar, once a major trading hub with a rich and fascinating history. Visit the historic grain exchange and learn about the importance of river commerce before the canal network transformed transportation in the region. After the tour, return to the barge and cruise onward to your peaceful wild mooring at La Magistère for the night.

Day 6: La Magistère – Boé
The highlight of today’s agenda is the tour of The Lily Gardens at Temple-sur-Lot, founded in 1875 and famously inspiring Monet. After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive through the countryside to arrive in time for lunch overlooking the lake. After lunch, take a relaxed stroll through the ponds and gardens before returning to the barge for the final cruise to Boé Port.

Day 7: Departure from Boé
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer onward to Toulouse, Bordeaux, or Agen train station.

Boé Port to Lacourt-Saint-Pierre

Day 1: Boé Port
Day 2: Boé Port – La Magistère
Day 3: La Magistère – Pommevic
Day 4: Pommevic – Moissac
Day 5: Moissac – Castelsarrasin
Day 6: Castelsarrasin – Lacourt-Saint-Pierre
Day 7: Lacourt-Saint-Pierre

Day 1: Boé Port
You will be met at the agreed pick-up point and transferred to the barge, arriving around 5:00 pm. Upon arrival, enjoy a Champagne reception followed by time to settle into your cabin, meet your crew, attend a short safety briefing, and review the itinerary for the week. Dinner is served on board.

Day 2: Boé Port – La Magistère
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive through the countryside to visit the Lily Gardens at Temple-sur-Lot, founded in 1875 and famously inspiring Monet. Stroll through the ponds and gardens before enjoying lunch overlooking the lake. After lunch, return to the barge and begin cruising toward your peaceful wild mooring at La Magistère, one of the most beautiful tree-lined settings along the route.

Day 3: La Magistère – Pommevic
After breakfast, explore the local villages, including the hilltop town of Clermont-Soubiran and the historic riverside town of Auvillar. Once a major trading port, Auvillar has a fascinating history; visit the grain exchange and learn about the importance of river trade before the canal network took over. Return to the barge for lunch before enjoying an afternoon cruise along the tree-lined canal to the evening mooring at Pommevic.

Day 4: Pommevic – Moissac
Following breakfast, travel to Valence d’Agen to experience its lively weekly market. Enjoy a coffee in the town square and wander through the stalls offering a wonderful selection of fresh local produce, fish, meats, cheeses, and regional specialties. Return to the barge for lunch before cruising to Moissac Port and descending onto the River Tarn, where the barge moors for the evening. Before dinner, visit the Monastery and Cloisters at Moissac Abbey, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if fortunate, listen to the nuns chanting during Vespers. Dinner is served on board.

Day 5: Moissac – Castelsarrasin
Moissac is a lively town, and guests often enjoy time in the morning to explore before cruising on the River Tarn. Stop midstream for lunch while the barge holds position overlooking a dramatic river weir, creating a truly memorable setting. After lunch, return to the canal network and continue cruising to Castelsarrasin, where the barge moors for the night.

Day 6: Castelsarrasin – Lacourt-Saint-Pierre
Disembark in the morning for a guided visit to the 12th-century hilltop town of Lauzerte. Once a fortified castle town with a turbulent past, Lauzerte is now an important waypoint on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Enjoy lunch together and take in the magnificent views from the viewpoint before returning to the barge at a flight of five locks. Cruise onward for the final journey back to Lacourt St. Pierre.

Day 7: Lacourt-Saint-Pierre
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer onward to your agreed departure point, leaving the barge around 10:00 am.