Secrets of Provence Canal Cruise

Early this morning we meet at St Pancras to begin our holiday and board the Eurostar to Montpellier via Paris. Joining our coach, we then drive to Sete.

Arriving in the afternoon, we board our home for the next seven days, the delightful Anne-Marie, a stylish hotel barge. Our lovely crew provide us with a welcome drink onboard before we enjoy dinner together this evening.

This morning takes us to Étang De Thau, world-famous for its shellfish. We visit the Étang De Thau Museum, where we learn about the history of the shell-fishing trade and discover how the farmers and fishermen made their living. We sample some of the freshly caught shellfish while savouring the beautiful scenery from a terrace along this unique seascape.

This afternoon we enjoy an excursion by coach to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, a beautiful French village tucked away in the folds of a verdant valley and boasting a wealth of medieval treasures. Here we embark on an informative guided tour that helps soak up the atmosphere of this destination that feels frozen in time. Some of the town’s most impressive sights include its Romanesque abbey and the Devil’s Bridge which spans a turquoise stretch of the Hérault River, and dates back to the 11th century. Afterwards, we return to our barge for dinner this evening.

Today we visit an authentic ‘manade’ farm and discover the life of its herders, taking part in a bull sorting routine. We enjoy snacks made fresh on the farm and sample local produce before returning to the ship.

Tonight, take advantage of some time at leisure. You could explore the spa resort of Palavas-Les-Flots, whose rich identity reaches back for more than three centuries.

After a morning of leisurely sailing, we take a tour of Aigues-Mortes, perhaps one of the most beautiful sites in Provence. Encased by square medieval walls, this ancient fortified city is symmetrically perfect, white-washed terracotta topped houses contrast charmingly with the surrounding green countryside.

The medieval city is also famous for its nearby salt marshes which we discover by tourist train. Interestingly, Roman Legionnaires stationed in the area used to receive a portion of their wages in salt harvested from these very marshes. What makes this sight extraordinary is the marshes’ enchanting pink hue, caused by the presence of microscopic algae in its waters.

We spend this morning cruising before a visit to the Camargue. With 140,000 hectares of natural wetlands, the region is home to an array of different wildlife making it a paradise for nature lovers as we see wild white horses and even the odd flamingo. The unusual paddy fields here produce red rice which is a fascinating sight.

Continuing to Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, there’s time to explore at your own pace. You could visit the fortified church located in a strategic position near the mouth of the Petit-Rhone. It was built in the 9th century as an imposing bastion to deter pirate raiders along the coast. Today, it holds a towering presence over the village and can be seen as far as 10km inland.

Today we enjoy a guided tour of Arles, the home of some of Europe’s best Roman ruins. With a long history dating back to Celtic times, Arles’ heritage of conquest over the years has left it with a rich variety of architecture, which we explore during our visit. We take in the stunning Roman Amphitheatre and enjoy the myriad of Romanesque architecture and sun-baked houses.

Arles was the inspiration for some of Van Gogh’s artistry and its heritage harks back to the glory days of Julius Caesar. Once a major Roman port, Arles rose to prominence after Caesar plundered Marseille for backing his political opponent, and evidence of that prosperity is preserved wonderfully for us to see.

Following our tour we travel inland to learn about olive oil production in Provence and we sample some of the local produce. Back onboard tonight, we enjoy a Gala dinner back on board the Anne-Marie, as a perfect way to round off our wonderful French adventure.

This morning we enjoy breakfast onboard before making our way to Nimes by coach. Here we board the train to Paris, then change for our Eurostar service back to London. After saying goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers, it’s time to head home.