Rosa Barge Information

Rosa is an old Dutch “Clipper” barge that was completely refitted in 2010 to a high specification. The air conditioned interior includes a dining room, saloon, bar and four staterooms. Two of the staterooms have double beds and two have twin beds, all of which have full en-suite facilities. Outside there is a spacious sun deck with comfortable furniture.

The four crew consist of a knowledgeable captain, tour guide, housekeeper and a master chef whose culinary master pieces will be a regular delight throughout your cruise. Eight bikes are available for use and your tour guide, an expert in the local area, will be happy to advise you on the best routes to cycle should you wish to explore.

Cruise Highlights

• Visits to historic Montauban & picturesque Auvillar
• Negotiate the amazing inclined Water Plane at Montauban
• Wine, armagnac and foie gras tastings
• Visit to Moissac and its ancient abbey
• Traverse a 1000 foot aqueduct
• Gastronomic dinner ashore
  

ITINERARY Agen to Montauban

Sunday TOULOUSE TO AGEN
Guests are met by the captain at 4.00pm at a designated hotel in Toulouse and escorted in the air-conditioned minibus to Rosa, moored in the Port of Boe in the town of Agen. Following a Champagne Welcome, there is time for a stroll around the port, before returning for your first dinner aboard.

Monday AGEN TO VALENCE D'AGEN
This morning we visit Chateau du Frandat, near Nerac, for private tastings of their esteemed Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne and Buzet wines in delightful surroundings. After lunch aboard we enjoy a short cruise through the bucolic countryside to Lamagistère. From here we can travel the ten minutes by cycle or by minibus to Donzac and its Conservatoire of traditional trades. One can step back into the past in this extensive exhibition of rural life and after admiring the superb display. Return to Rosa and cruise to Valence d'Agen, an 18th C "Bastide" town with its Palladian canal side public wash-house and its arcaded market place. Dinner aboard.

Tuesday VALENCE D'AGEN TO MOISSAC
After breakfast we drive to Auvillar, a 15th century village renowned for its pottery and circular 17thC covered market perched high on the side of a gorge above the River Garonne. Return to the barge for lunch, and our cruise this afternoon sees the Rosa rising up from the Tarn and turning west on the brick-lined canal through Moissac. This evening we stroll ashore, to taste regional specialties at the acclaimed restaurant ‘Le Pont Napoleon ‘, where celebrated TV Chef Rick Stein cooked Tarn-caught Pike for the BBC TV series portraying his cruise aboard the Rosa between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

Wednesday MOISSAC TO CASTELSARRASIN
An hour’s cruise on the Tarn takes us to the nautical base of St. Nicolas de la Grave for a morning swimming or canoeing. Alternatively, we may visit Moissac's ancient Abbey, one of the architectural highlights of the region, founded in the 7th century with its wonderfully preserved cloisters and chapel. After lunch we continue our cruise towards Castelsarrasin crossing the River Tarn via a 1000 foot long, red brick aqueduct. Dinner aboard.

Thursday CASTELSARRASIN TO MONTECH
A leisurely cruise this morning allows us to enjoy the barge’s sundeck, or walk and cycle along the towpath. Before arriving in Montech, we negotiate the remarkable inclined Water Plane. This amazing feat of engineering by passes five locks and raises the barge 43 feet all in one go! After lunch aboard, a short drive takes us to the Ferme des Jauberts at Angeville where we can tour and taste the foie gras of Eric Couderc. Return to the barge and try your hand at a game of Boules on the quay this evening before dinner aboard.

Friday MONTECH TO MONTAUBAN
This morning Rosa meanders down the flight of ten locks on the beautiful and recently restored branch canal skirting the Forest of Agre, and moors in the port of the historical town of Montauban. In the afternoon we head into the Côtes du Frontonnais wine region in the minibus, for a tasting at the renowned Chateau Bellevue la Foret. Our introduction to the outstanding cuvee ‘Optimum’ is in the skilled hands of Diane Germain, the Boston educated daughter of the house. . Captains Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday MONTAUBAN TO TOULOUSE
After breakfast, guests disembark from the barge and transfer to Toulouse for approximately 11am.

MONTAUBAN TO AGEN

Sunday TOULOUSE TO MONTAUBAN
Guests are met by the captain at 4.00pm at a designated hotel in Toulouse and escorted in the air-conditioned minibus to Rosa, moored in the Port of Montauban. Following a Champagne Welcome, there is time for a tour of this beautiful old town set on the banks of the River Tarn, before returning for your first dinner aboard.

Monday MONTAUBAN TO MONTECH
This morning Rosa meanders up the flight of ten locks on the beautiful and recently restored branch canal skirting the Forest of Agre, and moors in the heart of the little town of Montech. In the afternoon we head into the Côtes du Frontonnais wine region in the minibus, for a tasting at the renowned Chateau Bellevue la Foret. Our introduction to the outstanding cuvee ‘Optimum’ is in the skilled hands of Diane Germain, the Boston educated daughter of the house. Return to the barge and try your hand at a game of Boules on the quay this evening before dinner aboard.

Tuesday MONTECH TO CASTELSARRASIN
We awake to the bustle of the weekly market in the cosy centre of Montech, and after accompanying the barge’s chef, amongst the stalls in the half-timbered streets and returning laden with fresh produce, we negotiate the remarkable inclined Water Plane. This amazing feat of engineering by passes five locks and lowers the barge 43 feet all in one go! Later, we arrive in Castelsarrasin and after a short drive to the Ferme des Jauberts at Angeville we can tour and taste the foie gras of Eric Couderc. Dinner aboard.

Wednesday CASTELSARRASIN TO MOISSAC
After breakfast, we cross the River Tarn via a 1000 foot long, red brick aqueduct to descend towards Moissac through a staircase of locks bedecked with flowers. We moor for lunch on the Tarn River below the old watermill and later we can cruise downstream on the Tarn for an hour to the nautical base of St. Nicolas de la Grave for an afternoons swimming or canoeing. Alternatively, we may visit Moissac's ancient Abbey, one of the architectural highlights of the region, founded in the 7th century with its wonderfully preserved cloisters and chapel. This evening we stroll ashore, to taste regional specialties at the acclaimed restaurant ‘Le Pont Napoleon ‘, where celebrated TV Chef Rick Stein cooked Tarn-caught Pike for the BBC TV series portraying his cruise aboard the Rosa .

Thursday MOISSAC TO VALENCE D'AGEN
An early start sees the Rosa rising up from the Tarn and turning West on the brick lined canal through Moissac. After Rosa negotiates the swing bridge, we cruise between the placidly flowing waters of the Garonne River on the left and the foothills of the Quercy massif on the right and moor at Pommevic. After lunch we drive to Auvillar, a 15th century village renowned for its pottery and circular 17thC covered market perched high on the side of a gorge above the River Garonne. Return to Rosa and cruise to Valence d'Agen, an 18th C "Bastide" town with its Palladian canal side public wash-house and its arcaded market place. Dinner aboard

Friday VALENCE D'AGEN TO AGEN
A morning cruise through the bucolic countryside to Lamagistère. From here we can travel the ten minutes by cycle or by minibus to Donzac and its Conservatoire of traditional trades. One can step back into the past in this extensive exhibition of rural life and after admiring the superb display. After lunch, we visit Chateau du Frandat for private tastings of their esteemed Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne and Buzet wines in delightful surroundings. Return to Rosa for a leisurely cruise to the historic town of Agen. Captains Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday AGEN TO TOULOUSE
After breakfast, guests disembark from the barge and transfer to Toulouse for approximately 11am.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.