Waterways of Alsace & Lorraine

We meet our Tour Manager and the rest of our group at London St Pancras where our holiday begins. Aboard the Eurostar, we head to Paris and continue by rail to Strasbourg - the capital of the historical region of Alsace. The region is famous for its cuisine and world-renowned wines from vineyards along the 'Route des Vins', making it a delightful holiday destination. From here, our coach takes us to our barge ship, home for the next seven days.

After a welcome cocktail we relax onboard over dinner with drinks and our barge moors in Strasbourg for the evening. Following dinner, there is a chance to ride on a glass covered boat through the city at night (subject to availability). Sailing into historic canals, we pass through the picturesque district of Petite France lined with traditional half-timbered houses and colourful flower boxes. From the river, we also view the Tanners' Quarter, the covered bridges and the panoramic terrace on the Vauban Dam before cruising into Strasbourg's characterful German Quarter.

• Dinner

After a buffet breakfast we begin to cruise to Waltenheim, and the morning is free to enjoy the passing scenery from the deck before lunch onboard. On arrival into Waltenheim this afternoon, we are taken on a guided tour by coach to the characterful town of Truchtersheim where we delve into local heritage at the Maison du Kochersberg museum. Here, interactive displays, artefacts, and insightful narratives bring the rich history and culture of the Kochersberg region alive, with exhibits showcasing the region's agrarian heritage, traditional crafts, and everyday life.

After our museum visit we continue to Hochfelden and the Villa Meteor, where we learn about the beer-making Meteor family and their famous brewery. We are then treated to a tasting of the acclaimed beers. On our return to the barge, we enjoy dinner onboard this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shortly after breakfast we begin sailing towards Saverne. Our route crosses the hilly landscapes of the Alsace, passing the town of Schwindratzheim, nestled on a hillside, and the village of Hochfelden which we visited yesterday. During our morning sailing, you are free to stroll or cycle along the paved trails beside the canal.

Arriving in the medieval town of Saverne this afternoon, we take a guided walking tour of Haut-Barr Castle. Strategically positioned at 470m above sea level, it is also known as the 'Eye of Alsace' for its tremendous views across the Alsace Plain. Haut-Barr Castle is also home to the 'devil's bridge', a walkway suspended between two seemingly perilous perched rocks - an experience which is not for the faint hearted. Returning to our barge for dinner, we stop briefly on the way at the unusual Chappe Tower, a restored 18th-century telegraph tower.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Awaking in Saverne this morning, after breakfast we are taken on a guided sightseeing tour. With roots dating back to the Romans, the town has a turbulent history and is situated on the river Zorn, at the foot of the striking Vosges mountains, close to the French-German border. Walking through the town with our guide, we discover the main street with its unicorn fountain (Saverne's emblem) and the Katz house, a tavern adorned with beautiful, half-timbered carvings which date back to 1605. Our tour also includes a visit to the church of Notre Dame and its 12th-century porch tower.

We return to our barge for lunch onboard, before we continue cruising towards Lutzelbourg where we arrive later this afternoon. There is some free time to look around the town her and you may choose to walk up to Lutzelbourg Castle to admire views of the surrounding countryside. Dinner with drinks will be served aboard our ship as usual this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following a night moored in Lutzelbourg, we continue our leisurely barge cruise, passing through the Arzviller and Niderviller Tunnels towards the remarkable Arzviller Inclined Plane. This unique boat lift was designed to replace over 4km of locks that once took a full day to navigate.

Stepping off the barge at Arzviller we visit the Crystal Glassworks for a guided tour and a demonstration of the craft. Here, the art of blowing, carving and etching crystal glass has been preserved, and we discover more about this age-old craft on our tour. We continue along the canal to Niderviller, enjoying lunch on board. From here, our coach takes us to the beautiful city of Sarrebourg, a city with Roman origins and a rich history.

Perhaps the most famous landmark in Sarrebourg is the 13th-century chapel of Cordeliers, where the original Marc Chagall stained-glass window named 'Peace' takes pride of place in the heart of the church. We also see the Art Nouveau architecture on display and wander the 18th-century Grand'rue. Later, we return to our ship for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the final full day of the cruise and is spent relaxing onboard our ship as we sail through the picturesque landscapes of the Lorraine Regional Natural Park to Lagarde. Passing peaceful lakes and wooden embankments, we can soak up the joys of slow travel, admiring views that other forms of transport can't reach.

With all meals on board, you are free to make the most of the ship's facilities, immersing yourself in the tranquil scenes through which we cruise. Enjoy the air-conditioned lounge or perhaps lounge under the shade of an umbrella on deck. Our destination, Lagarde, is a charming village displaying quintessentially French rural architecture.

Onboard the boat this evening, we enjoy the final dinner of our barge cruise holiday.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your all-inclusive tour of the treasures of Alsace and Lorraine has taken us along scenic waterways and off the beaten track, to uncover ancient treasures, medieval castles and picturesque towns. From the historic Alsace city of Strasbourg we explored ancient towns, sampled prized beer at Villa Meteor and admired the Alsace Plain from Haut-Barr Castle. We watched a crystal glass demonstration in Arzviller, viewed unique architecture in Saverne, and saw the stunning Marc Chagall stained-glass window in Sarrebourg.

After, it's time to disembark our barge ship and head home. We transfer to the railway station in Strasbourg and catch the train to Paris for an onward journey to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast