Au
Fil De L'Eau is a French expression meaning
literally 'on the thread of the water'. She is a shortened
version of a French "Freycinet" barge that
was trading in 1956. She is now 30 meters long and her
size is 5 meters and decorated and rebuilt entirely
in 2004 and 2005 by Jacques and Sophie, your hosts and
proud French owners of this lovingly restored barge.
Fully operational, Au Fil De L'Eau is now cruising with guests on the famous canals of Burgundy, with two types of cruise options:
a "Bed & Breakfast" cruise program which offers maximum flexibility and total freedom of time, or a "Half Board" option offering a relaxing cruise with additional services included.
4
Staterooms: All Double bedded with an additional Single
bunk berth above
Air Conditioning:
No
Key Features:
Salon: A comfortable salon with stereo, library, piano, corner hutch, tables and chairs.
Deck: A large terrace with deckchairs and barbecue.
Kitchen : A fully equipped kitchen where you have four small fridges, a dishwasher, a four burner cooker with an electric oven, a coffee machine, a microwave oven and a food storage space. There is also a deep freezer.
Thanks to its capacity and amenities, Au Fil De L'Eau is the perfect barge for family cruising.
Au Fil De L'Eau accommodations comprise of 4 cabins: Each features a double berth with an additional single bunk berth above it. From each cabin there is direct access to the en suite bathroom with shower, hand basin and WC.
Salon & Dining Room:
The main salon has plenty of panoramic windows and is fitted out with light colored woods like ash and beech. The salon has a music system, library, piano and comfortable seating. Part of the salon is a cozy dining area, where crew serves the breakfast for her guests, as well lunch or dinner for guests choosing half board plan.
Guests
traveling onboard Au Fil De L'Eau
are welcome to use kitchen facility for preparing
their own meals. The kitchen is fully equipped
with 4 burner cooker, an electric oven, coffee
machine, 4 small fridges, freezer, microwave oven.
All the pots, pans and kitchenware are available
if you wish to cook.
On Deck:
From the salon there is a direct access to the beautiful sun deck.
The 45m2 sun deck is available for sunbathing and dining. There is also a barbecue for picnics ashore when appropriate.
Off Boat:
Au Fil De L'Eau does not provide
the transportation for transfers and shore excursions.
However, the crew can call local taxis for those
who want to explore the surrounding areas. Furthermore,
guided shore excursions and transfers may be
pre-arranged by your France Cruises agent, on
request for an additional fee.
The barge is offering her guests 4 bicycles for use on the towpaths along the canal.
Au Fil De L'Eau is cruising through the very scenic Canal du Centre.
The Canal du Centre was built in 1783-1793 to link the Loire and the Saone Rivers in order to promote trade within the kingdom. Today, it is a lovely and charming canal for recreational cruising. Wooded hills, green meadows and original villages on either side of the river make cruising on the canal exceptional.
Also
it leads us through some of the best vineyards
in France: Côtes du Chalonnais, Santenay,
Givry, Rully and Buxy. The villages are always
close by which provides an easy access to shop
and regional sites.
Highlights:
Visit the romanesque church of Sanvignes.
Possible
visit to the Chateau de Couches.
10kms away are the vineyards of Mercurey and
Rully.
A short
trip on the barge brings us into the fair sized
town of Chalon Sur Saône.
Cruising the canal towards Beaune - guests can take a full day excursion to the capital of the Burgundy wine country and its surrounding vineyards.
Jacques was born in Normandie in a lovely small village, just 62 miles from the D-Day Landing beaches. Before discovering life on the French rivers and canals, he traveled the world by land. He then became Captain and pilot of a barge in Burgundy.
Sophie was born in Ardeche, part of France well known for its famous French chestnuts.
After
years of office work in the private
industry and in the public services,
she joined forces with Jacques and
both decided to purchase a commercial
barge and transform it into the beautiful
floating home that Au Fil
de l'Eau is.
Jacques is a passionate man who loves to race, to fly airplanes, to sail of course and anything that is mechanic.
Sophie
speaks English and is a very fine
hostess to all her guests who appreciate
her love for nature and her special
interest for ecology.
The “ B & B ” Cruise: You rent the barge and his crew for a duration of 6 nights / 7 days.
You just have to relax, prepare lunch and dinner, and organize your outings. Each morning you have a copious breakfast.
The “ OUTINGS ” Cruise:
Each morning, Sophie serves you a Continental breakfast.
Two special excursions and two diners are programmed during your cruise.
On the first excursion, you will discover the Museum of Shipping followed by a delicious dinner in an excellent restaurant.
Your second escorted side trip will take you to a vineyard where the estate owner-winegrower will take you on a tour. Of course, during the visit you will taste various types of vines and will be able to buy some bottles of vintage wines as well. In the evening you will be invited to enjoy another delicious dinner in an excellent “Logis de France” restaurant, before going back to the barge.
The “ GOURMET ” Cruise:
A more complete option than the “OUTINGS” program, AU FIL DE L'EAU includes all dinners (6) on board or in restaurants where you taste specialties of the soil with wines from Burgundy.
* Additional guest using single bunk bed in double cabin
(One extra guest per cabin / Up to 12 guests total capacity)
Cruises commence on the day of your choice, whenever possible.
Taxis, restaurants, visits and tours are extra except those already included in the “OUTINGS” and “GOURMET” cruise options; An estimated extra budget of 300 Euros per person/week is recommended for transportation, entrance fees etc…(not including shopping for food or cost of meals taken at local restaurants) in order to fully enjoy the area of cruising.
All cruise options include breakfast served on board the barge, the hiring of the barge, fuel, the maintenance of the boat, water supply, various fees, insurances, heating if necessary. Bed sheets, towels and any household appliances are provided.
