Rosa is an old Dutch “Clipper” barge that is being completely refitted in 2010 to a high specification. Her saloon is particularly welcoming and features attractive wood panelling, comfortable seating and a cosy bar. There are four air-conditioned staterooms, each with full en-suite facilities and offering comfortable accommodation for 8 passengers. Outside there is a spacious sundeck with comfortable furniture. Rosa also featured in the hugely successful television series, Rick Stein’s French Odyssey.

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
  

Montauban to Agen, Gascony, Southwest France Itinerary

Sunday, Day 1 - Toulouse to Montauban
Guests are met by the captain at 4.00pm at a designated hotel in Toulouse and transferred by 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, Day 2 - Montauban to Montech
This morning Rosa meanders up the flight of ten locks on the beautiful, 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 of the outstanding cuvee ‘Optimum’ at the renowned Chateau Bellevue la Foret. Return to the barge and try your hand at a game of Boules on the quay this evening before dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Day 3 - 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 around the stalls in the half-timbered streets, 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 with some fine local Armagnac. Dinner aboard.

Wednesday, Day 4 - Castelsarrasin to Moissac
After breakfast, we cross the River Tarn via a 1000 foot long aqueduct to descend towards Moissac through a staircase of delightful locks and moor for lunch on the River Tarn below the old watermill. Then we may cruise downstream to St. Nicolas de la Grave for an afternoon’s swimming or canoeing, or alternatively, we can visit Moissac's 7th century Abbey with its wonderfully preserved cloisters and chapel. This evening we stroll ashore, to savour regional specialties at the acclaimed restaurant ‘Le Pont Napoleon’, where celebrated TV chef Rick Stein once cooked Tarn-caught pike for the BBC TV series portraying his cruise aboard Rosa.

Thursday, Day 5 - Moissac to Valence D’Agen
Today the Rosa rises up from the Tarn and turns West on the brick-lined canal through Moissac. After negotiating the swing bridge, we cruise between the placidly flowing waters of the Garonne and the foothills of the Quercy massif, before mooring at Pommevic. After lunch we drive to Auvillar, a 15th century village famous for its pottery and perched high on the side of a gorge above the River Garonne. Return to Rosa and cruise to Valence d'Agen and a tour of this old "Bastide" town with its Palladian canalside public wash-house and arcaded market place. Dinner aboard.

Friday, Day 6 - 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 minibus to Donzac and its Conservatoire of traditional trades, where we step back in time to see the extensive exhibition of rural life, before returning to Rosa for a leisurely cruise to the historic town of Agen. After lunch, we visit Chateau du Frandat for private tastings of their esteemed Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne and Buzet wines in delightful surroundings. Captains Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday, Day 7 - Serignac to Toulouse
After breakfast, guests disembark the barge and transfer to Toulouse for approximately 11am.

The day to day itinerary described above is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season.