Rosa

In the afternoon, you will be met by a crew member of the Rosa at the designated meeting point. From here, relax as you are chauffeured to the barge, moored at Montauban. A traditional champagne welcome and introduction to the crew awaits you, before your first gourmet dinner onboard.

This morning, your Tour Guide accompanies you on a short drive to an artisanal dairy farm at Ramier to experience the entire cheese making process, culminating in a delicious tasting. Next, head to old Montauban for a stroll on the banks of the River Tarn through this charming redbrick town. During a leisurely afternoon cruise, laze on the deck as the Rosa meanders up a flight of nine locks on a recently restored branch of the canal, set against the beautiful Forest of Agre. Chef serves tonight's gourmet dinner onboard.

Head into the Côtes du Frontonnais the morning for a winetasting at the renowned Château Bellevue la Fôret. The introduction to their outstanding cuvée ‘Optimum’ is in the skilled hands of Diane Germain, the Boston-educated daughter of the house. Return to the barge and take a guided tour of the remarkable inclined Water Plane, an amazing feat of engineering that by-passes five locks and, when back in service in the near future, will lower vessels 43 feet all in one go. A lazy afternoon cruise precedes tonight's multi-course dinner onboard.

The day's adventures begin with a cruise across the River Tarn via a 1,000 foot long aqueduct, the Pont Canal du Cacor, then the Rosa descends through a staircase of delightful locks. After mooring for lunch, enjoy a short cruise downstream to St. Livrade for an optional afternoon’s swimming or canoeing, and visit the UNESCO-classified 7th century Abbaye St-Pierre de Moissac. This evening's dinner is taken ashore at the excellent locally-owned restaurant Le Florentin, where Gascony's regional specialties are served in a gorgeous setting.

Visit Castelsarrasin’s morning market and mingle with locals. Then, return to the barge and relax in the salon during a mid-morning cruise. In the afternoon, visit the 18th century Château de la Motte for a private tour by the resident Countess. Take tea with her in the private apartments as she reveals her family’s associations with the Kings of France. En route back to the Rosa, explore the 15th century hillside village of Auvillar, as well as the old “Bastide” town of Valence d’Agen. Chef presents a gourmet dinner onboard.

A morning cruise through the countryside provides the perfect perch to laze on deck to watch the scenery slip by. This afternoon, visit Domaine de Lapeyrade for a guided tour and private tasting of the region's signature spirits, Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne. After sipping and savoring these exceptional elixirs in the domaine's delightful surroundings, your Tour Guide then accompanies you to the medieval town of Nérac and its castle, once home to Henry IV of France. Cocktail hour precedes the Captain’s Farewell Dinner onboard

After breakfast, you will be chauffeured to the designated drop off point.