Sunday, Day 1 Welcome and embarkation – Visit of BEAUCAIRE and TARASCON
Transfer from the airport, the railway station or a hotel in Montpellier or Nîmes around 2 pm to MAM GOZ moored in Beaucaire. Welcome aboard ! After you settle down, a welcome cocktail awaits you on the deck. Then, you can rest on board or have the opportunity to discover Beaucaire and Tarascon.
Situated on the Rhône, in medieval times Beaucaire was known worldwide for its fairs; today it charms us with its castle dating from King Louis IX, quaint streets and lively quays. On the opposite bank of the Rhône, the majestuous castle of Tarascon, one of the most beautiful medieval fortress of France faces Beaucaire. It was an important place of pilgrimage to Sainte Marthe who according to the legend defeated the terrifying monster “La Tarasque”.
Dinner on board.
Monday, Day 2 BAUX-DE-PROVENCE and PONT DU GARD - Cruise along the COSTIERES
In the morning, we take the confortable van to reach LES CARRIERES DE LUMIERE. These ancient stone quarries found their new function as an incredible music immersive art experience. On our way, we will stop in LES BAUX DE PROVENCE, set in the heart of the Alpilles regional country park. This medieval village with its small squares, shadowed terraces, narrow streets will enchant you. An atmosphere and fragrance you won’t forget.
Back to Beaucaire for lunch on board of MAM GOZ during a cruise to the lock of NOURRIGUIER. The afternoon will be dedicated to roman times. First, you will visit LE PONT DU GARD, the best preserved roman aqueduc in the world since 2000 years. Then, you will experience an amazing moment: tasting roman wines in LE MAS DES TOURELLES.
In the evening, we cruise towards SAINT-GILLES along “Costières de Nîmes” vineyards planted among apricot orchards, cypress and olive trees. Stopover in SAINT-GILLES, famous for the pilgrimage which developed from the 11th century to become the fourth place after Rome, Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela.
“Apéritif” and dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 ARLES, an ancient roman city – Cruise along the CAMARGUE
In the morning, we will invite you to discover the landscapes which inspired Vincent Van Gogh!
In Arles, walk through the Roman city, the amphitheatre, ancient theater, and look at the main places painted by Van Gogh during his stay in 1888 and 1889.
Lunch will be taken in a “restaurant provençal“.
In the afternoon MAM GOZ takes you to the heart of the natural Camargue habitat, home to exceptional landscapes and bird life. We navigate the “Canal du Rhône à Sète” linking the Rhône to the Mediterranean sea. You enjoy the wild and preserved Camargue, one of Europe’s largest wetlands reserve. Arrival in Gallician, a charming village of Camargue. The “cocktail du soir” will be served before dinner. Peaceful night surrounded by nature.
Wednesday, Day 4 Excursion into the CAMARGUE - Cruise towards AIGUES-MORTES
Discovert of Camargue’s Regional Natural Park! You are cordially invited to share in the intimacy of the wildlife at the “Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau“. Ponds, swamps, lawns, channels, reed beds, saltmarshes all form this vast 60 hectare area, entirely devoted to the discovery of nature. It is on the Park’s trails, where the peaceful silence is only broken by the bird songs, that you can observe birds with a professional guide.
For lunch, we will drive you to LES SAINTES MARIES DE LA MER, a place of authentic tradition and gypsies’ pilgrimage.
In the afternoon, we cruise quietly to AIGUES-MORTES. Far from crowds, on board of MAM GOZ you float along the waterway, you pass picturesque landscapes of the Camargue carved by the Rhône. Arrival in Aigues-Mortes, the royal city built according to the will of King Saint-Louis where he started his crusades. You will enjoy wandering in this well-preserved citadel posed in the middle of the marshes. As “aperitif“, we propose you to taste some wines of the Languedoc Roussillon, one of the most important vineyards in France. Dinner on board.
Thursday, Day 5 Salt marshes by 4x4 - Cruise to MAGUELONE
Salt cultivation at Aigues-Mortes has enabled the preservation of thousands of hectares of natural land maintaining its original ecosystem. Careful maintenance by salt workers has contributed to develop a rich and distinctive ecosystem. Be enchanted for nearly 3 hours and a half, by the magic of the “SALIN D’AIGUES-MORTES”. In a 4×4, accompanied by a naturalist guide, you will discover inaccessible places, fauna and flora that you will not see anywhere else.
Your morning adventure will end at a charming gem of restaurant where another traditional lunch will be served.
Back on board, MAM GOZ invites you to a cruise heading the island of Maguelone. Enjoy this charming navigation, a moment of relaxation on board between the “Coteaux du Languedoc” vineyards and the Mediterranean coast. At the end of the day, we will reach Maguelone covered with vineyards and hundred-year-old cypresses. This island was occupied by the Visigoths from the 5th century before being a Roman bishop’s palace. From that period the Saint-Peter and Saint-Paul cathedral still subsists. “Cocktail du soir” and dinner on board. Night in the wilds of the beautiful Languedoc countryside.
Friday, Day 6 Cruise between ponds ans sea - Visit of SETE
In the morning, on this volcanic island where bio wine is produced in respect with the environment, you have the opportunity either to relax on board, go to the beach to swim, bike or walk along the canal or visit the Roman Cathedral with a videophone. Aperitif and lunch on board.
Time to embark for the last stretch to SETE, most important French fisher harbor of the Mediterranean coast. The foundation of the city was decided by Louis XIV in 1666 having the necessity of a harbor on the Mediterranean. Leaned on the “mont Saint-Clair” between the pond of Thau and the sea, Sète is well known in Southern France for its oysters. Crossed by numerous canals, the town is considered by many as the Venice of the Languedoc. “Aperitif” and dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Sete
After breakfast, guests are transferred to their choice of location in Montpellier or Nîmes.
Route runs in reverse on alternate weeks and may differ on selected cruise dates
Mam Goz
Originally built in Holland 1923 in Papenburg, Germany, the Luxemotor barge MAM GOZ was totally refitted in July 2016 by a Belgian shipyard. Homologated by the French administration as a 6 passenger commercial boat, she is now based in Beaucaire, Provence and operates as hotel barge on the...Cruise Fares are converted from original Euro rates.
Rates are for 6 nights (Sunday departure to following Saturday) and based on whole barge private charter
Not Available!
