'Saroche' Cruise in Alsace

Sunday, Day 1 Strasbourg 

Pick up from Strasbourg train station at 5pm and minibus transfer to the Saroche, moored in the busy port of Strasbourg Centre, the second largest river port in France and on the Rhine.
A Champagne reception awaits you with time to settle into your cabins before dinner on board Saroche.
 

Monday, Day 2 Strasbourg to Hochfelden

This morning we take a tour of Strasbourg old town, where picturesque half-timbered houses give a perfect image of traditional Alsace.
Return to Saroche for lunch on deck and set off, passing the European Parliament building as we head onto the canal Marne au Rhine Est.
We sail out of the city and into the countryside to our destination of Hochfelden, our mooring for the night. Dinner on board.
 

Tuesday, Day 3 Hochfelden to Dettwiller 

Morning cruise to Dettwiller passing pastoral landscapes, lunch on board and then Jason will take you wine tasting in the afternoon to the Grand Cru fields of Traenheim. Traenheim is a charming little village of 500 people, owing its fame to its vines, which produce the grapes for excellent Grand Cru wines. The exceptional quality of these wines derives from the distinctive sub-soils of the Altenberg and the microclimate which gives it decidedly more hours of sun per year than the Alsace average.
Return to the barge for evening cocktails and dinner on board.
 

Wednesday, Day 4 Colmar

This morning Jason will drive you through the vineyards to the town of Colmar. The town is situated on the Alsatian wine route and considers itself to be the "capital of Alsatian wine" (capitale des vins d'Alsace). The city is renowned for its well-preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks, and its museums, along with its markets and today is market day! Follow Jason through the market picking up local produce and then have ample time to wander the old town before Jason takes you out into the vineyards for a picnic lunch.

In the afternoon your sommelier Jason will take you wine tasting in one of the most famous houses in the Alsace before returning to Saroche for dinner on board.
 

Thursday, Day 5 Dettwillier to Lutzulbourg

This morning’s cruise takes us into the heart of the Zorn Valley to the charming town of Lutzelbourg.
This picturesque village at the junction of five valleys, whose origin can be traced back to the 12th century, has a welcoming quality that makes it one of the loveliest parts of the Vosges.

After lunch Jason will drive you through the forest to the village of Wingen sur Moder to the Rene Lalique Glass Museum. René Jules Lalique was a French glass designer known for his creations of glass art, perfume bottles and vases in both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles.

Return to Saroche to freshen up as Jason hosts you tonight for dinner in a traditional local Alsatian restaurant.
 

Friday, Day 6 Lutzebourg to Nidvillier 

Today we set sail in the morning and cruise up a few locks to the world famous incline plane lock at Arzviller.
This impressive feat of engineering travels the barge 145 metres up the side of the hill and eliminates 17 locks in the process. From here we cruise through the countryside, passing two tunnels, to the village of Nidervillier our final destination for the week.

After lunch Jason will take you to the town of Sarrebourg to visit the Chapel of the Cordeliers, famous for its Marc Chagall windows. An early modernist, Marc Chagall was associated with several major artistic styles and created works in virtually every artistic format but is best known for his stained glass windows.
Return to Saroche for the gala dinner.
 

Saturday, Day 7 

After breakfast your chauffeur driven minibus will take you back to Strasbourg  train station for your onward journey.