Your cruise combines well-known sights of Provence, open-air markets, typical Provençal recipes with intimate and unusual moorings in Camargue and on the Mediterranean. This itinerary comes with a choice of recipes for you to learn. The barge kitchen is open to the living room and daily demonstrations are given by your chef, Cobie. At the end of this week, you will return home with all new recipe ideas.

Sunday: You will be met at the location of your choice in Montpellier, which is easily accessible by TGV train from Paris or as a rental car return point. You will be transferred to your charming barge home, moored  nearby Frontignan, known for its sweet Muscat aperitif wine. A welcome aboard with a champagne toast and the first gourmet dinner.

Monday: We will cruise this morning to the most peaceful and romantic mooring of this cruise: at the 6th Century Maguelone Cathedral on a peninsula with the Canal on one side and the Mediterranean on the other! There is much to experience - a walk to this special  Cathedral, a bike ride in to nearby villages, observe flamingo’s.  This afternoon, your chef Cobie will demonstrate some easy Provençal appetizers for cocktail hour. There will be time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, followed by a memorable dinner on board in view of the Mediterranean.

Tuesday: A morning cruise on the Canal du Rhône a Sète through the stunningly beautiful Camargue National Park. During this cruise we can observe the wild Camargue horses. We moor right at the gates of the amazing 13th century walled town of Aigues Mortes, an embarkation port for the Crusades. There are many historical sites to visit and there will be time to climb the walls, to shop for souvenirs, or maybe try the gourmet approach as we found little groceries with candies, oils, vinegars, pates, olives, foie gras here.  Back on the barge for your next cooking lesson. Dinner is on board.

Wednesday: This morning we go to the open-air market, just outside the city walls of Aigues - Mortes to buy a variety of fresh vegetables. Back on the barge, during our cruise, we will prepare our own summer salads and various dressings for our lunch. We will cruise through beautiful country side, home to various wildlife including black bulls and the beautiful white Camargue horses and moor in the harbour of St. Gilles, where you can visit the Abbey with  its ‘book of stone’ façade, and the 11th  Century crypts. This evening we dine out locally, to experience a choice of region recipes.

Thursday: After visiting the lively open air-market in St Gilles, and a visit to a nearby ‘Moulin a huile d’olive’. On our way back to the barge, we will pick some fresh herbs in the fields we are going to pass and we return to the barge for  lunch. During our afternoon cruise to our mooring in the neighbourhoodof Beaucaire, we will explain more about another specialty of France, the cheeses, and prepare the starter for this evening, with as ingredients, olive oil, fresh basil, tomatoes and goat cheese!

Friday:    In the morning you will awake with the smell of fresh baked bread and after breakfast, you will tour the Palais du Pape in Avignon. There will be a special wine tasting, introducing you to the art of combination of food and wine. If you wish, there will be free time to shop and stroll in this sophisticated town, including a visit to our preferred shop for cookware purchases.  Lunch will be ready upon arrival and we will spend the whole  afternoon to prepare all kind of goodies and specialties for this evening’s celebration of our wonderful week we had all together!

Saturday: You'll say "Au Revoir" and depart after breakfast for transfer to Avignon. There is, at present, a TGV train departure to Paris and a departure to Nice. You may also be transferred to the airport, rental car office, or hotel.

Our sightseeing schedule is flexible and can be customized to reflect your interests. Occasionally an itinerary will be changed due to canal closures or inclement weather. The Captain will substitute an equally interesting route. Change in itinerary will not be accepted as a cause for cancelling your cruise.