French Country Waterways Focuses on France's Culinary Offerings

There may be no other country that reveres food quite as much as France does. Think of buttery, flaky croissants, perhaps studded with chocolate or almonds. Consider creamy, farm-produced cheeses with tastes that are as unique as the stories about how they were created. Dream of desserts that are the decadent exclamation point at the end of a truly memorable meal. Then imagine wines that are the perfect accompaniment to all of these delicious offerings. French Country Waterways, the only American-owned company to offer luxury barge cruises along France's canal system, is an ideal way for U.S. visitors to not only see the sites, but also to enjoy French cuisine in a truly special way.

French Country Waterways, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2014, operates four barges that follow five itineraries in the French countryside, traveling along routes that have been selected to highlight some of the most charming and picturesque stretches of canal. The eight- or 12-passenger barges explore Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy's Côte d'Or, Central Burgundy, Champagne and the Upper Loire Valley on six-night trips that depart each Sunday from April through October. Rates for the 2014 season start at $5,495 per person, double.

Trips include daily excursions and plenty of opportunities to explore the charming towns along the canal route, but perhaps the biggest draw of these cruises is the opportunity to sample the best of France's culinary offerings. Among the six-person crew on each barge is a classically trained chef who takes the freshest ingredients – including many picked up along the journey – and blends them using classic French techniques coupled with the current trend toward lighter and healthier cuisine. Passengers enjoy continental breakfasts, buffet lunches, and four-course, candlelit dinners, all in the comfort of the barge. Each day there's a fresh selection of breads and buttery croissants that are brought onboard from the villages the barge passes, and a highlight of lunch and dinner is the presentation of an array of French cheeses. There's often a box of delicious chocolates or other sweets to sample at the end of the meal, most of which come from local confectionary shops situated in towns along the route.

And to complement all of this is a selection of some of France's finest wines. During the cruise, passengers are offered more than two dozen different wines, at least half of which bear well-known labels from Grand Cru or Premier Cru vineyards. Guests also get to enjoy vintages that are new to them, as these wines come from family-owned properties whose limited production is rarely if ever exported. In addition, each itinerary includes at least one excursion to a vineyard for a private tour and tasting.

At the end of the trip, each guest receives a copy of the menus they've enjoyed, along with lists of all the cheeses and wines that have been introduced along the way, and the barges' chefs are happy to share recipes for favorite items. Each itinerary also includes a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, giving passengers a chance to sample some of the best dining in the country. The restaurant's chef proposes a menu that features the finest choices from his kitchen that evening, and the sommelier selects appropriate wines for each course.

Information, reservations and the company's new brochure can be obtained from French Country Waterways, Ltd., P.O. Box 2195, Duxbury, MA 02331; calling 800-222-1236 in the U.S. and Canada and 781-934-2454 in Massachusetts; or visiting www.fcwl.com.