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Rosa

Class: First Class
Location: Gascony
Guests: 8
Rosa is perfect for: Couples, Families, Groups of friends, Wine appreciation, Excellent Walking (extensive sections of uninterrupted towpath all along the cruise route), Historic interest, Markets.

Good food and wine is a way of life in France and nowhere more so than in Gascony. The Rosa is an old Dutch “Clipper” barge on which guests can experience some out-of-the-way locations and traditional French way of life. The barge is handsomely furnished with wood paneling and pretty fabrics. Being a smaller barge, the Rosa’s cabins are relatively small but comfortably accommodate guests in two double bedrooms and two twin rooms, with well-appointed en-suite bathrooms. Rosa featured in the popular TV series “Rick Stein’s French Odyssey”.

The crew consist of a knowledgeable captain, tour guide, housekeeper and a master chef whose culinary master pieces will be a regular delight throughout your cruise. Eight bikes are available for use and your tour guide will be happy to advise you on the best routes to cycle should you wish to explore.

This captivating itinerary includes the wonderful city of Toulouse, beautiful medieval villages of Auvillar and Nerac, stunning countryside views & village markets. Guests also traverse a 304 metre aqueduct and enjoy premium local wines.

The Rosa will suit guests looking for a barge holiday in France on a traditional-style French canal barge and in an area more “off the beaten track”.

Features At-A-Glance

8 GUESTS

4 CABINS, 2 DOUBLE & 2 TWIN  WITH EN-SUITE BATHROOMS 104 - 110 sq. feet

4 CREW

98 FEET (30 METRES) LONG

AIR CONDITIONING/CENTRAL HEATING

1 AIR CONDITIONED MINIBUS FOR EXCURSIONS

8 BICYCLES

Sunday, Day 1 Agen

Guests are met in Toulouse and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Rosa. Following a champagne welcome, there is time for a stroll around the port of Agen before your first dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Agen to Valence d’Agen

This morning we visit Domaine Lapeyrade for private tastings of their esteemed Armagnac and Floc du Gascogne wines in delightful surroundings, before touring the nearby medieval town of Nérac and its castle, once home to Henry IV of France. After lunch on board we enjoy a leisurely cruise through the bucolic countryside to Valence d’Agen, an 18th century "Bastide" town with its Palladian canalside public wash-house and arcaded market place. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 Valence d’Agen to Moissac

After breakfast, we visit the 11th century Château de Gourdourville before a drive to Auvillar, a beautiful medieval red-stone village perched high on the side of a gorge above the River Garonne and renowned for its circular 17th century covered market. Return to the hotel barge for lunch, then an afternoon cruise on the River Tarn takes us to the nautical base of St. Livrade, perhaps for some swimming or canoeing, before rising up from the river and turning west on the brick-lined canal to Moissac. This evening, maybe after a game of boules, we stroll ashore to savour regional specialties at the excellent restaurant ‘Le Florentin’, in front of the spectacular entrance portal of the abbey.

Wednesday, Day 4 Moissac to Castelsarrasin

This morning, we visit the UNESCO-classified Abbaye St-Pierre de Moissac, one of the architectural highlights of the region, founded in the 7th century with its wonderfully preserved cloisters and chapel, and explore the charming town with its abundance of arts and crafts workshops. After lunch, we continue our cruise towards Castelsarrasin crossing the River Tarn via the 1,000 foot long aqueduct, the Pont Canal du Cacor. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Castelsarrasin to Montech

After breakfast, we visit Castelsarrasin's morning market, just 50 metres from our mooring. Then we take a short drive to the Abbaye de Belleperche where we see the fascinating "Les Arts de la Table" exhibition spanning from the Middle Ages right through to the 20th century Art Nouveau period. After lunch on board, a leisurely cruise to Montech allows us to enjoy the hotel barge’s sundeck, or walk and cycle along the towpath. We also tour 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. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Montech to Montauban

This morning Rosa meanders down the flight of ten locks on the beautiful and recently-restored branch canal skirting the Forest of Agre and moors in the port of the historical town of Montauban. In the afternoon we head into the Côtes du Frontonnais wine region in the minibus for a wine tasting at the renowned Château Bellevue la Fôret. Our introduction to the outstanding cuvée ‘Optimum’ is in the skilled hands of Diane Germain, the Boston-educated daughter of the house. Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Montauban

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus back to their choice of location inToulouse

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.

2026 Prices

Value Season
Regular Season

Stateroom per person

Value Season: €5,250
High Season: €6,050

Single Supplement

Value Season: €2,000
High Season: €2,300

Charter Max. 6 pax.

Value Season: €36,200
High Season: €41,800

Charter Max. 7 pax.

Value Season: €37,600
High Season: €43,400

Charter Max. 8 pax.

Value Season: €39,000
High Season: €45,000

Note all our prices are in euros. Please ask us if you live in the USA and would like prices in US dollars. We convert to Australian dollars at current exchange rates on the day of payment of deposit/full payment.

Departure Dates 2026

Value Season

April 05, 12, 19

Regular Season

April 26; May 03, 10, 17, 24, 31; June 07, 14, 21, 28; July 05

Value Season

July 12, 19, 26; August 02, 09, 16

Regular Season

August 23, 30; September 06, 13, 20, 27; October 04, 11, 18

Value Season

October 25

Price is all-inclusive - inclusions are:

  • Local transfers to and from the hotel barge (the approximate transfer duration is 1hr or 1hr 30mins depending on the cruise route) a luxury 6 night cruise
  • All meals on board catered for by the on board Master Chef
  • Open bar 24/7 with a large range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks
  • All wines served throughout the cruise
  • Excursions and admittance fees as per the itinerary
  • The services of 4 crew and use of barge facilities including bicycles

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