Cancale in Brittany is not only oyster heaven but a super cute little town! I didn’t mention in the video, that you can’t see the sand on the beach because it’s covered in oyster shells from people chucking their discarded shells when they’re finished… adds a certain ambience! Pair your oysters with a crisp cold Chablis and its bliss.
Brittany is a stunning region with spectacular coastline, exquisite villages and historic ports like Saint Malo, the famous island Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, and of course their own unique and delicious cuisine! I highly recommend a week or more to explore it properly! The Bretons are fiercely independant and because Brittany is a Celtic region it has strong traditions that were born of a mix of Gaelic and French culture. They have a lot to be proud of! It’s gorgeous. I have a selection of beautiful self-drive itineraries, of which Brittany is one - let me know if you’re interested! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
On a warm sunny evening on the Canal du Midi, on our hotel barge “Athos” moored in the lovely little village of Capestang, salt-crusted whole salmon by Sylvain accompanied by a cheeky little Provençal rosé… absolute bliss!
@athosdumidi 💕💕💕🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DO A LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISE IN FRANCE?!
If you find it hard to imagine what a cruise on a hotel barge looks like, here's a little glimpse of life on board!
It’s one of the most unique and exciting ways to visit different regions... and it encompasses everything that is great about France!
• Spectacular Countryside
• Fascinating History
• Picturesque Villages
• Delicious Cuisine
• Superb Premier Cru & Grand Cru Wines
• Colourful Country Markets
• Curated private experiences with local winemakers & chateau owners…
The list goes on and on. And you experience all this from what is effectively a small, intimate floating hotel!
Look good? Contact me via the link in the bio or drop me a line at [email protected] and before you know it, you'll be looking forward to your stunning floating getaway in 2025! See more beautiful images and video at www.frenchbarging.com.au
Individual cabin bookings are available, or private charters for groups of friends or family.
REMEMBER, I'M YOU'RE EXPERT ON ALL THINGS BARGING! 🇫🇷
“Flavours of Provence”!
This is Gerald. Gerald is the wonderful, wonderful private chef who I always hire to look after us when we do a small group tour with villa stay in Provence. His cooking is sublime, and his lovely wife Charlotte provides faultless and caring service and is exceptionally talented at creating beautiful table settings. Together they become part of our group “family” for the week!I have known Gerald a long time and he was a chef in one of the most renowned restaurants in the region, the Mas Tourteron, before going private. He knows everyone who’s anyone in the region!
On my “Flavours of Provence” tour, which can also be tailored as a Girls’ Getaway (super fun with incredible shopping, exploring, food and wine), Gerald usually provides scrumptious breakfasts (with home made pastries) every day, and three delicious dinners throughout the week. He and Charlotte are a priceless addition to my tours!
Here’s Gerald giving us a Masterclass on how to cook the perfect omelette! You’re welcome. But you’ll have to come on this tour with me if you want to sample more of his delicious cuisine 😉 See the sample itinerary in the bio, and message me if you’re interested in joining me and a group of fun like-minded women in June 2025! 💕💕💕🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
When you’re on a hotel barge on any canal, it’s astounding (and part of the fun of a cruise) to see how the talented pilots manage to get through narrow locks and under low bridges!
Have a look at us going under the tiniest bridge on our cruise on “Athos”, on the Canal du Midi at Capestang. For this bridge, Athos has to lower its shade cover right down to the lowest notch and everyone has to duck! Amazing! 😍😍😍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 @athosdumidi
“ATHOS” CRUISE DAY FOUR…
Having a steak & frites at Chez Bebelle in the Narbonne market is terrific experience… and definitely unique!
Bebelle is the nickname of Gilles Belzons, a former rugby player for Narbonne, who owns and runs this great little always-packed cafe in the heart of the market. It’s right in between several speciality butchers - beef, chicken, duck and yes… horse 🤔, and the way the cafe is run is like this:
Orders are taken at the table and then Bebelle calls out his order for the meat he needs from each specific butcher via a megaphone. Minutes later it comes flying in from three different corners wrapped up in paper, and is deftly caught by Bebelle (I’ve never seen him miss, but apparently on the rare occasions he does everyone boos loudly 🤣) It then goes straight to the grill (cooked by his sister Joanne… the whole family is involved in the business) and then served with homemade fries and salad. It’s a very entertaining way to eat your lunch!
@athosdumidi
The Carrières des Lumières at Les Baux-de-Provence is the most incredible sound and light show you’ll ever see. Situated in an old stone quarry (so that the images project onto the different planes and angles of the cut stone) the team that designs these shows are world leaders at their craft and the result is simply astounding!
This year we saw “Egypt of the Pharaohs” with music ranging from classic Egyptian to Operatic to Led Zeppelin!
Do NOT miss this fantastic spot if you are coming to Provence… it’s brilliant… and if you’re travelling on one of my tours, it’s always included! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
THE EL ROCIO PILGRIMAGE
Seville is a city that vibrates with extraordinary life, colour, and passion. That’s why it’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. Tapas, orange trees, flamenco, tiny narrow streets and grandiose squares, tiled moorish buildings, the superb cathedral (3rd largest in Europe by the way), and a sense of brotherhood and community that shines through even when the city is full of tourists, like it was yesterday!
We were lucky enough to be here yesterday for the El Rocío pilgrimage, celebrating the Virgin of el Rocío, beginning in Seville and ending in the little village of El Rocío.
The legend goes that a local shepherd found a carved image of the Virgin Mary in a tree trunk. He took it with the intention of taking it to Almonte but fell asleep along the way. When he woke up, it had gone. He went back to where he had found it…and there it was. When he recounted the event back in the village, the locals decided to build a hermitage to revere this miraculous Virgin.
There’s a party atmosphere during the pilgrimage - it’s not just about religious devotion, although that’s definitely evident!. But here’s also guitar, song, Flamenco, food, and that very strong sense of brotherhood!
There are four standard pilgrimage routes depending on where pilgrims come from in Spain. People walk, ride and travel in colourful caravans pulled by oxen .The Camino de Sevilla’ is the most famous route and taken by people travelling from Seville but also from other parts of Spain and across the world.
Records show that the first brotherhood dates back to the 16th century. There are now over 120 similar brotherhoods right across Spain and in Seville yesterday everyone was wearing a medallion around their necks to show which brotherhood they belong to. It was SO fabulous to see this and we felt so lucky to have been here at the right time! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
PORTUGAL AND RELIGION
Okay bear with me because I’m about to do a post on churches and please don’t turn away! 😅
I may have mentioned this before but I’m pretty sure I was a Medieval European Catholic in another life because I never cease to be totally awe-struck and gobsmacked by churches over here and let me tell you, the churches in Portugal make you want to fall to your knees in wonder.
Religion aside, European churches, cathedrals, basilicas and so on are just purely and simply HISTORY. And every single one has its own history, so you never stop being amazed (well I don’t anyway)! See the glass case in image 9? That’s in the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus in Braga, and contains a drop of blood from Pope John Paul II, who elevated it to Basilica status in 1964. My guide told me it was blood spilt from his attempted assassination in 1981. I don’t know if that’s true but do I care? No I do not, because it’s a good story and regardless, having a relic of the Pope is a very cool thing for a church (or Basilica) to boast about.
The churches I’m showing here are in Coimbra, Porto and Braga and they are absolutely stunning. Incredibly detailed and ornate. See the altar in image 8? That’s not a painting - they are actual statues of Roman soldiers who were present at the crucifixion, posed all over the huge altar so it’s basically a 3D depiction. Sound tacky? It’s not, it’s amazing and unique… and awe inspiring.
Portugal is one of the few Catholic countries where people still regularly attend Mass. Perhaps they’re like me and just like looking at all the decoration and thinking about the history, but I think not. I think they are true believers and that makes me feel humble.
So there you go… a post about churches from a modern day reincarnated medieval European Catholic pilgrim. 🇵🇹 More about Porto tomorrow… 🙏💕
Beaune is a beautiful walled town in the middle of Burgundy. It’s a popular wine making destination where you can sip French wines and explore the SUPERB Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune vineyards, and eat lots of yummy Burgundian food!
Saturday is market day in Beaune and it’s an absolute ripper! Not only is it a great market but it’s in such a beautiful setting. The building you can see with the tall spire in some of the reel is the Hotel Dieu - Hospices de Beaune, founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor. This gorgeous building is topped with the beautiful distinctive glazed Burgundy roof tiles and the museum inside is fantastic!
Apart from the Hospices, the whole town is full of stunning architecture… Beaune is my favourite town in Burgundy and a delightful spot to spend a few days; and it is also one of the places you will visit while cruising on our beautiful luxury hotel barges Impressionniste and Finesse! These Burgundy itineraries are superb! Link in the bio.
*On another note… it was white asparagus season when I shot this, as you can see! I love white asparagus and it’s everywhere on French menus from April to June. I love it with a simple butter and lemon sauce, or with a hollandaise… of course accompanied by a glass of Chablis (which is also near Beaune)… yum! Can anyone tell me why we don’t have loads of white asparagus in Australia? I mean, you can get it here and there, but not in the huge quantities that you see in France! Surely it should be possible! 🤔
