Of course, you don’t have to leave the water at all. And wherever you go, there’s always some tranquil spot where you can tie up by lichen-coated mill buildings and go for a stroll along the leafy towpath, set off by bike for market day, or indulge in a lazy game of boules. Boat speed is never more than slow and pastoral as you drift past Romanesque churches and Cognac’s distilleries, your bows burbling onwards down canyons of poplars from village to village, town to town, and transiting cities through giant naves of plane trees, whose branches touch fingertips over your head. But this kind of travel is not about covering huge distances-it’s all about pace of life, and waking up on beautiful mornings on placid water brimming with fish. France has the most developed waterway system in Europe, with nearly 50 canals linking to the rivers and making it possible to cross the entire nation from north to south and west to east. That way, in case you haven’t already guessed, is travelling by canal. A way that is so unobtrusive that it puts the merest crease in the environment, and yet will still give you access to markets and city centres, and unfold quilts of vineyards and sunflowers before your very eyes. A way of avoiding all the charivari of modern living, from hypermarkets to bypasses, from bus passes to one-way systems. The Rhythm of Life There is a way of ghosting through the best of France, virtually unnoticed. Gourmet dining on board and visits to local sights are all part of the experience. Renowned as among the finest craft plying the European waterways, these exceptional péniche-hôtels take you from great cities to remote landscapes of forests, fields and hidden villages. Charter your own barge or reserve a cabin with other guests. Carrying between four and 12 guests, these five spacious craft are perfect for a group of family or friends. Discover one of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to explore France-’cruising its beautiful canals and rivers in Belmond style with Belmond Afloat in France barge’.
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