A Canal Barge Cruise Through Alsace

Relax and watch the world go by as you cruise the Marne-Rhine Canal through the heart of the Alsace and Moselle regions of France from Strasbourg to Lagarde aboard a 22 passenger hotel barge. 

Your journey begins in Strasbourg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan to spend 2-3 days here pre-cruise to explore the history and culture of this magnificent city. Your time in Strasbourg must include a visit to Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg and Palais Rohan and its museums. Stroll around the historic center and enjoy a coffee, lunch or a late afternoon drink at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants. A canal tour is also a great option in Strasbourg.  From the canals you will see the various districts of the city, the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the European Union. After a canal tour, set out to enjoy a walk through La Petit France and take in the fascinating architecture, delightful shops, bakeries and restaurants.   

CroisiEurope’s 7 day canal barge cruise aboard MS Madeleine from Strasbourg to Lagarde will take you along the “Green Way” of the Marne Canal crossing Alsace to the Vosges Mountains and the Lorraine region. This is the epitome of “slow tourism.” Your days will begin with a leisurely buffet breakfast. You will also enjoy 3 course lunches and 3-4 course dinners of refined French cuisine, Alsatian specialties, local wines and the cocktail of the day. 

From Strasbourg your barge will be cruising to Waltheim where a guided excursion will take you to the Maison du Kochersberg, a museum of the arts and traditions of Alsace. Being the center of beer production in France, no trip to Alsace would be complete without a visit to a brewery. Today’s excursion includes the Villa Meteor, the oldest French brewery still in operation.   

Take in the bucolic setting, passing picturesque hillside towns, like Schwindratzheim, and the typical Alsatian village or Hochfelden as the MS Madeline continues the journey to the next stop of Saverne.   

Saverne is a medieval city situated between Alsace and Lorraine. It is home to the castle, Château de Haur-Barr, also referred to as “The Eye of Alsace.” Once you reach the chateau and see the breathtaking views of the Alsace plane, you will understand its nickname. As beautiful as it is, this city is not often found on tourist itineraries, which makes a visit here by canal barge even more special. To add to the experience, spending the evening in Saverne will include enjoying a tarte flambee, an Alsatian specialty at a local restaurant. The traditional tarte flambée is a very thin crust flatbread topped with a tangy, spreadable white cheese (fromage blanc), thinly sliced onions and bacon. It is best enjoyed shared with friends, a light salad and a crisp glass of local wine or beer.   

Before continuing cruising towards Lutzelbourg take part in the guided city tour of Saverne where you will visit the 18th Century Rohan Castle, walk along La Grand’Rue with its half-timbered houses, see Katz House with it’s famed carved wood façade, and take in the old city centre. On this portion of the journey the canal winds its way through the Vosges Mountains and into the Lorraine region. You will have time to explore the ruins of Lutzelbourg Castle on your own later in the afternoon.  Tomorrow’s excursion takes you to Lehrer Crystal Glassworks where you can see a glass blowing demonstration and shop for crystal glassworks that the Moselle area is famous for. 

Back on board you will have the unique experience of travelling along the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane lift. The lift is an engineering feat that will take the barge along a diagonal slope allowing for the canal to cross the Vosges Mountains. Lunch this day will be another unique experience – dining by candlelight as Madeleine navigates the canal tunnels.   

After arriving in Sarrebourg it’s off to visit the Chagall Trail which includes the largest Chagall stained glass windows (12×7.5m) at the Chapel of the Cordeliers.   

The final day will be spent relaxing and enjoying the countryside as you cruise to Lagarde. There is the gala dinner and one final breakfast to enjoy before bidding farewell to your newfound friends and disembarking the MS Madeleine… until next time.   

There is still time to enjoy CroisiEurope’s Strasbourg to Lagarde barge cruise this Fall. Or, if you are planning ahead, take advantage of 2025 early booking discounts and the added departures from April-October next year when the MS Jeanine will join MS Madeleine on this exceptional route.