Waterways of Alsace and Lorraine

We meet our Tour Manager and the rest of our group at London St Pancras where our holiday begins. Aboard the Eurostar, we head to Paris and continue by rail to Strasbourg - the capital of the historical region of Alsace. The region is famous for its cuisine and the world-renowned wines from vineyards along the 'Route des Vins', making it a delightful holiday destination. From here, our coach takes us to our barge ship, home for the next seven days.

After dinner, we get the chance to take a panoramic boat ride through the city at night (subject to availability). Sailing through the famous district of Petite France, winding canals, charming houses with coloured, half-timbered walls and narrow alleyways float by. From the river, we see the Tanners Quarter, the Covered Bridges (Ponts Couverts) and the Panoramic Terrace on the Vauban Dam before continuing through the German Quarter.

• Dinner

After breakfast, our coach takes us to Truchtersheim this morning where we delve into local heritage at the Maison du Kochersberg museum. The interactive displays, artefacts, and insightful narratives bring the rich history and culture of the Kochersberg region to life. Explore exhibits showcasing the agrarian heritage, traditional crafts, and local life. We then continue to Hochfelden and the Villa Meteor, where we learn about the beer-making Meteor family and their brewery, and enjoy a tasting of their famous products. Returning to our barge, we enjoy dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin a relaxing sail to Saverne this morning. Arriving this afternoon, we visit the towering Haut-Barr Castle. Strategically positioned at 470m above sea level, it is also known as 'the Eye of Alsace' for the views it offers out over the Alsace Plain. Haut-Barr Castle is also home to the 'devil's bridge', a walkway suspended between two seemingly perilously perched rocks - a unique experience not for the faint of heart. Returning to our barge for dinner, we stop briefly on the way at the unique Chappe Tower, a restored 18th-century telegraph tower.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we enjoy a tour of Saverne. With our guide, we discover the town's main street, with its unicorn fountain (Saverne's emblem), and Katz house, a tavern adorned with beautifully decorated, half-timbered sculpturing that dates back to 1605. We also visit the church of Notre Dame and the surviving 12th-century porch tower. This afternoon we take a leisurely stroll to Lutzelbourg Castle, before dinner at a local restaurant. Here, you have the chance to experience a local delicacy - tarte flambée.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our morning is spent aboard as we pass through the Arzviller and Niderviller Tunnels. We make our way towards the remarkable Arzviller Inclined Plane and from our position on the ship, we enjoy a unique view. The only one of its kind in Europe, it was designed to replace over 4km of locks that used to take a whole day to navigate. It's essentially a boat lift that traverses a 41% incline in only 4 minutes, a unique and unforgettable experience.

At the foot of the incline, we find the Inclined Plane Crystal Workshop which has been preserving the art of blowing, carving and etching crystal for the past 25 years. Here we learn about these age-old methods and watch a demonstration, before continuing along the canal through the Vosges mountain range to Lutzelbourg.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enjoy a morning of delightful, scenic sailing and arrive in Lagarde after lunch. Stepping ashore, our coach takes us to Sarrebourg which sits on the banks of the River Saar, the waterway from which the city gets its name. Here we enjoy a guided tour of this cultural destination and discover many of its hidden historical gems.

The 13th-century chapel of Cordeliers can be found in Sarrebourg: the original Marc Chagall stained glass window, 'Peace', is the largest piece of its kind that the artist ever created and takes pride of place in the heart of the church. We'll also see the Art Nouveau architecture on display and wander the 18th-century Grand'rue.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast, it's time to disembark and head home. We transfer to the railway station in Strasbourg and catch the train to Paris for our onward journey to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers, leaving with fantastic French memories.

• Breakfast