Barging Through France! April 29 - May 7, 2025
BARGING THROUGH FRANCE!
PARIS, STRASBOURG, WALTENHEIM, SAVERNE, LUTZELBOURG, XOUAXANGE, LAGARDE, PARIS
With Jon Langford and special guest Alice Spencer
THIS TRIP IS SOLD OUT, BUT PLEASE SHOOT US AN E-MAIL (SARAH@ROOTSONTHERAILS.COM) IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PUT ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ANY OPENINGS. WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN!
We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time (some might say threatening), and now we have finally found the perfect vessel on which to do it! This trip is going to be the ultimate in “Slow Travel”, cruising down the Marne-Rhine Canal in eastern France at about 4 mph -- past vineyards, castles, villages, farmland, making stops each day for exploring the local surroundings, tasting the bounty of the region, and delving into the rich history and culture of this less-traveled corner of France. And with us we’ll have the irrepressible Jon Langford and special guest Alice Spencer as our evening’s entertainment! Those of you who haven’t traveled with Jon are in for a treat – great songs and story-telling and a uncanny knack for sniffing out the best pub wherever we go. Bring your instruments for informal jam sessions on board – the boat has lovely gathering spots for such occasions.
We’ll be traveling aboard a swanky 22 passenger canal barge featuring:
- Comfortable cabins, all with windows, en-suite bathroom and shower facilities
- Delicious meals on board are included, prepared by our own chef and featuring local specialties.
- A well-stocked bar onboard featuring wines and beers of the region and specialty cocktails.
- Bicycles – for those who wish to ride along the tow paths or nip into surrounding villages and catch up with the boat down the line.
- Hot tub
- Daily guided excursions to explore the natural, cultural, and historic highlights of the region.
This is a less-visited corner of France, and we’ll be going before the peak of the summer travel season, when things tend to be quieter and more laid-back. The pace of this trip is relaxed and unhurried and offers a chance to more deeply appreciate our beautiful surroundings.
We’re starting and ending this trip in Paris, and will be arranging rail transfer for everyone to get to and from the embarkation and debarkation points.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: RELAXED
- MUST BE ABLE TO HANDLE YOUR OWN LUGGAGE -- LOADING ON AND OFF TRAINS, LIFTING ONTO OVERHEAD RACKS
- MUST BE ABLE TO WALK THE EQUIVALENT OF A FEW CITY BLOCKS WITH LUGGAGE
- MUST BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
(For those looking for a more energetic level of activity this trip offers the opportunity to hike/bike/jog the footpaths along the canal, so you can get in a daily workout if you choose.)
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ITINERARY:
April 29: ARRIVAL IN PARIS. Our hotel for the evening will be in the Gare du Nord/Garde de l”Est neighborhood, perfectly situated for getting out and exploring the city, and convenient to our train departure/return point. For those wishing to arrive early or stay on longer in Paris, we’re happy to set up those extra hotel nights for you at either end of the trip.
April 30: TRAIN FROM PARIS TO STRASBOURG. We’ll take the high speed train east to Strasbourg, board the boat for welcome cocktails and our first freshly-prepared dinner from our on-board chef, then a panoramic boat cruise around Strasbourg. Evening music before we snuggle into our comfy cabins.
May 1: STRASBOURG – WALTENHEIM. We’ll spend the morning cruising leisurely down the canal. In the afternoon we’ll take an excursion to the lush region of Kochersberg and a visit to the Maison du Kochersberg museum and the Villa Meteor – the oldest brewery in France.
May 2: WALTENHEIM – SAVERNE. This morning will enjoy a bucolic journey, cruising towards Saverne, passing the towns of Schwindratzheim, nestled on a hillside, and Hochfelden, a typical local village. During the morning, we can stroll or bike on the paved trails alongside the canal. In the afternoon, join us on a tour of the Château du Haut-Barr, nicknamed "The Eye of Alsace", where you will discover a splendid view over the Alsatian plains. In the evening, we’ll enjoy tarte flambée, a local specialty, at a restaurant.
May 3 SAVERNE – LUTZELBOURG. We'll set out on a guided tour of Saverne. Virtually unknown by the usual tourist routes, the city offers a wide range of places to discover. We'll return on board and cruise towards Lutzelbourg. The canal winds through the Vosges Mountains before joining the Lorraine region. Late in the afternoon, we can set off on foot to marvel at Lutzelbourg Castle.
May 4: LUTZELBOURG – XOUAXANGE. Today we get to observe one of the coolest features of the canal -- the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane, where our boat gets lifted 45 meters on what is essentially a “boat elevator”: https://www.erih.net/i-want-to-go-there/site/saint-louis-arzviller-canal-inclined-plane. We’ll enjoy a candlelight lunch on board as we pass through the canal tunnels. In Sarrebourg we can visit 3 iconic sites featuring works by Marc Chagall: the Cordeliers Chapel where you can enjoy a stained-glass window by Marc Chagall, "The Peace" (la Paix, 12m high), the bright garden of the Chapel and the Museum of Sarrebourg (Musée du Pays de Sarrebourg) where you can admire the tapestry "The Peace", inspired by the stained-glass window.
May 5: XOUAXANGE – LAGARDE. We'll spend the day cruising towards Lagarde, through spectacular locks, and lush farmland as far as the eye can see. This would be a great day to race the boat along the towpath – odds are you can outwalk it and feel very accomplished. Tonight is our festive gala evening on board, featuring special treats from our chef.
May 6: ARRIVAL IN LAGARDE, ONWARD BY TRAIN TO PARIS. Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. We’ll transfer to the train station where we’ll catch the train to return to Paris for our final evening together and a hotel overnight.
Accommodations on board: Cabins on board are all doubles – 2 single beds, so no climbing into upper bunks. Each cabin has its own toilet and shower facilities. Because space on board is so limited, we will have only a few opportunities for solo occupancy at a premium. Solo travelers will be paired with a similarly-gendered roommate (you’re welcome to recruit a travel buddy to be your roommate).
Accommodations in Paris: All hotel rooms will be either double occupancy for couples, single occupancy for solo traveler, or double occupancy/2 beds for those traveling with a friend.
What’s included:
- 2 hotel overnights in Paris
- Rail fare Paris to Strasbourg and Lagarde to Paris
- All meals on board the boat
- Off-boat excursions (unless noted otherwise)
- Access to all boat facilities – hot tub, bicycles, sun chairs etc.
- All shore excursions organized by crew
What’s not included:
- Airfare to and from Paris
- Meals off the boat
- Airport transfers
- Gratuities for hotel and boat crew (we’ll provide suggested guidelines)
Pricing:
$4789: Per person, double occupancy on boat, solo occupancy in Paris hotels
$7589: Per person, solo occupancy on boat and in hotels
TO PURCHASE:
Pay in full for maximum savings! 2% discount! It makes our life much easier if trips are paid in full, and we pass the savings in time and bookkeeping on to you.
Per person Pay In Full: $4693.22
Per person solo occupancy Pay in Full: $7537.22
OR
If you'd rather pay a deposit to hold your space(s): $500.00 per person deposit
THEN, Within 30 days of deposit, settle your remaining balance or set up a convenient interest-free monthly credit card draw by contacting Sarah at sarah@rootsontherails.com or 802-258-1397.
Credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover) and checks accepted. Payment plans at no additional charge are happily accommodated. Payment plan must be agreed upon and set up within 30 days of sign-up. Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Liability release signature required.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Since the advent of Covid-19, and its impact upon travel, we feel purchasing travel insurance has gone from wise precaution to fiscal necessity. Going forward, we are strongly suggesting that all patrons carry trip insurance that provides, at a minimum, coverage for the following:
- Cancellation for Covid-19 illness
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Cancel for Medical Reasons
- Medical Coverage for Covid-19 (often included under Emergency Medical Care)
- Emergency medical care
- Medical Evacuation
You may purchase travel insurance through any company you choose, and we advise checking the coverage on the credit card you used to secure your booking with us -- often there are travel protections built in to your user agreement. If you're unclear on where to begin your travel insurance search, we can suggest looking at products such as AXA USA Assistance Silver or Nationwide Essential which provide robust coverage for all those items at a very fair price. Both of those products (and many more) can be purchased through our affiliate, Squaremouth. Because travel insurance is such a highly personalized product, when you click on the link and are directed to the Squaremouth landing page and the "Compare and Buy Travel Insurance" calculator, you’ll have to enter your own demographic information – age, state of residence etc. -- after which you'll be presented with a number of options to consider. Among them will be the AXA and the Nationwide products. You are certainly not limited to those two products – we are merely outlining the elements of coverage that we are strongly suggesting going forward and a convenient way to access them. If you purchase the policy through that link to Squaremouth it does not cost you anything more than purchasing the product directly from the vendor, but we do receive a small commission.
THE FINE PRINT
Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.
We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience. Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Cancellation policy: Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip. Reservations are fully transferable to another person.The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.
Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Roots, Rails, and Rambles acts only as agent. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property.
Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.
PARIS, STRASBOURG, WALTENHEIM, SAVERNE, LUTZELBOURG, XOUAXANGE, LAGARDE, PARIS
With Jon Langford and special guest Alice Spencer
THIS TRIP IS SOLD OUT, BUT PLEASE SHOOT US AN E-MAIL (SARAH@ROOTSONTHERAILS.COM) IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PUT ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ANY OPENINGS. WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN!
We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time (some might say threatening), and now we have finally found the perfect vessel on which to do it! This trip is going to be the ultimate in “Slow Travel”, cruising down the Marne-Rhine Canal in eastern France at about 4 mph -- past vineyards, castles, villages, farmland, making stops each day for exploring the local surroundings, tasting the bounty of the region, and delving into the rich history and culture of this less-traveled corner of France. And with us we’ll have the irrepressible Jon Langford and special guest Alice Spencer as our evening’s entertainment! Those of you who haven’t traveled with Jon are in for a treat – great songs and story-telling and a uncanny knack for sniffing out the best pub wherever we go. Bring your instruments for informal jam sessions on board – the boat has lovely gathering spots for such occasions.
We’ll be traveling aboard a swanky 22 passenger canal barge featuring:
- Comfortable cabins, all with windows, en-suite bathroom and shower facilities
- Delicious meals on board are included, prepared by our own chef and featuring local specialties.
- A well-stocked bar onboard featuring wines and beers of the region and specialty cocktails.
- Bicycles – for those who wish to ride along the tow paths or nip into surrounding villages and catch up with the boat down the line.
- Hot tub
- Daily guided excursions to explore the natural, cultural, and historic highlights of the region.
This is a less-visited corner of France, and we’ll be going before the peak of the summer travel season, when things tend to be quieter and more laid-back. The pace of this trip is relaxed and unhurried and offers a chance to more deeply appreciate our beautiful surroundings.
We’re starting and ending this trip in Paris, and will be arranging rail transfer for everyone to get to and from the embarkation and debarkation points.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: RELAXED
- MUST BE ABLE TO HANDLE YOUR OWN LUGGAGE -- LOADING ON AND OFF TRAINS, LIFTING ONTO OVERHEAD RACKS
- MUST BE ABLE TO WALK THE EQUIVALENT OF A FEW CITY BLOCKS WITH LUGGAGE
- MUST BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
(For those looking for a more energetic level of activity this trip offers the opportunity to hike/bike/jog the footpaths along the canal, so you can get in a daily workout if you choose.)
ITINERARY:
April 29: ARRIVAL IN PARIS. Our hotel for the evening will be in the Gare du Nord/Garde de l”Est neighborhood, perfectly situated for getting out and exploring the city, and convenient to our train departure/return point. For those wishing to arrive early or stay on longer in Paris, we’re happy to set up those extra hotel nights for you at either end of the trip.
April 30: TRAIN FROM PARIS TO STRASBOURG. We’ll take the high speed train east to Strasbourg, board the boat for welcome cocktails and our first freshly-prepared dinner from our on-board chef, then a panoramic boat cruise around Strasbourg. Evening music before we snuggle into our comfy cabins.
May 1: STRASBOURG – WALTENHEIM. We’ll spend the morning cruising leisurely down the canal. In the afternoon we’ll take an excursion to the lush region of Kochersberg and a visit to the Maison du Kochersberg museum and the Villa Meteor – the oldest brewery in France.
May 2: WALTENHEIM – SAVERNE. This morning will enjoy a bucolic journey, cruising towards Saverne, passing the towns of Schwindratzheim, nestled on a hillside, and Hochfelden, a typical local village. During the morning, we can stroll or bike on the paved trails alongside the canal. In the afternoon, join us on a tour of the Château du Haut-Barr, nicknamed "The Eye of Alsace", where you will discover a splendid view over the Alsatian plains. In the evening, we’ll enjoy tarte flambée, a local specialty, at a restaurant.
May 3 SAVERNE – LUTZELBOURG. We'll set out on a guided tour of Saverne. Virtually unknown by the usual tourist routes, the city offers a wide range of places to discover. We'll return on board and cruise towards Lutzelbourg. The canal winds through the Vosges Mountains before joining the Lorraine region. Late in the afternoon, we can set off on foot to marvel at Lutzelbourg Castle.
May 4: LUTZELBOURG – XOUAXANGE. Today we get to observe one of the coolest features of the canal -- the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane, where our boat gets lifted 45 meters on what is essentially a “boat elevator”: https://www.erih.net/i-want-to-go-there/site/saint-louis-arzviller-canal-inclined-plane. We’ll enjoy a candlelight lunch on board as we pass through the canal tunnels. In Sarrebourg we can visit 3 iconic sites featuring works by Marc Chagall: the Cordeliers Chapel where you can enjoy a stained-glass window by Marc Chagall, "The Peace" (la Paix, 12m high), the bright garden of the Chapel and the Museum of Sarrebourg (Musée du Pays de Sarrebourg) where you can admire the tapestry "The Peace", inspired by the stained-glass window.
May 5: XOUAXANGE – LAGARDE. We'll spend the day cruising towards Lagarde, through spectacular locks, and lush farmland as far as the eye can see. This would be a great day to race the boat along the towpath – odds are you can outwalk it and feel very accomplished. Tonight is our festive gala evening on board, featuring special treats from our chef.
May 6: ARRIVAL IN LAGARDE, ONWARD BY TRAIN TO PARIS. Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. We’ll transfer to the train station where we’ll catch the train to return to Paris for our final evening together and a hotel overnight.
Accommodations on board: Cabins on board are all doubles – 2 single beds, so no climbing into upper bunks. Each cabin has its own toilet and shower facilities. Because space on board is so limited, we will have only a few opportunities for solo occupancy at a premium. Solo travelers will be paired with a similarly-gendered roommate (you’re welcome to recruit a travel buddy to be your roommate).
Accommodations in Paris: All hotel rooms will be either double occupancy for couples, single occupancy for solo traveler, or double occupancy/2 beds for those traveling with a friend.
What’s included:
- 2 hotel overnights in Paris
- Rail fare Paris to Strasbourg and Lagarde to Paris
- All meals on board the boat
- Off-boat excursions (unless noted otherwise)
- Access to all boat facilities – hot tub, bicycles, sun chairs etc.
- All shore excursions organized by crew
What’s not included:
- Airfare to and from Paris
- Meals off the boat
- Airport transfers
- Gratuities for hotel and boat crew (we’ll provide suggested guidelines)
Pricing:
$4789: Per person, double occupancy on boat, solo occupancy in Paris hotels
$7589: Per person, solo occupancy on boat and in hotels
TO PURCHASE:
Pay in full for maximum savings! 2% discount! It makes our life much easier if trips are paid in full, and we pass the savings in time and bookkeeping on to you.
Per person Pay In Full: $4693.22
Per person solo occupancy Pay in Full: $7537.22
OR
If you'd rather pay a deposit to hold your space(s): $500.00 per person deposit
THEN, Within 30 days of deposit, settle your remaining balance or set up a convenient interest-free monthly credit card draw by contacting Sarah at sarah@rootsontherails.com or 802-258-1397.
Credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover) and checks accepted. Payment plans at no additional charge are happily accommodated. Payment plan must be agreed upon and set up within 30 days of sign-up. Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Liability release signature required.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Since the advent of Covid-19, and its impact upon travel, we feel purchasing travel insurance has gone from wise precaution to fiscal necessity. Going forward, we are strongly suggesting that all patrons carry trip insurance that provides, at a minimum, coverage for the following:
- Cancellation for Covid-19 illness
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Cancel for Medical Reasons
- Medical Coverage for Covid-19 (often included under Emergency Medical Care)
- Emergency medical care
- Medical Evacuation
You may purchase travel insurance through any company you choose, and we advise checking the coverage on the credit card you used to secure your booking with us -- often there are travel protections built in to your user agreement. If you're unclear on where to begin your travel insurance search, we can suggest looking at products such as AXA USA Assistance Silver or Nationwide Essential which provide robust coverage for all those items at a very fair price. Both of those products (and many more) can be purchased through our affiliate, Squaremouth. Because travel insurance is such a highly personalized product, when you click on the link and are directed to the Squaremouth landing page and the "Compare and Buy Travel Insurance" calculator, you’ll have to enter your own demographic information – age, state of residence etc. -- after which you'll be presented with a number of options to consider. Among them will be the AXA and the Nationwide products. You are certainly not limited to those two products – we are merely outlining the elements of coverage that we are strongly suggesting going forward and a convenient way to access them. If you purchase the policy through that link to Squaremouth it does not cost you anything more than purchasing the product directly from the vendor, but we do receive a small commission.
THE FINE PRINT
Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.
We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience. Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Cancellation policy: Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip. Reservations are fully transferable to another person.The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.
Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Roots, Rails, and Rambles acts only as agent. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property.
Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.