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French Canal Voyage: Discover Alsace-Lorraine

Program Number: 21158RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/4/2013 - 10/13/2013; 10/16/2013 - 10/25/2013; 4/15/2014 - 4/24/2014; 5/27/2014 - 6/5/2014; 9/16/2014 - 9/25/2014; 10/14/2014 - 10/23/2014;
Duration: 9 nights
Location: France
Price starting at: $3,199.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise; River Boats Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 22; 8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 8 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian; Gluten Free    

The region of Alsace-Lorraine borders Germany and the proximity shows in its culture. But these two provinces are also deeply, proudly French. Beginning and ending in medieval Strasbourg, this voyage on the Marne-Rhine Canal introduces you to Alsace-Lorraine’s spectacular landscapes, magnificent castles and unique customs and cuisine.




Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles per day; uneven terrain and cobblestones common. Embark and disembark the ship via ramp.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

Strasbourg, 2 nights; aboard MS Jeanine, 6 nights.



Day 1: Overnight flight from the U.S.A.


Days 2-4: Arrival Strasbourg / embark MS Jeanine:

Spend a full day exploring the capital of Alsace including its famed Romanesque cathedral and the Palais Rohan, a magnificent baroque building now home to three museums. Journey through the Vosges Mountains to meet the ship. Lodging: Charming, ideally located city hotel.



Day 5: Xouaxange and Sarrebourg:

As the ship navigates the canal, learn about the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine in an onboard lecture. Go ashore to visit Sarrebourg’s church and examine its Chagall-crafted stained glass windows.



Day 6: Niderviller, Arzviller and Lutzelbourg:

Enjoy a unique day on the canals as the ship passes through darkened tunnels then is raised 144 feet by the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane. Visit a crystal glassworks to meet the artisans. Arrive in picturesque Lutzelbourg in time for an evening stroll.



Day 7: Lutzelbourg and Saverne:

Begin the day with a field trip to the medieval Château de Lutzelbourg. Sail next to Saverne, where the ship moors in front of Rohan Castle. Journey across the Alsatian plains to the Château de Hohbarr.



Day 8: Saverne and Waltenheim:

Explore the off-the-beaten-path town of Saverne with its half-timbered houses. Pass through bucolic landscapes en route to Waltenheim and, if you like, disembark for a walk or bike ride on the canal-side path.



Day 9: Wingersheim:

Learn about wine and beer making in Alsace. Walk through the hop fields of Wingersheim and enjoy a sampling of the local brew. Try Alsatian wines during an expert-led tasting back onboard the ship.



Day 10: Strasbourg / disembark / departure


La Jeanine

La Jeanine is a 22 Road Scholar participants luxury barge, with 12 cabins. She has been updated and refurbished in 2012. Each cabin has air-conditioning, central heating, a window or porthole, and a private bathroom with a shower. Common areas include a spacious lounge, dining area, and a sundeck. Bicycles are available on board.


France

The epicurious and the curious find much to admire in Western Europe’s largest nation, whose agricultural riches and terrain of beaches, mountains and fertile fields have drawn residents for thousands of years. The northern region hosts the nation’s Parisian capital, as well as unique Breton culture, while the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast sports the chic beach-goers and the terraced vineyards of the interior.
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel Hannong
  Strasbourg, France 2 nights
   MS Jeanine
  Alsace Lorraine Canal, France 6 nights
 Hotel Hannong
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: The Hotel Hannong is located in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, within a 10 minute walk of la Petite France, Place Kleber and Strasbourg Cathedral. The hotel has modern furnishings throughout with charming public spaces decorated with an ecclectic mix of fine art.
  Contact info: 15, rue du 22 Novembre
Strasbourg,   France
phone: +33 3 88 22 63 87
web: www.hotel-hannong.com
  Room amenities: Rooms features a safe, cable TV, desser and closet, bathrooms have hair dryer and soap and shampoo.
  Facility amenities: 24-hour reception desk staff with fluent English. The hotel has a wine bar where participants can relax and talk about the day's activities. High speed Internet WIFI is free of charge throughout the hotel. Room-service and laundry service are available.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: TBD Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services for reservations.
  Check in time: 2:00 PM

 MS Jeanine
Type: Luxury Barge
  Description: With a capacity of 22 passengers, 12 spacious cabins with a window, MS Jeanine is 39 m long and 5.05 m wide. Each cabin with an outside view is equipped with a bathroom, shower and toilet, a TV, a radio, an indoor telephone a safety deposit box and air conditioning. On board, everything has been designed to be convivial with a lounge bar, a restaurant, a sun deck with loungers and parasols, a Jacuzzi and a barbecue deck at the front of the boat for outdoor pleasure. Bicycles are also available onboard. This new vessel will be inaugurated in Strasbourg in April 2013.
  Ship Information: The ship is a motorized canal and river barge. It is 128 feet long and 24 feet wide.
  Contact info: 12, rue de la Division Leclerc
Strasbourg,   France
phone: +Nopublicphoneforthebarge
  Room amenities: All cabins are outside cabins with window or porthole and feature a private bathroom with shower.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Bathroom: Showers only
  Additional nights after: No pre or post nights 


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
The program starts with orientation at the hotel in Strasbourg at 5 p.m. You will be staying at Hotel Hannong that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends after breakfast and disembarkation in Strasbourg at 9 a.m. You will be staying at MS Jeanine the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
NO parking available
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
To Start of Program
  Location:  Strasbourg
  Transportation to site: A group transfer from the Strasbourg Airport to the hotel is organized on the arrival day, the time will be determined based on final flight schedule but is likely to be in the early afternoon. For those arriving a day or more earlier, a taxi from the airport to the hotel is the suggested or you can take a train into the city central train station. Please see www.strasbourg.aeroport.fr
  From End of Program
  Location:  Alsace Lorraine Canal
  Nearest city or town:  Strasbourg
  Nearest airport:  SXB
  Transportation from site: A group transfer from the barge docking area to the Strasbourg Airport is organized on the departure day. The time will be determined based on final flight schedule but is likely to be in the early morning. For those extending their stay a taxi to the city center will be your best option.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Travel to France
(Friday, October 4)
   
 In Transit Overnight: Overnight flight to Strasbourg, France

Day 2: Arrival Strasbourg and Orientation
(Saturday, October 5)
   
 Afternoon: Afternoon transfer to the hotel and check in. Orientation is scheduled for 5 PM. Please meet in the lobby.
 Dinner: Welcome Dinner near the Hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Hannong
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: Discovering Strasbourg
(Sunday, October 6)

Note: Walking up to 2 miles in the morning over cobbled stone streets.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Enjoy a morning walk in Strasbourg. Discover the section called La Petite France and the beautiful famed cathedral.
 Lunch: Lunch in the historic center of Strasbourg
 Afternoon: Explore the Palais Rohan and Strasbourg City Museums. Enjoy a guided introduction followed by free time for individual explorations of the Fine Arts Museum, the Decorative Arts Museum, and the Archaeological Museum.
 Dinner: Dinner near the hotel
   
Accommodations: Hotel Hannong
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Free Time in Strasbourg and Embark the Jeanine
(Monday, October 7)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Strasbourg on your own. Check out must be completed by 11:30 a.m. Luggage can be stored in the lobby.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own
 Afternoon: Gather in the hotel lobby at 2 p.m. for the group coach transfer to the barge, La Jeanine. Enjoy a scenic drive out of Strasbourg and into the Vosges Mountains. Arrive to the Jeanine in the late afternoon.
 Dinner: Welcome dinner on board the Jeanine
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Sailing the Sarre Canal and Exploring Sarrebourg
(Tuesday, October 8)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast on board
 Morning: This morning enjoy a presentation titled "A Brief History of Alsace and Lorraine" led by your Study Leader. Learn about these two French provinces and their very unique history. Later enjoy sailing as the Jeanine enters the Serre Canal. Sail through an area called "the ponds" before reaching Xouaxange.
 Lunch: Lunch on board
 Afternoon: This afternoon explore the city of Sarrebourg, the gateway to the Vosges mountains. The city has a rich historical diversity and its church features unique stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall. On the way back to the barge, take a brief stop at the Mephisto factory to learn about these French shoes.
 Dinner: Dinner on board
 Evening: Evening on board the barge, join in a game of French trivia.
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Sailing the Niderviller Tunnels and the Inclined Plane of Arzviller
(Wednesday, October 9)

Note: Walk of 1.5 miles over flat roadways and sidewalks
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast on board
 Morning: Enjoy the morning sail to Niderviller. The scenery is lovely and you get a sense of what it was like to be a barge captain. In Niderviller you may have an optional walking visit. For those interested you can enjoy a nice 25 minute walk to the oldest and only porcelain factory located along the Alsace Lorraine Canal. Learn about the history of the Niderviller factory and its importance to locals. It remains one of the few factories still operating in the region. If you choose, you can stay on board or explore the area around the barge on your own.
 Lunch: Lunch is served on board. Enjoy a candlelight lunch as you sail the Niderviller and Arzviller tunnels. It's a fascinating experience.
 Afternoon: After lunch enjoy a presentation titled "Learn about Navigating and the History of the Alsace-Lorraine Canal." Sit outside and watch as the barge is lifted 44 meters in just 4 minutes by the unique Inclined Plane of Arzviller. The inclined plane replaces an older system of 17 successive locks that used to take a full day to navigate. The passage now takes just about 1 hour. After reaching the top of the incline plane, stop at the crystal glassworks. The glassworks is a family-run business specializing in the art of cutting crystal. Meet with the artist and learn about this old-time tradition. Watch crystal blowing and cutting demonstrations.
 Dinner: Dinner on board
 Evening: Arrive late afternoon or early evening at Lutzelbourg, which deserves its reputation as the most beautiful village on the French canal banks. Before or after dinner we will enjoy a walk in this picturesque village.
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Lutzelbourg Castle and Hohbarr Castle
(Thursday, October 10)

Note: Walking up to 2 miles in the morning and a short walk ascending 300 meters
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast on board
 Morning: Walk to Lutzelbourg Castle. Perched at over 300 meters above sea level on a rocky, red sandstone spur, the ruins of the castle majestically dominate the village below in the Zorn Valley. Upon returning to the barge, set sail along the canal into the Alsace region. Enjoy the scenery as the barge sails on, leaving the Vosges Mountains behind.
 Lunch: Lunch is on board
 Afternoon: Arrive in Saverne in the afternoon. The boat will be moored in front of Rohan Castle. Choose to enjoy some free time in Saverne or join your study leader for a visit to Château de Hohbarr, nicknamed "The Eye of Alsace." Enjoy splendid views of the Alsatian plains. On the way back, stop at the Chappe tower, an old semaphore location, for an interactive discovery of the ancestor of modern telecommunications.
 Dinner: Dinner on board
 Evening: Enjoy an after dinner walk in the village Saverne on your own.
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Exploring Saverne and Walking or Biking Along the Alsace Canal
(Friday, October 11)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast on board
 Morning: This morning explore Saverne. Virtually unknown from the usual tourist routes, Saverne offers a wide range of places to discover: the Grand Rue with its unicorn fountain (the symbol of the city); the Katz house, adorned with magnificent carved timbers; Notre Dame Church with its 12th-century steeple; various 18th-century administrative buildings; or the Récollets Monastery founded in the 14th century.
 Lunch: Lunch on board
 Afternoon: This afternoon enjoy a bucolic journey that transports you to Waltzenheim. We will pass by the towns of Schwindratzheim—nestled on a hillside—and Hochfelden, a typical Alsatian village. As we sail you have the option of staying on board and enjoying the views or you can disembark and stroll on the trails or bike on the paved trails along the canal.
 Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant featuring the local delicious specialty of "Tarte Flambee," a flat pie that resembles a thin pizza and is made most often with creme fraiche, onions and bacon.
 Evening: Enjoy an after dinner walk in the village of Waltzenheim.
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: The History of Beer and Wine in Alsace
(Saturday, October 12)

Note: Walking up to 2 miles on uneven paths. Good walking shoes needed.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast on board
 Morning: We start the morning exploring the hops footpath in Wingersheim. Alsace offers an attractive and unusual landscape. In this province of wine-growing and beer-brewing, gain a new perspective on the region by learning about growing hops. Enjoy a pleasurable walk through the hop fields followed by a beer tasting.
 Lunch: Lunch on board as we sail the widest part of the canal towards Strasbourg.
 Afternoon: This afternoon enjoy a final presentation by your Study Leader. Enjoy an Alsace wine tasting, learn about the vineyards and the wines while you enjoy four different types of Alsacian wines and identify the elements in each. End the afternon enjoying the scenery as the Jeanine sails towards the historic city of Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner on board
 Evening: Night Cruise of Historic Old Strasbourg by small boat (water levels permitting).
   
Accommodations: MS Jeanine
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Departure from Strasbourg to Return to the US
(Sunday, October 13)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard the barge
 Morning: This morning after breakfast we transfer to the airport. All passengers must disembark by 9 a.m..
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Traveller's History of France


Author: Robert Cole


Description: This fast-moving survey covers the conquests of ancient Gaul through the heady days of revolution to modern times.



A World Lit Only By Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Portrait of an Age


Author: William Manchester


Description: Organized into sections on the Renaissance, Reformation and Discovery, Manchester's popular history evokes in vivid detail the great figures and daily life of the 16th century, including Henry VIII, Magellan, Borgia, da Vinci and Martin Luther.



Adventures on the Wine Route, A Wine Buyer's Tour of France


Author: Kermit Lynch


Description: A delightful and warmly anecdotal book, highly recommended for anyone touring the wine regions of France. Lynch brings the domains and appellations of French wine to full-blown life, and his portraits of the grand personalities who make the wine are priceless.



Alsace, Lorraine Map 516


Author: Michelin Travel Publications


Description: An up-to-date regional map at the very good scale of 1:200,000 published by Michelin.



Cathedrals and Castles, The Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages


Author: Alain Erlande-Brandenburg


Description: This pocket-size encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages features hundreds of drawings, color illustrations and a brief chronology.



Corkscrewed, Adventures in the New French Wine Country


Author: Robert V. Camuto


Description: An American journalist living in the south of France, Camuto travels far afield from Bordeaux visiting new winemakers from the Alsace to Mayonnaise, Corsica and Burgundy for this celebration of the culture and diversity of French wine.



Michelin Green Guide Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne


Author: Michelin Travel Publications


Description: A guide to Alsace, Champagne and Vosges in the classic Michelin style.



Strasbourg Map


Author: IGN


Description: A city map of Strasbourg at a scale of 1:10,000.



The Age of the Cathedrals, Art and Society 980-1420


Author: Georges Duby


Description: French scholar Duby, writing very accessibly, describes both the great cathedrals and the philosophical, religious, and political climate that enabled them to be built in this classic.



The Food of France


Author: Waverly Root


Description: An evocative and beautifully written survey of French food. First published in 1958 and revised in the mid-1970s, the book covers the important regions of French cuisine by dividing them into domains of Butter (northern France), Fat (Alsace) and Oil (the south).



Wine and War, The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure


Author: Donald Kladstrup


Description: This thrilling account of how the vinters of France saved their crops -- and their bottles -- as the Nazis approached shows that to be French is not just to fight for your country but also for your wine. Kladtsrub, who writes for Wine Spectator, and his wife Peatie, the authors focus on the activities of five winemaking families in Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux and the Loire Valley.





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