Size of barge: 100 ft. by 16 ft.
Number of Passengers: 6
Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 3
Crew: 4.
Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
Salon: Salon with beautiful Provencial furnishings, antiques, skylight, and comfortable sofas. Galley/dining area with table for 6.
Bar: Open bar
Deck: Tiled sundeck with spa tub, chairs, dining table and large parasols.
Spa Tub: Yes
Cabin Features: Two cabins with twin beds or king bed, each about 128 sq. ft.. One smaller double cabin (Matisse) about 50 sq. ft. Skylight in Monet & Degas cabins. Each cabin has an ensuite Provencal-tiled bathroom with shower.
Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: VW minivan seating 9.
Accessibility: Steps to galley and to salon. No steps to cabins.
Bicycles: 6 aluminum frame Scott mountain bicycles with gel seats (3 mens, 3 womens).


Fandango was built in 1939 specifically to the dimensions of the locks and low stone arch bridges of the Canal du Midi. Abandoned near Bordeaux in the 1970's when highways took over barge freight, owner Hazel Young convinced the Provencal cosmetics company L'Occitane to restore her as the historical flagship of the Canal and a glamorous floating showroom. Fandango returned to the Midi in 1998 to become a luxurious private charter barge for 4 to 6 passengers.

Cruise Itinerary

Dijon to Escommes
Sample Itinerary (to be reversed alternate weeks)

Meeting point for pick ups and departures Dijon trainstation
N.B. To celebrate Fandango’s return to France’s foremost wine and gastronomique region, we are going to take the guests to dine onshore three times during the week, inclusive. This will include a typical ‘plat du jour’ at a lockside bistrot, a ‘cassecroute’ while winetasting on the Route de Grands Crus, and the Michelin star restaurant of l’Abbaye de Buissière.

Sunday: Board in Dijon
Your tour guide will meet you at 4:00pm in Dijon: Either at the train station, rental car office or local hotel. You’ll be escorted to Fandango at anchor in Dijon port. A Champagne welcome provides the perfect moment to meet the crew and preview the week ahead. Your evening dinner will be the start of your gourmet journey.
Monday: Cruise to Fleurey-sur-Ouche
Your morning cruise departs Dijon and introduces you to the peaceful green pastoral setting of the Ouche River Valley. The famous cream colored Charolais cows graze in their pastures, wildflowers abound and a wonderful feeling of relaxation takes over. After lunch on board, you may want to cycle on the towpath to work up a thirst for the evening winetasting at the medieval chateau of
Clos de Vougeot.

Tuesday: Cruise to Gissey-sur-Ouche
This morning visit the colorful ‘les halles’ covered market of Dijon. The chef will take you on the rounds of the market stalls, selecting cheeses and fresh produce, making sure all the specialties you want to try go into the baskets! Then tour historic Dijon town center, not forgetting to shop at the famous Grey Poupon mustard shop and local boutiques.
Wednesday: Cruise to Pont d’Ouche
You will enjoy the diversity of each lock keeper’s handiwork this morning as we cruise a staircase of locks bordered by well-tended flower beds and vegetable gardens. Walk, bicycle or just read on deck, letting the scenery glide by. Today we’ll take you to the exquisitely restored Abbey of La Bussière for a Michelin-star lunch. The tranquility of your afternoon cruise to Pont d’Ouche will complete the experience to ‘savorer le moment’.

Thursday: Cruise to Fairy Rock Lock
How about an exciting day out to taste wine and tour along the Route des Grands Crus?! To accompany the wine, there is a ‘cassecroute’ lunch of regional specialties on crispy baguettes: beurre, jambon persillé, saucisson patés with special mustards and cornichons, plus a ‘plateau de fromage extraordinaire’. Then tour the famed Hospice de Beaune and return to Fandango for dinner on board.

Friday: Cruise to Escommes
You will admire the hilltop castle of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois while floating to Vandenesse. This medieval castle will then be brought to life during a historical tour. Antique shops and breathtaking views await you! Walking the cobblestoned streets will work up an appetite for your typical Burgundy ‘plat du jour’ lunch at the bistrot. Then we’ll cruise up the last flight of locks to the Escommes lake. An evening drive to the exquisite village of Flavigny, site for the film Chocolat, before your last delicious dinner on board ends your cruise in style!

Saturday: Farewell – Return to Dijon
After breakfast the tour guide will transfer you back to Dijon . You can schedule a departure train or rental car pickup after 10:00am.
Ballooning is possible upon reservation.

A typical menu

Dinner Menu
Petite salade de Mesclun,
Asperges du Printemps
A gourmet salad of baby greens topped with fresh asparagus Laced with olive oil and Jerez vinegar
Gambas flambées au Pastis
Succulent shrimp flambee in Pastis
Confit de Canard
Patates rotis au gras du Canard
Tomates Provencales
Confit duck from Castelnaudary
Roast potatoes in duck fat,
Garlic, breadcrumb, parsley topping on
sweet oven roasted tomatoes

Plateau de Fromage
Cheese platter
Poires pochées au Noilly Prat Ambrée
Avec Crème Brulée
Poached pears in aged Vermouth
with Crème Brulée
Perfection of sweetness and spiced flavour

Dinner Menu
Terrine de coquilles St. Jacques aux herbes
Scallop and fresh garden herb terrine on bed of frisee salad with Roquefort dressing
Ravioli farci au ricotta et épinards
Sauce au beurre de sauge
Freshly made ravioli filled with ricotta
and spinach with a sage butter sauce
Tango filet de boeuf au foie gras
Ratatouille en pyramide
Succulent tender beef filet steak with
seared foie gras
A pyramid of roasted eggplant, zucchini,
bellpepper, sweet garden tomato sauce
Plateau de fromage
Cheese platter
Fondant au chocolat
Crème anglaise
Coulis au fruits rouges
Rich and warm moist chocolate cake
Red berry coulis with crème anglaise custard

 

Passenger comments

British expat cooking teacher Hazel Young owns two barges that can be booked for cruises down the Rhone, then into Languedoc via the Canal du Midi.... There are fresh-baked croissants every morning, terrific lunches and dinners on deck or on the riverbank, and plenty of chances to hang with the chef for tips on preparing Provencal food.
Bon Appetit Magazine, May 1999

The regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux are famous for wine, not for the
Canal du Midi. Hazel Young, owner of the floating-hotel company Canals of France,
aims to change that by adding a second gorgeously restored cargo barge to her fleet - and serving dishes that reflect the local terroir.
Kate Sekules, Food & Wine, April 2001

From the moment you all came out to greet us at Le Somail, we knew we were going to have a very special week. It exceeded our expectations, and we were already told it would be wonderful by our friends who came last year and recommended we do this trip. Indeed it was! Delicious meals, exceptional wines, informative tours and beautiful weather added to our best vacation ever. The careful attention to detail by Hazel and the friendly, professional staff set a tone that was unforgettable. We loved every minute. Thank you!!!
Bette and Al Kenzie, Maryland
Barges in tandem Tango & Fandango - May, 2004

Hazel and Daniel,
Wow! What a glorious week of exquisite food, delectable wines, remarkable sites, and your delicious company. An unforgettable experience aboard the Tango cruising along the Canal du Midi. Thank you for all your TLC to your Hawaii guests. Warmest Aloha.
Irene Croft, Hawaii
Barges in tandem Tango & Fandango - October, 2004

Some people come into your life and stay for awhile, others pass through briefly and leave a lasting impression. Our memories of our 'Tango' on the Canal du Midi --- Wonderful Wine, Fabulous Food, Captivating Countryside. Daniel's competence (at everything!), late night conversation and patience with our stories and questions (does the water for the Canal really come from the Atlantic?!) Thanks for the fun and memories...
David Humphreville and family, New York
Tango, October, 2004

This was a memorable week. We loved the regional cuisine prepared and served so beautifully. The views from the Fandango made me wish I were an artist: so many scenes were picturesque, and the crew delightful, you took great care of us all. You opened up the beauty of Languedoc to us: on the canal, with the bike rides and walks, in the Halles of Narbonne tasting a fresh seafood platter, in the olive oil mill and wineries, in the fabric shops and the old town of Pezenas, in the history of Minerve and in all our visits to the little towns along the canal. It's a piece of France that is now a part of us. Thank you to you all.
Carol and George Reed,Washington
Fandango - October, 2004

To Daniel and Crew, Thank you all so much for leading us on this great adventure through Languedoc. Your fine hospitality made this a vacation we will treasure always.
The food, wine, history, wonderful scenery, great weather, and bike rides will all be missed.
The trip has gone by in a flash and we can't believe we really must leave.
Are you sure you don't need some more crew on board? Thank you again.
Thomas and Julie Bozzell, Washington D.C.
Tango, September, 2004

Spending a week with Hazel and her crew on the Fandango has been an experience none of us will ever forget. Even the weather cooperated..truly glorious, sun and breeze-filled days and starry, crystal clear nights. Each meal on board was a true culinary experience, accompanied by perfect local wines, butter decorations and special napkin folds. Side trips ashore were fascinating tours through the history of the aria, knowledgeably and entertaingly conducted by Barry, and covering a wide variety of 'points of interest', including plenty of time for shopping at the incredible local markets. But the most extraordinary part of the whole experience was the actual barge ride itself...the leisurely pace along the canal between the plane trees and past the villages.. The thrill of the lock passages.. And throughout it all the beautiful smile and gracious charm of Janneke and the expert 'seamanship' of Tomas.. And all of it, EVERYTHING, finely tuned and orchestrated by our wonderful Hazel. Au revoir and merci beaucoup!
Bill and Marylou McAllister, Maryland
Fandango - September, 2003

We came, we saw, we surrendered - to Hazel's cooking, to Claire's care, to Jean Luc's steering and Earl's touring. Thank you all so much for sharing this amazing canal system and your
beautiful Fandango. And with such style and attention to detail on all counts.
Oliver and Vicki Newbegin
N.Z. 2006

Where to begin? The Sunday champagne toast while cruising under the trees, the perfect cheeses, fruit, sauces, soups, designer butter, cassoulet etc. etc. and that only describes the culinary delights. Hazel you are delightful. Claire, we are so gratful for your comforting 'touch'. Earl the superb gentleman guide, Jean Luc our wonderful captain. The trip has been such a pleasure, you all have made us feel like honored guests. Thank you.
Peter and Rosemary Beck
U.S.A. 2006

Dear Hazel,
I cannot make up my mind on what I will miss most:
1. the very comfortable and well appointed, warmly decorated Fandango or
2. the exquisite regional yet diversified food or
3. the professional and personal service of the crew or
4. the well chosen tour combining the beautiful canal, the villages, the wines of the Languedoc, the hisotrical sites we visited, or
5. your mother hen supervision, your presence everywhere simultaneously and your attention to detail or
6. your adorable and gentle Swiss dog Jozephine
But one thing I know is that all six combined equals heaven. Many many thanks for having succeeded in creating paradise on earth.
We shall be back.
Ernie and Josselyne Solomon
Japan 2007

Food - great!
Company - wonderful
Weather - perfect
Barge trip - priceless!
Sylvia Beckman
U.S.A. 2007

"With this captivating landscape unrolling like a private movie around me, each day passes by. The routine onboard is happily shaped by the rhythm of meals: late lazy breakfasts, followed by long lunches, afternoon canapés, and three course dinners, with some local cheesetasting thrown in (the cost of the trip is all inclusive - which means as much French wine tasting as
desired). Sitting on a barge travelling at walking speed, a million miles from fast-paced city stresses, has to be one of the best ways to see this countryside, but a week with Canals of France also includes land-tours to some of the more intriguing local attractions. The covered food markets at the ancient roman city of Narbonne are a welcome excursion. With the food and wine flowing and the French country-side floating past, the week is over before I am ready...
There are many barging companies that will take you along the Canal du Midi.
What makes a trip with Canals of France speical is the attention to detail
and the small number of guests on board.
Luxury Travel Magazine Australia
Fall 2007 Written by Alice Coomans

 

 

Rates

Dollars

Tango Charter, 6 - 8 guests in double occupancy     6 guests     8 guests	$ 32 240 $ 43 400
Cabin-by-Cabin per person double occupancy      Cezanne, Renoir      Van Gogh, Captain's Cabin	$ 5 270 $ 5 580
Fandango Charter, 4 - 6 guests in double occupancy     4 guests     5 guests     6 guests	$ 21 700 $ 26 350 $ 27 900
Cabin-by-Cabin      Monet & Degas      per person double occupancy      Matisse      per person double occupancy      Matisse      single person occupancy	$ 5 425 $ 3 500 $ 5 425

Euros

Tango Charter, 6 - 8 guests in double occupancy     6 guests     8 guests	20 800 € 28 000 €
Cabin-by-Cabin per person double occupancy      Cezanne, Renoir      Van Gogh, Captain's Cabin	3 400 € 3 600 €
Fandango Charter, 4 - 6 guests in double occupancy     4 guests     5 guests     6 guests	14 000 € 17 000 € 18 000 €
Cabin-by-Cabin      Monet & Degas      per person double occupancy      Matisse      per person double occupancy      Matisse      single person occupancy	3 500 € 2 250 € 3 500 €