Beaucaire to Pavalas-les-Flots, Provence & Camargue
Beaucaire & Tarascon
Saturday
Guests are met at 3 pm at the pre-arranged point and chauffeured to Mam Goz, moored in Beaucaire. After an introduction to the crew and discovering your cabins, enjoy a welcome drink. You may choose to relax on board or to explore Beaucaire with its castle dating from King Louis IX, lively quays and quaint streets, and Tarascon with its beautiful medieval fortress facing Beaucaire. Tarascon was once a principal place of pilgrimage to Sainte Marthe, who reportedly defeated a terrifying monster, La Tarasque.
A welcome drink will be served before dinner on board.
Beaucaire - Nourriguier: Les Alpilles in the heart of Provence
Sunday
Our adventure into the spirit of Provence begins with a guided trip in the steep hills in the heartland of Provence, the Alpilles, starting with the lovely Provencal village Saint Remy with its art galleries and boutiques. No visit to the region would be complete without discovering the rich olive oil produced in this area, and in the Moulin de Castelas there is time to do just that.
After lunch in a small restaurant on a typical village square, we will visit Les Baux-de-Provance, a fortified medieval city, explore the narrow winding streets, imposing fortress and enjoy the shady terraces.
We rejoin Mam Goz at Beaucaire for a cruise to Nourriguier, our peaceful mooring surrounded by nature.
Enjoy an aperitif before dinner on board.
Nourriguier - Franquevaux: A day in Avignon
Monday
"Sur le Pont d'Avignon"... the song from childhood reminds us of the importance of this great city, capital of the Western Christian world in the 14th century. Today begins with a guided route of the famous Palais des Papes, an excellent example of medieval Gothic architecture and the largest Gothic Palace in all of Europe.
After lunch in Avignon, continue to explore the city with your knowledgeable guide to discover exceptional monuments, beautiful squares, elegant townhouses, winding alleys and boutiques.
Mid-afternoon, it's time to board Mam Goz for our cruise to Franquevaux, before we dine on board.
Arles - Gallician: Exploring Arles, an ancient Roman City
Tuesday
After a hearty breakfast, your guide will take you on a wonderful tour of Arles, a magical Roman city which the impressionists found so beautiful and inspirational. The light lends a unique beauty to the architecture here, with vestiges dating back to Roman times. The feast for the eyes continues in the colourful market place, typical of Provence with seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs. Our culinary adventure continues with lunch in a typical restaurant before returning to Mam Goz for a peaceful afternoon cruise along the Canal du Rhône au Sete, within one of Europe's largest wetland reserves.
Dinner on board.
Gallician - Aigues Mortes: A day trip in the Camargue
Wednesday
Now in the heart of the Camargue, join a professional guide in the Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau. This 60-acre park of ponds, swamps, lawns, channels, reed beds and saltmarshes is home to an extraordinary diversity of birds which your guide will help you identify from their song and plumage.
Lunch will be taken at the seaside town of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, where authentic tradition and gipsy pilgrimages are part of the culture. Do visit the church with its fascinating crypt, where the remains of Mary Magdelene are supposedly housed. There will be time for a swim, weather permitting.
The afternoon will see us relaxing onboard Mam Goz far from any crowds as we journey along the canal to Aigues Mortes, from where the crusades of King Saint Louis set sail.
In this area, beautiful white horses and stunning black bulls roam among the reeds and ponds.
This evening, the aperitif will include some wines from the Languedoc Roussillon, one of the most prestigious vineyards in France.
Dinner on board.
Aigues Mortes - Palavas-les-Flots: Salt Marshes by 4x4 vehicle
Thursday
Salt cultivation has been an essential part of life at Aigues Mortes for centuries and has enabled the preservation of thousands of hectares with a unique, vibrant and diverse ecosystem. Accompanied by a naturalist guide, discover places in a 4x4 which are otherwise inaccessible to see unique flora and fauna not visible anywhere else.
After lunch, we will visit the beautiful fortified city of Aigues Mortes, from where the crusades of King Saint Louis set sail.
Explore the fascinating well-preserved citadel with its narrow streets, strange angles and high walls rising from the middle of the marshes.
We return to Mam Goz for our final hours of cruising between the Côteaux du Languedoc vineyards and the glistening Mediterranean coast. Our last mooring in Palavas is on a strip of land between sea and wild ponds.
Dinner on board and time to reminisce over the beautiful week spent in Provence and the Camargue.
Friday
After breakfast, we will chauffeur you to your choice of hotel, railway station or airport in Montpellier for your onward journey. Au revoir!
We hope to see you again.
More information about the Rhône-Sète canal