User:David-waterways/Grand Cru (barge)

Side view of Grand Cru on the Canal de Bourgogne
History
France
NameGrand Cru
OwnerElegant Waterways Ltd
Port of registryLyon
RouteRiver Doubs, River Saône and Canal du Centre
Acquired2017 (new build)
StatusIn service 2018
General characteristics
Class and typeCommercial passenger vessel 'Freycinet' type
Tonnage250 tonnes
Length39.00 m (127.95 ft)
Beam5.05 m (16.6 ft)
Height3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Draught1.40 m (4.6 ft)
Speedcruising speed 11km/h (in open waters)
Capacity8 passengers
Crew5 crew

Grand Cru is a hotel barge operating from 2018 on the Canal du Centre and the river Saône in Burgundy. It joins a fleet of around 50 former working barges (péniches) that offer luxury cruises on the inland waterways of Europe, mostly in France. A few hundred working barges of these dimensions remain, but traffic has disappeared on most of the waterways in central and southern France, which makes hotel barges like Grand Cru part of the canal landscape, perpetuating the tradition of the boatmen (mariniers) who carried 220-tonne loads of freight throughout the waterways of France, Belgium and the Netherlands[1].

History

edit

Unlike most other hotel barges, Grand Cru is a new build. The barge joins two others already operated by the same owner, based in USA: Prospérité and Rendez-vous.

Hotel Barge

edit

Grand Cru has four rooms with ensuite bathrooms and vanity rooms. The itinerary includes some of the famous vineyards in Burgundy, and associated heritage such as the Hospices de Beaune[2]

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Le Sueur, Bernard (2004). Mariniers: Tome 1, Histoire et mémoire de la batellerie artisanale. Douarnenez: Chasse-Marée Glénat. ISBN 2914208510.
  2. ^ "Description of hotel barge Grand Cru".