Barge Holiday in France: The Picturesque Region of Alsace-Lorraine

Anyone that is pondering the idea of going on a barge holiday in France should certainly consider cruising through the picturesque Alsace-Lorraine region. It is filled with historic castles and is renowned for its Baroque, Gothic and Romanesque architecture. Do keep in mind no matter where you decide to cruise on your barge holiday it is always vital to find the proper vessel, which will enable you to feel relaxed and comfortable.

Alscae-Lorraine
Should you decide to cruise through Alsace-Lorraine on your barge holiday in France you are certainly going to be delighted with what you will see.

Many cruises begin in the historic town of Saverne. Beautiful sights within the city include the 15th century former castle (Chateau Vieux) and the adjacent 15th century Roman Catholic Church. Saverne’s most famous building is the Rohan Castle, which was once home to the bishops of Strasbourg and is now a museum.

Another tour highlight includes stopping to see the world famous Strasbourg Cathedral. Standing at 466 feet (142 metres) it is the highest still-standing structure built during the Middle Ages. It is visible far across the plains of Alsace and can be seen from as far off as the Vosges Mountains or the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine. The cathedral is one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in Europe, and is very popular on walking holidays as well as barge holidays.

Other stops along the tour include visiting the Rene Lalique Collection as well as taking the time to see the Arzviller boat elevator.

Selecting a vessel

Finding a vessel that meets all of your desires is crucial when going on a barge holiday. In France, there are so many tremendous vessels, however one of the most raved about is the La Nouvelle Etoile.

It is ultra plush and modern and is designed for eight people. Inside the cabin there is a teak-lined dining area, a bar, piano and a saloon. The sun deck is fully equipped with loungers and a hot tub.

There are four rooms on board and each one has its own en-suite bathroom. Additional facilities include an exercise room and eight bikes.

Delectable Dining

While on a barge holiday in France you should expect nothing less than excellent wine and cuisine.

The wine cellar of the La Nouvelle Etoile includes St Emillion Grand Cru, Chablis Premier Cru Pouilly Fuisse, Chassagne-Montrachet and Riesling Grand Cru.

Every afternoon a wonderful cheese platter with Munster, Brie, Fourme d’Ambert and Chaource will be served to whet your appetite.

Then, the world-class chefs aboard the vessel will prepare mouth-watering dishes such as duck breast with a passion fruit glace, medallions of veal with a girolles and truffle sauce and crepes suzette with homemade vanilla sauce.

Travel Deals To Turkey

Todays guest post is brought to you by our friends at the Iuve Travel Agency.  They  have some amazing travel deals so be sure to check them out.

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Venice Travel

The best time to travel is the summer time (May to June), however even though traveling in fall and winter season, you can also enjoy the beauty of Venice. The cheapest season to travel to Venice is September to April, there is a lot of hotel offering discount. If you are not on tight budget, traveling to Venice in the season of Venice's annual Carnival celebration is very nice and funny. You can see photo venise here. The Cities come alive during festival, with people wearing exquisite mask and costume. 

What has not been written about the exceedingly romantic city of Venice? Well, one thing that often might be overlooked is that Venice would be a magnificently beautiful city even if it wasn't built on the green-blue water of a lagoon. The quaint streets, the famous landmarks and Venice's rich history and culture all make it a top-draw destination. Remember, this was a vibrant, world-renowned trading city even in Shakespeare's time – so famous in fact that the bard could write his play The Merchant of Venice without even travelling there. See more information at Venise tourisme

Gourmet travel and the Amazing Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Italy, Bologna, Sunny Day with Portico di San Post Card by danitadelimont
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Wonderful Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale (Balsamic vinegar) has been made and enjoyed in Modena for centuries.  True Balsamic is an artisan product which has been made in Modena as far back as 1046, when in it mentioned in a document. It is not a wine vinegar which has been matured, as many people think, but is made quite differently. 

 The basic ingredient is grape Must (juice) from predominantly Trebbiano grapes (sometimes with the addition of Lambrusco grapes).  The must is simmered (never boiled!) for a lengthy period to reduce and concentrate the liquid.  This liquid is then allowed to ferment and mature for a minimum of 12 years in the case on a “true” Balsamic.  It is a laborious process!  From the first, largest cask, the precious liquid is gradually  transferred  each year to ever-smaller casks, each made of a different wood such as chestnut, cherry wood, ash, oak and mulberry, each of which imparts its’ own flavour and character to the vinegar.  When the first portion is removed from the largest (Mother) cask, this cask is topped up with Must from the latest harvest, so the production is a continuous cycle. 

 During the maturation, a portion of the liquid evaporates (the Angel’s share!) and the final product is rich, thick, dark and luscious!   This genuine article will be marked “Tradizionale” or D.O.P. and, as you can imagine, it is very expensive. It is only produced by 2 consortia, Modena and neighbouring Reggio Emilia.   The two regions use different ways of designating the ages of their product, Reggio Emilia by label colour (red label – at least 12 years; silver label at least 24 years, gold label 28 years) and Modena by cap colour; a cream cap means that the vinegar is at least 12 years matured while a magenta cap would indicate the product is extra old, in excess of 25 years maturation.

It would be considered terribly wasteful to cook with this product!  It is generally used, by the drop…no more…to dress a lovely slice of Parmesan cheese, top a sliver of prosciutto or to anoint some fresh strawberries.  The very old product – matured for more than 20 years sometimes, is even drunk as a Digestif!  This is truly Italian “Black Gold”.

A cheaper version does exist, thank goodness!  Cheaper Aceto  Balsamico di Modena IGP is made along the same lines as described above, but often wine vinegar is added and this product is not aged as long;  the result is still delicious but not as intense.  Sometimes these versions are flavoured with caramel and thickened to imitate the original, so it is worth checking the label for ingredients.  This is the type of Balsamic widely sold outside of Italy and used for salad dressings, marinades, etc.  You can easily make your own Balsamic Reduction from this vinegar, evaporating off some of the liquid to concentrate the flavours. It could never be the same as “Tradizionale”, but it is a great kitchen stand-by!

Less than 13000 litres of “Black Gold” is released each year, making it very valuable indeed.   The best way to learn even more about this famous Italian export is to take time to visit a producer. Balsamic vinegar tours are available from  Bologna, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena to show you how it is made and more about its’ history.