Hotel Barge Renaissance

One of the most luxurious hotel barges, Renaissance glides along France’s oldest canal, the Canal de Briare, which cuts a course through the Loire Valley, passing elegant chateaux, picturesque villages and the Sancerre wine region and traversing Gustav’s Eiffels’s impressive aqueduct across the Loire.

Onboard the facilities and space make feel more like a boutique hotel than a barge. There are four generously-sized twin or double bedded suites, each of which is elegantly furnished, fully air-conditioned and has a private en-suite bathroom. The upper deck is equally spacious, with a wooden beamed saloon with classic French dining furniture and artworks, and there are comfortable leather sofas and a bar for pre-dinner aperitifs. The large forward deck includes a covered roof with a convivial circular table for al fresco dining, comfortable hardwood sun loungers and a heated spa pool.