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<title>Discover La Reine Pedauque a high-standing hotel barge offering charters and cruises in France</title>
<meta name="description" content="Discover the charter boat La Reine Pedauque with the wonderful cruise vacations on the Burgundy canals and rivers in France">
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      <h1 align="center" title="Discover the barge cruises">La Reine Pedauque 
        barge cruises and charter trips in France</h1>
      <p><strong>Great wines, gourmet cuisine and beatiful landscape, the ingredients 
        for a perfect boat trip in Burgundy</strong>.</p>

      <p>The barge has pride in the quality of service and comfort available on 
        board to all guests. With more than 25 years of vacation cruise experience, 
        the barge has been offering unforgettable holidays on the French inland 
        waterways.</p>
<p>The vessel is refitted every year to provide you with the best and giving 
        you a vacation of a lifetime in relaxing atmosphere. The experienced English speaking crew are always ready to serve you and share their knowledge 
        of Burgundy.</p>
      <div align="center"><img src="_i/dishes.jpg" width="600" height="75" alt="Cuisine and gourmet food"></div>
      <p>Gourmet meals are carefully prepared by your French Chef and served in 
        a spacious dining area, some of the greatest wines from Burgundy accompany 
        the delicious dishes. Each day you will are invited to taste the delights 
        of the gourmet cuisine, with menus prepared by your chef using local products 
        and regional specialties.</p>
      <div align="center"><img src="_i/restaurant.jpg" width="400" height="252" alt="Gourmet table for diners and wines."></div>
      <p>An open bar is available for all your cocktails, aperitifs and wines. Every 
        evening, enjoy the pre-diner moments with your friends and a glass in 
        hand at the bar, or on the comfortable sundeck, relaxing with the calm 
        landscapes in front of you. </p>
      <h2>Discover the Burgundy country-side at a stroll</h2>

<p><img src="slides/1.jpg" width="200" height="191" alt="Comfortable saloon on the barge" align="left">The 
        calm waters of the Burgundy canal with it's tow-path will give you many 
        opportunities for walking at leisurely pace, as the barge cruises slowly 
        along the meandering route through small french villages were time seems 
        to have stopped.</p>
      <p>You can take your time to explore the stone houses, gardens, churches 
        and farms along the way. Enjoy a drink with your friends on the terrace 
        of a local cafe. The locals will always enjoy spending some time with 
        you.</p>
      <p>Bicycles are always available for those who wish to explore more of the 
        surrounding countryside and villages. Along the canal there are so many 
        occasions to ride, with special routes built just for cyclists such as 
        the Velo-Route.</p>
      <h3>Historical high-lights and cultural visits</h3>
<p>During the cruise, your Egnlish speaking tour guide will introduce you 
        to the history and culture of the historical region of Burgundy and Dijon. 
        Private tours.You will also find specially marked circuits along the country lanes 
        and roads, designed to give you a breath-taking insight and experience 
        of the surrounding region. Daily excursions are included using a Mercedes 
        air-conditioned bus to places such as the old streets and shops of Dijon, 
        the vineyards of Beaune and Chateauneuf en Auxois. Read all the information 
        in the <a href="cruise-program.html">cruise program</a>.</p>
<h2 align="center"><q>Space, comfort and design for the perfect vacation cruise</q></h2>


<p>The luxury barge La Reine Pedauque offers four large suites for eight guests. The elegant staterooms have double or twin beds, private bathrooms, wardrobe space, desk and chair and opening portholes.
Please consult <a href="barge-plan.html">the plan of the barge for more details</a>.</p>

      <table align="center" cellpadding="10"><tr><td valign="top" width="300"><img src="_i/upperdeck-salon.jpg" width="300" height="225" alt="Comfortable saloon on the barge"></td>
          <td width="300"  valign="top" > <img src="_i/suite-royal.jpg" width="300" height="225" align="right" alt="Boat stateroom suite on La Reine Pedauque" ></td>
        </tr></table>  

<p>The upper deck has a large saloon with leather sofas, library, music centre and elegant decoration. The large windows
allow a perfect view of the countryside and the air-conditioning adds to your comfort.</p>
<p><em>La Reine Pedauque</em> navigates on the 300 year old <em>Canal de Bourgogne</em>,
gracefully making her way through locks and the valleys of the "Gold Coast" in Burgundy,
to view a suggested cruise itinerary, please <a href="cruise-program.html">click here</a>.</p>


<p>A map of France showing where the barge cruises in Burgundy is available <a href="map-burgundy.html">by clicking here</a>.</p>
<p>The barge always cruises at a good walking pace and it is possible to get on and off the boat at every lock, to go cycling or walking. With the tow-path which always follows the canal and is closed to all forms of motorized transport, it is very safe and great fun to follow the bare along the path.</p>
      <p>There is always plenty of time to take a bike ride to other country villages 
        and intresting places along the route, ask the cook for a picnic basket 
        if you wish.</p>

<p>The name <strong>La Reine Pedauque</strong> comes from a very old French legend,
when translated into English it means "The goose footed queen". The story says that the Queen had webbed feet, 
she would keep a goose beside her, and so the loyal subjects would mistake her feet for those of the goose.</p>

      <p>Originally the barge was built in 1923, this type of boat is called "Gros Numero" 
        (<em>Big number</em>), and there were only 639 of these barges ever made. 
        Renowned for the strength of the steel hulls. The 128 foot barge has been 
        renovated and converted into a luxury hotel barge, dedicated in offering 
        the very best in cruise vacations on the canals and rivers of France.</p>
   
<p>Day by day <a href="cruise-program.html" title="boat plan">Cruise program and itinerary</a> on the Burgundy canal. </p>   
        

      <table align="center" cellpadding="10"><tr><td valign="top" width="300">
<img src="_i/moored-barge.jpg" width="300" height="234" alt="Shaded mooring for the barge a few miles from Chateauneuf"  align="left"><br />
            Shaded moorings on the canal in the Ouche Valley</td>
          <td width="300"  valign="top" > <img src="_i/cruise-la-forge.jpg" width="300" height="234" align="right" alt="Boat cruising along the canal" ><br />
The boat is arrving in the small village of La Forge and is about to enter the lock.</td></tr></table>           
              
      <h2>Cruise accessibility</h2>
      <p>The barge has been designed with ease of access to all in mind. People 
        with mobility restrictions can really enjoy their cruise vacation on board 
        the barge, as the boat is equipped to meet European and ADA standards.</p>
      <p>The gangway is specially designed to allow all kinds of wheel chairs, 
        mobility scooters or people with walking sticks to easily get on board..<br>
        On the barge, you will be able to easily move from the sundeck to the 
        bar, salon, dining area and use the lift to access the cabins.<br>
        One of the suites is accessible to wheel chairs and the bathroom fittings 
        have been carefully considered and installed to provide a maximum of comfort.</p>
      <p>The tour bus which is used for your private excursions is also equipped 
        for wheelchair bound people.</p>
      <p> All your visits on the cruise program will be available to you.</p>
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