A window peels back an orderly kitchen where chefs cook plates of red mallet on a bed of tomatoes and duck fussile sprinkled in truffles with alchemic precision. Junior pool suite at Il San Corrado Di Noto Alfio GarozzoĪ classically Italian whites and deep greens and echoes the garrisons style chains lining the ceiling of polished Principe di Belludia – a contemporary play on the romantic fresco. Golf buggies can be summoned at all hours, though refreshingly, the walk to the main hotel is not too laborious… pleasant even following one or two brioche con gelato. Scattered amongst the olive groves in cubic form, the pool villas mirror the main hotel suites in all design matters, just with pools and an immense level of privacy. And aside from the barista-grade coffee machine and silver tray of traditional Sicilian pastries, the smooth marble bath, placed in the room like a contemporary sculpture, is a standout. A leopard print cushion strikes an unexpectedly kitsch note amid the consistent sandy hues of the walk-in-wardrobe, the open-plan bathroom and terraces at either end of the room. All are dominated by preposterously comfortable four poster beds, draped in mosquito netting and positioned for theatrical views of a pink-streaked Sicilian sky. Some overlook the main pool (the deluxe suites), while the premium suites, with cavernous ceilings of the original Sicilian Masseria, spill out onto the long 100m pool’s terrace. In 2004 the five barges were acquired by Orient-Express Hotels, which in 2014 changed its name to Belmond Ltd.Īt this point the barges were renamed, with Belmond added in front of their original names.26 suites and eight pool villas tow the stylishly subdued line of the communal spaces – all chipped and carved by local artisans from Modican stone and Guatemalan marble. Belmond Napoléon was launched in May 1991 as a passenger vessel. The woodwork was carried out by British ships’ carpenters in Belgium. The hull was purchased in Belgium and converted in a small shipyard in Bruges. She was one of the last commercial barges to have been built. She was the first of the Belmond Afloat in France fleet.īelmond Napoléon was converted from the hull of a commercial freight-carrying barge built in Belgium in 1963. In 1986-1987, she was converted and refurbished as a passenger-carrying barge. She began her working life as a cargo barge named ‘Cura’ and was later renamed ‘Mars’. She was brought to France and was converted by Afloat in France to carry passengers in 1992.īelmond Alouette was built in 1908 at Ouderkeek in the Netherlands. This meant that she became the largest size of barge able to fit into canal locks. She was later lengthened to 38.5 metres in order to increase her tonnage and her cargo capacity. She was converted for passengers in 2001 and made her first cruise in spring 2002.īelmond Hirondelle, originally named Vios, was built in 1928 in the Netherlands as a 27-metre cargo barge with a 5.5 metre beam. At 160 metric tons, she is the largest size of barge capable of navigating the network of older canals in France.īelmond Amaryllis was designed in conjunction with La Fluviale, a boat company in Saint-Jean-de-Losne. She was initially registered as a British ship, but has sailed under the French flag since 1996. She underwent conversion into a passenger vessel, employing Belgian steelworkers and British joiners.
During World War II, she was commandeered by the German army and ordered to the island of Corsica. There are stops at countryside sites of interest en route.Ĭonstructed as a freight vessel at Oostkamp in Belgium in 1941, Belmond Fleur de Lys once plied the waterways of Europe with a varied cargo.
The five barges visit towns and cities including Dijon, Besançon, Carcassonne and Arles. The barges travel on canals and rivers in France’s Côte d’Or, Burgundy, Franche-Comté, Saône, Provence, Vallée du Rhone, Midi-Pyrénées and Camargue and carry from 4-12 passengers. Our customised itineraries range from truffle hunting and go-karting to hot air ballooning and horse-riding.īelmond Afloat in France is a group of five canal barges or peniche-hotels that are part of the Belmond collection of 46 international hotels, trains and river cruises. Relax in stylish comfort and dine on sensational cuisine as you drift along picturesque riverbanks, then moor for tailor-made excursions. We make it a point of pride to ensure your every need is taken care of. Relish every moment of your journey as you glide along on one of our seven luxurious barges Home > Belmond Company > Belmond Afloat in France Belmond Afloat in France Belmond Afloat in FranceĪ serene exploration of France's waterways
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