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Les Bateaux Belmond

Les Bateaux Belmond is a group of seven canal barges or péniche-hôtels that are part of the Belmond collection of around 50 international hotels, trains and river cruises. Formally known as Afloat in France, the barges offer cruises on canals and rivers in the French regions of Burgundy, Franche-Comté, Saône, Provence, Vallée du Rhône, Midi-Pyrénées and Camargue, while the Alsace and Champagne regions are added in 2018. The barges carry up to 12 passengers. The barges visit towns and cities including Dijon, Besançon, Carcassonne, Arles, Nancy and Strasbourg. There are stops at countryside sites of interest en route.

History edit

In 2004 five barges were acquired by Orient-Express Hotels, which in 2014 changed its name to Belmond Ltd.[1][2][3][4][5] At this point the barges were renamed. They are regularly referred to with 'Belmond' in front of the actual registered name. In 2017 Pivoine (Peony) was added to the fleet, to start operating in 2018, along with another newly built barge, Lilas (Lilac).

Hotel barges edit

Fleur de Lys edit

Constructed as a freight vessel at Oostkamp in Belgium in 1941, Fleur de Lys once plied the waterways of Europe with a varied cargo. During World War II, she was commandeered by the German army and ordered to the island of Corsica. She underwent conversion into a passenger vessel, employing Belgian steelworkers and British joiners. She was initially registered as a British ship, but has sailed under the French flag since 1996. At 160 metric tons, she is the largest size of barge capable of navigating the network of older canals in France.

Amaryllis edit

Amaryllis was designed in conjunction with La Fluviale, a boat company in Saint-Jean-de-Losne. She is a 40m barge built in 1962. She was converted for passengers in 2001 and made her first cruise in spring 2002.

Coquelicot edit

Coquelicot, originally named Vios, then Hirondelle, was built in 1928 in the Netherlands as a 27m cargo barge with a 5.5m beam. She was later lengthened to 38.50m in order to increase her tonnage and her cargo capacity. This meant that she became the largest size of barge able to fit into canal locks. She was brought to France and was converted by Belmond to carry passengers in 1992.

Alouette edit

Alouette was built in 1908 at Ouderkeek in the Netherlands. She began her working life as a cargo barge named ‘Cura’ and was later renamed ‘Mars’. In 1986–1987, she was converted and refurbished as a passenger-carrying barge. She was the first of the Belmond Afloat in France fleet.

Napoléon edit

Napoléon was converted from the hull of a commercial freight-carrying barge built in Belgium in 1963. She was one of the last commercial barges to have been built. The hull was purchased in Belgium and converted in a small shipyard in Bruges. The woodwork was carried out by British ships’ carpenters in Belgium. Napoléon was launched in May 1991 as a passenger vessel.

Pivoine edit

One of two current additions to the fleet, Pivoine will start operating in 2018 in the Champagne region of France, cruising on the river Marne.

Lilas edit

The other new barge Lilas will operate from the 2018 season in north-east France, between the Vosges and the Rhine valley, via the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, Strasbourg and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin.

References edit

  1. ^ "Interview: Behind Belmond's Rebrand of Iconic Orient-Express Name". 17 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Orient-Express Hotels Gets a New Name". 14 March 2014.
  3. ^ https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140223-900769.html [dead link]
  4. ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/video/goodbye-orient-express-hello-belmond-xrN0VmQuTkmW5cK8E~o3SQ.html [dead link]
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2023-11-07.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Directory of hotel barges offering cruises in France
  • General introduction to hotel barges
  • Fleur de Lys, Amaryllis, Hirondelle, Alouette, Napoléon, Pivoine and Lilas on french-waterways.com

bateaux, belmond, group, seven, canal, barges, péniche, hôtels, that, part, belmond, collection, around, international, hotels, trains, river, cruises, formally, known, afloat, france, barges, offer, cruises, canals, rivers, french, regions, burgundy, franche,. Les Bateaux Belmond is a group of seven canal barges or peniche hotels that are part of the Belmond collection of around 50 international hotels trains and river cruises Formally known as Afloat in France the barges offer cruises on canals and rivers in the French regions of Burgundy Franche Comte Saone Provence Vallee du Rhone Midi Pyrenees and Camargue while the Alsace and Champagne regions are added in 2018 The barges carry up to 12 passengers The barges visit towns and cities including Dijon Besancon Carcassonne Arles Nancy and Strasbourg There are stops at countryside sites of interest en route Contents 1 History 2 Hotel barges 2 1 Fleur de Lys 2 2 Amaryllis 2 3 Coquelicot 2 4 Alouette 2 5 Napoleon 2 6 Pivoine 2 7 Lilas 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 2004 five barges were acquired by Orient Express Hotels which in 2014 changed its name to Belmond Ltd 1 2 3 4 5 At this point the barges were renamed They are regularly referred to with Belmond in front of the actual registered name In 2017 Pivoine Peony was added to the fleet to start operating in 2018 along with another newly built barge Lilas Lilac Hotel barges editFleur de Lys edit Constructed as a freight vessel at Oostkamp in Belgium in 1941 Fleur de Lys once plied the waterways of Europe with a varied cargo During World War II she was commandeered by the German army and ordered to the island of Corsica She underwent conversion into a passenger vessel employing Belgian steelworkers and British joiners She was initially registered as a British ship but has sailed under the French flag since 1996 At 160 metric tons she is the largest size of barge capable of navigating the network of older canals in France Amaryllis edit Amaryllis was designed in conjunction with La Fluviale a boat company in Saint Jean de Losne She is a 40m barge built in 1962 She was converted for passengers in 2001 and made her first cruise in spring 2002 Coquelicot edit Coquelicot originally named Vios then Hirondelle was built in 1928 in the Netherlands as a 27m cargo barge with a 5 5m beam She was later lengthened to 38 50m in order to increase her tonnage and her cargo capacity This meant that she became the largest size of barge able to fit into canal locks She was brought to France and was converted by Belmond to carry passengers in 1992 Alouette edit Alouette was built in 1908 at Ouderkeek in the Netherlands She began her working life as a cargo barge named Cura and was later renamed Mars In 1986 1987 she was converted and refurbished as a passenger carrying barge She was the first of the Belmond Afloat in France fleet Napoleon edit Napoleon was converted from the hull of a commercial freight carrying barge built in Belgium in 1963 She was one of the last commercial barges to have been built The hull was purchased in Belgium and converted in a small shipyard in Bruges The woodwork was carried out by British ships carpenters in Belgium Napoleon was launched in May 1991 as a passenger vessel Pivoine edit One of two current additions to the fleet Pivoine will start operating in 2018 in the Champagne region of France cruising on the river Marne Lilas edit The other new barge Lilas will operate from the 2018 season in north east France between the Vosges and the Rhine valley via the Canal de la Marne au Rhin Strasbourg and the Canal du Rhone au Rhin References edit Interview Behind Belmond s Rebrand of Iconic Orient Express Name 17 March 2014 Orient Express Hotels Gets a New Name 14 March 2014 https www wsj com article PR CO 20140223 900769 html dead link https www bloomberg com video goodbye orient express hello belmond xrN0VmQuTkmW5cK8E o3SQ html dead link Orient Express Hotels LTD To launch Belmond brand Archived from the original on 2014 03 28 Retrieved 2023 11 07 External links editOfficial website Directory of hotel barges offering cruises in France General introduction to hotel barges Fleur de Lys Amaryllis Hirondelle Alouette Napoleon Pivoine and Lilas on french waterways com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Les Bateaux Belmond amp oldid 1183951259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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