Lagarde-Moselle (France)

Lagarde (Lingatche) is a Moselle River/Marne-Rhine Canal barge cruise port and a small village (population under 500) located in France's Moselle department (Grand Est region/fka Alsace). The village is on the Moselle River which is connected to Canal de la Marne au Rhin (Rhine-Marne Canal) - an artificial waterway used mostly by recreational boaters and luxury hotel barges. The 314-km (195-mi) long Marne-Rhine Canal connects Marne River (Vitry-le-Francois) to Rhine River (in Strasbourg).

Lagarde is part of Lorraine Regional Natural Park (1974-established) and ZNIEFF (Zone naturelle d'interet ecologique, faunistique et floristique/"Natural area of ​​ecological, faunistic and floristic interest").

As barge cruise port, Lagarde is included in the schedule of one of the world's largest river cruise companies - CroisiEurope. For summer 2021 season, the company had two hotel barges (Madeleine and Raymonde) with planned visits to Lagarde.

Next table shows CroisiEurope's 6-day "The Marne-Rhine Canal" itinerary (roundtrip from Strasbourg).

CroisiEurope barge cruise itinerary review

CroisiEurope barge cruise prices started from EUR 2270 pp / USD 2750 per person (outside cabin with double occupancy). The 6-day French Canal cruisetour starts with a bus transfer from Strasbourg to Lagarde (embarkation port) where passengers board the ship (at 6 PM) for a port overnight. The itinerary ends in Strasbourg (debarkation at 9 AM).

In the morning on DAY 2, the cruise boat sails toward Xouaxange, passing through Rechicourt Lock and continuing through the lakes. In the afternoon is visited Sarrebourg (for the Chagall Trail/Vosges Mountains).

In the morning on DAY 3, the boat is cruising toward Lutzelbourg, passing through Arzviller and Niderviller Tunnels. In the afternoon passes through the Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane. Passengers disembark the ship to visit the local family-run crystal workshop (crystal blowing and cutting). Then the boat continues to Lutzelbourg.

On DAY 4, passengers disembark the ship for a walking tour to Chateau de Lutzelbourg. Then the boat cruises to Saverne (arriving in the early-afternoon) where passengers visit Chateau de Hohbarr. In Saverne is included a guided city tour.

In the morning on DAY 5, the ship cruises to Hochefelden, where (in the afternoon) is offered a bus excursion that visits Maison du Kochersberg (museum) and Villa Meteor de Hochfelden. Later the cruise ship is boarded in Waltenheim-sur-Zorn.

In the morning on DAY 6, the boat cruises to Strasbourg City, where is offered an afternoon tour-boat excursion.