(photo credit: Luciole barge website – until I can get my own live photos)
The Luciole cruises the Nivernais Canal in Burgundy from Auxerre to Clamecy from Spring through Fall each year. Here are a couple of stats:
114 ft. long, 17 ft. wide
carries 12 passengers in doubles, twins and single cabins
in 2010 the hull was split in half and stretched to add 17 ft. in length to the bow area
History: In 1926, the Luciole was a mule-drawn freight vessel. It wasn’t until 1966 that Luciole was converted to the first hotel barge and given the name “Palinurus.” In 1985 Palinurus was renamed “Luciole” which means Firefly in french. The Luciole is a privately-owned, family-run hotel barge.