THE HISTORY OF HOTEL BARGE LUCIOLE
The Luciole began her life in 1926 at Dunquerque as a mule-drawn freight vessel, the 'Ponctuel'. Later equipped with an engine, she carried some 180 tonnes of cargo. In 1966 she was converted to become the first 'hotel-barge'. Known as the 'Palinurus', she carried 22 passengers and cruised the waterways of France, going on to feature in 'Floating Island', Emily Kimbrough's affectionate account of her cruising the canals of Burgundy.
Aquired by our company Inland Voyages Limited in 1985, she was renamed 'Luciole' (Firefly). A major refurbishment followed. Her saloon roof was raised, the interior redesigned with fewer and larger cabins, each with a private bathroom. Always we have endeavoured to retain the spirit of the early days.
Progressive improvements since have included a complete doubling and rebuilding of the hull in 2000 and installation of a new engine and generators. Air-conditioning was installed throughout and the annual updating of the saloon and cabins continues.
In 2010 the Luciole was 'stretched' in a Paris shipyard and 17 feet was added into the bow of the barge. This provided valuable storage space, extra crew accommodation and enabled us to stand the bikes on the forward deck giving more space for our passengers to enjoy the Nivernais Canal and peace of the Burgundy countryside.
Each season we make further updates and improvements to the Luciole, when cabins, bathrooms and the saloon are renovated. In mid-summer, we organise a week without passengers to give Luciole 'a spruce up' for passengers cruising in the latter weeks of the hotel barge season.
Aquired by our company Inland Voyages Limited in 1985, she was renamed 'Luciole' (Firefly). A major refurbishment followed. Her saloon roof was raised, the interior redesigned with fewer and larger cabins, each with a private bathroom. Always we have endeavoured to retain the spirit of the early days.
Progressive improvements since have included a complete doubling and rebuilding of the hull in 2000 and installation of a new engine and generators. Air-conditioning was installed throughout and the annual updating of the saloon and cabins continues.
In 2010 the Luciole was 'stretched' in a Paris shipyard and 17 feet was added into the bow of the barge. This provided valuable storage space, extra crew accommodation and enabled us to stand the bikes on the forward deck giving more space for our passengers to enjoy the Nivernais Canal and peace of the Burgundy countryside.
Each season we make further updates and improvements to the Luciole, when cabins, bathrooms and the saloon are renovated. In mid-summer, we organise a week without passengers to give Luciole 'a spruce up' for passengers cruising in the latter weeks of the hotel barge season.
An interesting French fact.......
Built in 1926 and called 'The Ponctuel' the barge was originally pulled by mules along the old tow paths beside the canals, transporting grain and coal from Northern France to various destinations. 'The Ponctuel' was a working barge until 1965 when Richard Parsons bought and began the conversion into the first hotel barge, renaming her Pailinurus. Hotel barging as we know it today was launched! Oasssionally we have returning passengers from those early days, who laugh about the bunk-bed cabins and the two toilets at the end of the corridor - must have been a tight squeeze for 22 - and Luciole is longer nowdays!
Emily Kimbrough, an American author wrote about her cruise on the Palinurus in the 1960s.....
The name of the book was Floating Island, written in 1968, the barge was the Palinurus now called the Luciole. Thanks to Emily, barging became recognised in America and attracted many readers to France to experience the slow way of travel along the waterways of France. The Captain of the Palinurus was Richard Parsons who first started hotel barging in 1966. We all owe a tremendous amount to the pair of them. Fifty years later the old Palinurus is still going strong!
John Liley, always happy behind the wheel of the Luciole, steering down the canal