Follow the Life and Legends of Mary Magdalene on the “Da Vinci Code” Barge Cruise in Southern France

Deluxe Hotel Barges Tango and Fandango are offering 6-nite barge cruises in Southern France with a fascinating itinerary exploring the local historical sources for the plot of the best-selling thriller, the "Da Vinci Code".

(I-Newswire) - You’ve read the book, heard the hype and will probably go see the movie.  But did you know that the historical heroine of the Da Vinci Code, Mary Magdalene really did come to Southern France and lived out the latter part of her life in real places which you can still visit?

Canals of France, operator of luxury barges Tango and Fandango, is offering six night / seven day itineraries centered around the legend of Mary Magdalene and haunts of the anti-Church history of the Middle Ages as featured in the best-selling book and soon-to-be released film, “The Da Vinci Code”. Imagine exploring the mysteries of this controversial best selling novel with your own private guide and a deluxe canal barge as your base. 

Your adventure cruise takes place in the Languedoc of Southern France and will bring you right to the actual sites connected to the heart of the controversy such as the sea-side town where Mary Magdalene first landed in France after her flight from the Holy land. Visit Carcassonne and other villages linked to the “Carthar Heresy”, Rome’s condemnation of  the beliefs espoused by a Christian religious sect who worshiped the Magdalene.  See towns like Aigues-Mortes which were key points in the battle with the Church and centers for Knights of the Templar, the supposed protectors of Mary Magdalene’s legacy. The highlight of your cruise week is a day-long excursion to the famous Rennes-le-Chateau, where it is rumored that the actual grail, possibly proof of Mary Magdalene’s role in Jesus’s life, was found by a solitary priest in the 19th century.

Your home, the elegant Fandango or Tango, are fully-equipped restored canal barges, suitable for up to five or six  passengers respectively. Enjoy cabins with en-suite baths, beautifully decorated interiors, spacious decks, hot-tubs and on-board bicycles.  The boats’ gourmet kitchens turn out exquisite local specialties and feature the fine local wines of this increasingly prominent wine area.

The “Da Vinci Code” Barge Cruises are for six days/seven nights, Sunday to Saturday from April through October, 2005. The Cruise is on a charter basis only for groups of 4 to 12 passengers starting at $16,800 for a party of four ( please refer to our website for larger groups ).  The price includes transfers to and from the barge in the cruising area, guided-chauffeured sightseeing throughout the tour, entrance fees to all sights, 6 nights accommodations on a deluxe barge, all meals during the barge cruise including a meal off-shore at a local restaurant, all wine with barge meals, open bar during the barge cruise and transfer to a local TGV station at the end of the cruise.