Visit the back roads of Burgundy the easy way, on a floating six-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). Choose a traditional canal cruise in the summer or a "wine and chocolate" theme cruise in the spring or fall. In either case, you will see picturesque villages, enjoy excursions to local historical sites and taste the local wines and regional specialties. When the day is over, relax with a drink on the deck and chat with the captain while your gourmet dinner is prepared.
Highlights: Tanlay to Pouillenay
- Chateau of Ancy le Franc
- Wine tasting and visit to a chocolate-maker in Chablis
- Wine and cheese tasting in Epoisses
- The Abbey of Fontenay, a World Heritage Site
- Flavigny, setting for the movie "Chocolat"
- Roman ruins at Alesia
Highlights: Auxerre to Clamecy:
- Medieval Auxerre and Abbey Saint-Germain
- Wine tasting in Chablis and other wine villages
- Grottes d'Arcy (prehistoric cave paintings)
- Basilica of Vézelay, a World Heritage Site
- Château de Bazoches
Barge Features:
- 3 cabins: can be set up as twin or double (6 passengers)
- Cabin size: 103 square feet
- Crew: husband and wife team plus two additional crew members and a small friendly dog (optional)
- Sundeck
- Air conditioning and central heating
- Air-conditioned minibus for excursions
- No smoking inside the minibus and the barge (smoking allowed outdoors on the sundeck only)
Departures: Every Saturday subject to availability (except winter).
This cruise offers two different routes:
1. Spring and fall: Tanlay to Pouillenay on the Canal de Bourgogne
2. Summer: Auxerre to Clamecy on the Canal du Nivernais
Tour Itinerary:
* Tanlay to Pouillenay Option (Wine and Chocolate Cruise):
- 2008: Departures every Saturday from April 5 - May 24 and October 4 - November 1
- 2009: Departures every Saturday from April 4 - June 6 and August 29 - October 25
Day 1, Saturday: Paris to Tanlay. You will be picked up at a pre-arranged meeting point in Paris at 2 pm and taken to the barge, which will be moored in the delightful chateau village of Tanlay. Settle in after a champagne reception and maybe take a stroll around the village. You'll start the chocolate theme with tonight's dessert.
Day 2, Sunday: Tanlay to Ancy le Franc. This morning, cruise to Ancy le Franc and visit the chateau, which has been beautifully restored and is a real delight to visit. Back on board, enjoy tasting the local wines.
Day 3, Monday: Ancy le Franc to Ravières. Today's cruise is to Ravières. Take a pleasant drive through the countryside to the village of Chablis for a wine tasting and a visit to a chocolate-maker. There you will hear the history of the chocolate Pillars of Chablis and, of course, taste them. Back to the barge via medieval Noyer, one of the top five prettiest villages of France.
Day 4, Tuesday: Ravières to Montbard. Today starts with a leisurely cruise to Montbard. From here you'll go to Epoisses for a cheese visit and a wine tasting. (The pungent local cheese was a favorite of Napoleon.) For those who are interested, we can arrange a cooking demonstration today. Back to the barge for dinner and a second chocolate dessert.
Day 5, Wednesday: Montbard to Veneray-les-Laumes. This morning you'll start to notice the climb up the valley to Veneray-les-Laumes. The countryside just gets prettier as you cruise along. This afternoon you'll tour the Abbaye de Fontenay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This wonderful abbey is the last complete cistercian monastery left in France. Tranquility and beauty describe it perfectly. Back at the barge, the chef will demonstrate how to make tiny chocolate petits fours.
Day 6, Thursday: Veneray-les-Laumes to Pouillenay. The last day's cruise goes to Pouillenay, a climb up with fabulous views over the countryside. Finish the week with lunch in the village of Flavigny (where the movie "Chocolate" was made) and a walking tour of the village. From here, drive the short distance to Alesia to see the site of the last great battle between the Romans and the Gauls. The Roman ruins and amphitheater date back to 345 BC. Return to the barge in time for a rest before the Captain's dinner and a last chocolate fest.
Day 7, Friday: Pouillenay to Paris. This morning you'll be taken back to Paris after breakfast. On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
* Auxerre to Clamecy Option:
2008: Departures every Saturday from June 7 - September 20
2009: Departures every Saturday from June 20 - August 15
Day 1, Saturday: Auxerre. You will be picked up at 2 pm at a prearranged location in Paris and taken to the barge, which will be moored in the center of Auxerre. Time to settle in and have a drink. Welcome aboard!
Day 2, Sunday: Auxerre to Vincelles. Take a morning tour of medieval Auxerre with its cobblestone streets, the Abbey of Saint-Germain, and the Tour de l'Horloge (clock tower). Enjoy lunch during a leisurely afternoon cruise to the village of Vincelles, where we moor overnight. You'll have time for a stroll through the village or a walk along the towpath.
Day 3, Monday: Vincelles to Accolay. Morning cruise to the small town of Accolay on the Cure River. After lunch, you can visit the picturesque wine villages of Coulanges, Chablis, and perhaps Irancy to taste their wines, or maybe sample the wines at the Caves de Bailly, depending on your interests.
Day 4, Tuesday: Accolay to Mailly-le-Château. This morning you'll visit the Grottes d'Arcy, the second oldest decorated caves in the world, with 28,000-year-old paintings. Today's cruise is back to the River Yonne and on to Mailly-le-Château.
Day 5, Wednesday: Mailly-le-Château to Lucy-sur-Yonne. Morning cruise to Châtel-Censoir, with a tour of the Basilica of Saint Magdelene, a UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to Mary Magdelene in Vézelay. Return to the barge to continue the cruise to Lucy-sur-Yonne.
Day 6, Thursday: Lucy- sur-Yonne to Clamecy. Relax during a beautiful long morning's cruise to Clamecy. The final excursion of the week is to the 12th century Château de Bazoches. This edifice has been beautifully restored by the descendants of its most famous owner, the Maréchal de Vauban, who was a military adviser to Louis XIV. Back to the boat for the Captain's dinner.
Day 7, Friday: Clamecy to Paris. After breakfast return to Paris by minivan.
Notes: On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction. This boat can be chartered for families and other groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group. Itineraries are subject to change without notice and may be adapted to special requests for charters.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Accommodations with private shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
- Wine with lunch and dinner and selected alcoholic beverages consumed aboard the barge
- Sightseeing excursions
- Round-trip transfers from specified meeting point in Paris
Price Excludes:
- Transportation to and from meeting point in Paris
- Health and travel insurance
- Crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
- Superior vintage wines
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities when available
- Other items not specifically listed under "Price Includes" above
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Barging
Food & Wine
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