Burgundy
- Santenay Barge Cruise
New
for 2009!
The
heart of the Burgundy wine country
Cruise
the rivers and canals of France aboard a 20-passenger barge-hotel (7 days
- 6 nights). Visit Dijon and Beaune, stroll through quaint villages, and taste
the local wines. Enjoy sightseeing, walking along the canal towpath and just relaxing
on the river boat as you watch the countryside and the vineyards glide by.
TYPICAL
BARGE CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)
Day
1 - Saturday: Dijon.
Meet at the Dijon train station in the afternoon. You will be taken to the river
boat moored in the port of Dijon, close to downtown. The crew will serve a welcome
cocktail as the bags are taken to the cabins, after which there will be time to
settle in or walk into town before dinner is served on board.
Day
2 - Sunday: Dijon to Longecourt-en-Plaine. Disembark
after breakfast to drive through the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits for
a guided visit of the château of Clos Vougeot, medieval monastic winery
and present-day headquarters of the Confrèrie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Return to the barge in time for lunch at a lock just outside Dijon and cruise
through the afternoon. This afternoon, you will be able to walk along the canal
towpath between the fairly frequent locks before arriving at the village of Longecourt-en-Plaine,
a few miles from Dijon.
Day
3 - Monday: Longecourt-en-Plaine to Seurre.
Morning cruise to St-Jean-de-Losne, located at the junction of the Canal de Bourgogne
with the River Saône. After lunch, take a coach excursion to Beaune, the
center of the Burgundy wine trade. Enjoy a guided visit of the Hôtel Dieu,
a world-famous charity hospital founded in the fifteenth century, which is a masterpiece
of late-medieval architecture. Free time to visit the town with its wine museum,
magnificent Romanesque church and wine cellars. Return to the river boat at Seurre,
a charming riverside town.
Day
4 - Tuesday: Seurre to Chalon-sur-Saône.
Today is market day in Dijon, so after an early breakfast on the barge you'll
take a guided tour of the principal sights of the city, followed by free time
to explore the market and the excellent shopping area. Return to the barge in
Seurre for lunch and cruise through the afternoon down the Saône River.
Tonight's mooring spot is Chalon-sur-Saône, the second largest city in Burgundy
and an important trading center since Gallo-Roman times. You'll have time to visit
the beautifully preserved medieval town center surrounding the Cathedral of St
Vincent before dinner.
Day
5 - Wednesday: Chalon-sur-Saône to Chagny.
This morning, while the river boat starts on its way to Chagny, you'll be able
stay in town to visit the excellent shops or perhaps the museum dedicated to Joseph
Niecephore Niepce, the inventor of photography and a native of Chalon. Back on
the barge, you'll watch as it enters the Canal du Centre through a lock with a
fifty-foot rise. As it cruises along an attractive winding stretch, you'll be
able to walk along the recently built cycling track that follows the Canal du
Centre between Chalon and St Léger. Towards the end of the afternoon you'll
visit the nearby village of Rully for a guided tour of the twelfth century château.
Return to the barge moored in the lively little town of Chagny.
Day
6 - Thursday: Chagny to Santenay to St-Léger-sur-Dheune.
Cruise this morning to Santenay and moor in time to explore this famous wine-producing
village of the Côte de Beaune and enjoy a wine tasting before lunch. Cruise
to St Léger in time for the gala farewell dinner on board the barge.
Day
7 - Friday: Transfer to Dijon.
After breakfast, transfer from the river boat to the Dijon train station - end
of cruise.
On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is
subject to change without notice.
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Highlights
- Château
of Clos Vougeot
- Beaune
- Hôtel Dieu hospice
- Dijon
- market
- Chalon-sur-Saône
- photography museum
- Côte
de Beaune wine tasting
Included
- Accommodations
with private bath or shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on
day 7
- Wine
with lunch and dinner
- Sightseeing
tours and entrance fees as specified
Not
Included
- Transportation
to and from beginning and end points. (Optional
transfer to and from Paris
is available.)
- Health
and travel insurance
- Barge
crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
- Bar
drinks on board the barge
- Personal
expenses
- Optional
activities when available
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
Barge
Features
- Cabins:
8 twins/2 doubles (20 passengers)
- 7
crew members
- Size:
128 ft. x 17 ft.
- Sundeck,
stereo and CD
- Air
conditioning and central heating
- Air-conditioned
coaches for excursions
Departures
Every
Saturday subject to availability (except winter).
This
river boat can be chartered for groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged
to fit the specific interests of each group.
| |
Standard/Individuals |
Charters/Groups |
We
have personally visited the Burgundy region of France where this river boat cruise
takes place. See pictures from our trips:
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