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The following barges cruise in this area:
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Burgundy has always been famous for its
fine wines—and when you cruise here
you’ll see and taste how marvellous they
are. In addition, this area is scattered with
beautiful, intimate waterways, from the
well known scenic Burgundy Canal and her
charming ‘sister’ the pretty Nivernais Canal,
to the celebrated ‘Côte D’Or’ (Golden
Coast) of southern Burgundy, Canal du
Centre and the River Saône which finally
leads you down to the sparkling city of
Lyon. There are many facets to this enchanting
region, which is best explored by
barge of course.
Where is it?
In north-eastern
France, with Dijon its capital city. The
main waterways here are the Burgundy Canal
and the Nivernais Canal, the Canal du
Centre and the River Saône.
What are the cruises like?
Idyllic. Winding your gentle way through
hidden medieval villages, through wooded
valleys and gentle plains, you’ll be enchanted
by the atmosphere in this region of
France and charmed by the warm welcome
of its inhabitants. At the heart of France,
Burgundy’s countryside is among the
most beautiful in Europe. Miles of beautiful
waterways offer tremendous opportunities
for those seeking a relaxing and gentle
vacation. Burgundy is justifiably well known
as the home of some of the finest wines in
the world and for some of the best food
in Europe.
Don’t let the number of barges confuse you—check
out their barge pages by clicking their name above
and you’ll see there are quite a few different itineraries
available, depending on what you’re looking
for. If you’re stuck, just call us and we’ll be
happy to help!
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The gentle MS Niagara barge (right), taking only
6 guests at a time, wends her way along the Burgundy Canal
in dappled sunshine. She even
has a glorious plunge pool(right.)
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How does this canal compare with others in Europe?
There is perhaps no better way of getting to know Burgundy than by boat.
Nearly twelve hundred kilometres of rivers and canals, with very little commercial
traffic, are open to pleasure craft. This remarkable wealth of navigable waterways
results from the geographical situation of Burgundy; in the very heart of the region
is the watershed between the basins of the three major rivers in France - the Seine,
the Loire and the Rhône. In order to link these three rivers, a series of canals
was built in Burgundy, starting in the 17th century, with navigable rivers the Saône,
the Yonne and the Seine. It’s one of the most prized waterways in France due to
the pretty villages you cruise through en route, and also because of
the sun-drenched, wine growing countryside on either side of you.
Gently meander through one the loveliest areas you could ever come across,
sampling fine wines along the way and enjoying fresh French cuisine at its best...
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Burgundy— fine wines and a lot more besides...
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Why would I want to cruise here?
- Because you want to cruise through the very
heart of possibly the prettiest French countryside—houses covered in flowers seemingly year
round, medieval-feeling villages with small central squares surrounded by cafés where people are
enjoying the slower pace of life.
- Because Burgundy's range of culinary experiences varies from pretty inns on the banks of a river
to prestigious restaurants (last time we counted there were 32 restaurants with Michelin
'stars', including four with 3 stars!) All of the barges cruising in Burgundy pride themselves on
the quality of their food and wine. With your own personal chef on board, local specialities and
international cuisine are of the highest standard.
- Because you want to taste some fine wines and enjoy select private wine tasting, as offered
by many of the barges’ excursions.
- Because you like great weather and sunshine, but perhaps not quite such high temperatures as in
the south of France.
- Because you want to visit amazingly intricate chateaux and tread in the footsteps of past kings
and queens of this fine country.
To give you a feel for the different areas, here are some cruise highlights of the differing
waterways:
Nivernais Canal cruise Highlights may include:
- Auxerre - the centre of barging in Burgundy, with its shops, narrow streets and Cathedral of Saint-
Etienne
- The Basilica of Vézelay
- Wine villages of St Bris, Coulanges and Irancy
- Wine tasting at a famous vineyard in Chablis
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Wonderful chateaux such the Chateau la Chassagne (now a hotel),
an ancient hunting chateau, are the perfect place to stay pre or post
cruise. With private airfield, vineyards, pool and solarium, chapel,
stables, golf course and more, this is the place to head. A 10 minute
ride from Dijon train station and you’re there. Please e-mail
us for details.
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Burgundy Canal cruise highlights may include:
- Beaune, Wine Capital of Burgundy
- The Roman town of Tonnerre with its 13th century refuge and remarkable spring
- 16th Century Châteaux of Tanlay and Ancy Le Franc and the Abbey of Fontenay
- Visits to famous vineyards such as Savigny, Meursault and Nuits St Georges
Canal du Centre cruise highlights may include:
- Wine tasting at Santenay and Meursault
- The hilltop Château de Rochepot
- Excursions along "La Route des Vins"
- A visit to Beaune for wine tasting
On the subject of wine…
No one who spends time in Burgundy can miss visiting the wine cellars. The most famous of Burgundy's
products and its best ambassador is its wine. Throughout the province, from north to south, are prestigious
appellations : Chablis, Coteaux de l'Auxerrois, Côte-de-Nuits, Côte-de-Beaune, Côte
Chalonnaise et Mâconnais.
150 wine producers produce between them 40 million bottles of wine a year. Wine traders, small cellars
in which you can sample the wine, and the larger wine centres are all ready to welcome you to their
cellars. Most - if not all - the barges offer wine tasting sessions at vineyards along the route. Some can
even offer wine tasting or appreciation courses as a part of the cruise. Please ask us if that interests
you.
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The gorgeous Papillon barge (above) cruises
in Burgundy. She has a lovely salon and is one of the very few barges
benefiting from a separate dining room.
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Let yourself be pampered with the choicest of dishes
and sweet desserts aboard the character full Belle Epoque, cruising
on the Nivernais Canal between historic Auxerre and Clamecy
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Ballooning can also easily be enjoyed from the barge, at extra cost but
well worth it we think! (Belle
Epoque, left)
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