Fleur de Lys - The Barge Company 2008

Dijon to St Leger (or reverse), cruising on the Burgundy Canal,
the River Saône and the Canal du Centre

Sunday, Day 1 - Paris to Dijon

Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Lyon via the TGV train will arrive at approximately 16:15 at the Dijon train station where you will be met by the Fleur de Lys guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van to Dijon’s Port du Canal, an old commercial dock area, now refurbished for pleasure craft and a short distance from the town center, where you will board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard. Time permitting the barge gangplank is raised and you can enjoy your first experience of navigating a lock and cruising the Canal de Bourgogne from Dijon upstream to a quiet canal mooring. Alternatively, the boat will remain moored in Dijon and cruising will begin early the next day. Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger’s wishes).

Monday, Day 2 - Cruise to Fleury-sur-Ouche.Visit Clos de Vougeot

As you leave Dijon the canal turns to the southwest and follows the river Ouche where small-unspoiled villages and green forested hills provide the traveler with exceptional views from the deck. This afternoon’s excursion is a dégustation in Chambolle Musigny and a visit to Clos de Vougeot, a medieval abbey surroungded by 12th century vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d’Or vintages. The barge will moor for the night in Fleury-sur-Ouche, a small village from which you may safely bicycle or stroll around. Also, a tennis court is never far away. Just ask your guide for directions.

Tuesday, Day 3 – Cruise Fleurey to St. Victor.Visit Dijon

After breakfast, while the Fleur de Lys cruises through several more locks before reaching it’s destination of St. Victor, your guide will take you on a walking tour of Dijon, past the elegant houses, visit the Ducal Palace, the market and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. Back to the boat for a scrumptious lunch and the afternoon’s cruise. While enjoying the passing scenery pay attention to the lock keepers’ gardens and, by all means, make sure you don’t trespass thereupon, by foot or by bicycle - a definite “faux pas”. The French government sponsors competitions for the best garden on the canal, thus the lock keepers take great pride in tending to their flowers. After lunch, tour of the 700 year old Benedictine Abbey in La Bussière. A stroll through the grounds will make the hustle and bustle of Paris seem like a million kilometers away.

Wednesday, Day 4 - Cruise St. Victor to Veuvey.Visit Beaune, the Domaine Prieur-Brunet and Meursault

Today your excursion is a visit of the Côte d’Or, literally “Slope of Gold”. This is the name given to the strip of land running south of Dijon, which is planted with vines and produces some of the world’s most famous wines. You will see the charming villages and will visit some of the finest wine producers in France. You will have the opportunity to see a family run winery and to sample wines that may never reach your corner of the world. After another delicious lunch your guide will escort you to Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, and a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune.

Thursday, Day 5 – Cruise from Veuvey to Crugey. Visit Château de Commarin

After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit the Château de Commarin, an interesting castle from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its celebrated tapestries with the coat of arms of the Vienne family take the place of a family tree. Decoration and lavish furnishings have been intact for over 200 years since Marie-Judith de Vienne (1700-1780). Back onboard for lunch and then a tour of a snail farm with degustation is on the agenda for the afternoon.

Friday, Day 6 - Cruise Crugey to Escommes. Visit Châteauneuf

Morning cruise through several more locks until reaching your final destination of Escommes, just past Châteauneuf-en-Auxois. At this point you are very near the watershed at Pouilly-en-Auxois, where there is a tunnel through which the barges must pass to reach Upper Burgundy. This is also the point of the “partager des eaux”, literally, “to divide the waters”, where on one side the water flows to the Seine and on the other, to the Saône. The Château de Châteauneuf has an interesting history and will be visited this afternoon. Meanwhile the chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner. Bon appetit.

Saturday, Day 7 - Disembark the Fleur de Lys. Transfer to Paris

After breakfast you will disembark the barge and all aboard the van for the last time for the drive to Dijon and your return to Paris on the TGV, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon approximately 11:20 where you will be met by our representative who will assist you with your bags.

Pont d’Ouche to St Jean de Losne (or reverse) on the Burgundy Canal

The day to day itinerary described below is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and guest preferences.

Sunday – Paris to Dijon
Depart Paris, Gare de Lyon, on the TGV train in the afternoon. On arrival at Dijon station you are transferred to Pont d’Ouche, where you board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. A late afternoon cocktail cruise will prepare your palate for your first dinner on board.

Monday - Cruise to Gissey. Visit Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
Enjoy your first relaxing cruise through the Ouche valley. After lunch, we take a very scenic drive to Châteauneuf-en-Auxois. Both the village and the château have a long and interesting history. We stop off on our way back at the newly restored Abbaye de la Bussiere for a walk through the beautiful grounds.

Tuesday - Cruise to Fleurey. Visit Château de Commarin
Continue to cruise the peaceful Ouche Valley. After lunch we visit the magnificent Château de Commarin, an interesting castle from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its celebrated tapestries, with the coat of arms of the Vienne family, take the place of a family tree.

Wednesday - Cruise to Dijon. Visit Beaune
Today, you have the option to take lunch off the barge if you wish. In the afternoon discover Beaune, the capital of the wine region of Burgundy. Enjoy a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune followed by a private wine tasting at Joseph Drouhin.

Thursday- Cruise to Longecourt. Visit Clos de Vougeot
While the barge crosses the flat plain from Dijon to the River Saône we tour the Côte d’Or planted with vines that produce some of the world’s most famous wines. We visit “Clos de Vougeot”, a medieval château surrounded by vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d’Or vintages. On our way back to the boat we visit Château de Longecourt, a 12th century fortified house transformed into a moated neo-classical home.

Friday - Cruise to St Jean. Visit Dijon
Today your guide takes you on a walking tour of Dijon to visit the market, the Grey Poupon mustard shop and enjoy some shopping time. Later in the afternoon, enjoy your final cruise to St Jean de Losne, the largest inland port in France. Meanwhile your chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.

Saturday – Dijon to Paris
After breakfast disembark and transfer to the Dijon rail station. Board the TGV to Paris, Gare de Lyon, where you are met by a barge representative who will assist you with your luggage.

St Jean de Losne to Lyon (or reverse) on the River Saône and River Rhone

The day to day itinerary described below is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and guest preferences.

Sunday – Paris to Dijon.
Depart Paris, Gare de Lyon, on the TGV train in the afternoon. On arrival at Dijon station you are met by a barge guide who escorts you on your transfer to St. Jean where you board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy and down the River Saône. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. A cocktail cruise introduces you to the delights of cruising. Later enjoy your first dining experience on board.

Monday - Visit Clos de Vougeot. Cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône.
Your guide has planned a visit to the ‘Clos de Vougeot’, a medieval chateau surrounded by vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d’Or vintages. You have the opportunity to see a family run winery and to sample wines that may never reach your corner of the world. The barge continues cruising and moors in Fragnes or Chalon for the evening. This afternoon you may take a walking tour of the pedestrian area of Chalon-sur-Saône.

Tuesday - Visit Beaune. Cruise to Tournus.
Today your guide escorts you to Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, and a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune. After another delicious lunch on board while cruising, you visit Tournus and the Romanesque church of St. Philibert on the banks of the Saône.

Wednesday – Cruise to Mâcon. Visit Cluny and Château de Cormatin.
This morning’s visit is to the Château de Cormatin, noted for its painted, sculpted and gold-leafed interiors from the reign of Louis XIII. After lunch your guide takes you to the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. The abbey church is a masterpiece of Romanesque art whose influence spread throughout the western Christian world. Our mooring this evening is Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering both the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais vineyards.

Thursday – Visit Solutré. Cruise Montmerle. Visit Beaujolais Region.
In the morning, you visit Solutré, a typical village of the Mâconnais region. The Roche de Solutré is a picturesque site with a superb view of Mâcon, the River Saône and the Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards. After lunch, visit Beaujolais, a region known for its vineyards and gastronomy.

Friday – Cruise to Lyon. Visit Lyon
Today’s visit is Lyon, the second city of France. It is a cultural, historic, gastronomic, and commercial centre, comparatively little known outside of France. Dominating the city is the splendidly ornate Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière. The standard of Lyon's shopping facilities is renowned for its quality and includes many chic boutiques and a market hall devoted entirely to antiques. Back on board the chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.

Saturday – Lyon -Paris.
After breakfast disembark the barge and transfer to the Lyon rail station. Board the TGV to Paris, Gare de Lyon, where you are met by a barge representative who will assist you with your luggage.