'Libellule'

Burgundy (between Dijon and Saint Leger sur Dheune) on the Burgundy Canal, the River Saône and the Canal du Centre

Saturday - Dijon
You are met at the Dijon Train Station and transferred to the Libellule moored in the port of Dijon, close to the city centre, where we stay for the night. The crew will serve a welcome cocktail as the luggage is taken to the cabins, after which there will be time to settle in or walk into town before dinner is served on board.

Sunday - Dijon / 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 Libellule in time for lunch at a lock just outside Dijon and cruise throughout the afternoon. Today offers good opportunities to walk along the towpath or to cycle into nearby villages between the fairly frequent locks this afternoon before we moor at the village of Longecourt en Plaine.

Monday - Longecourt en Plaine / St Jean de Losne / Seurre
Today we cast off during breakfast and enjoy a morning cruise to St Jean de Losne, traditionally the centre of barging in Burgundy and situated at the junction of the Burgundy Canal with the River Saône. After lunch we’ll enjoy a coach excursion to Beaune, the centre of the Burgundy wine trade, for a guided visit of the Hôtel Dieu - world famous charity hospital which was founded in the fifteenth century and is a masterpiece of late Medieval architecture. Enjoy free time to visit the town with its wine museum, magnificent Romanesque church and wine cellars. Return to Libellule moored at Seurre, a charming brick-built riverside town.

Tuesday - Seurre / Chalon sur Saône
Today is market day in Dijon, so after an early breakfast we drive there for a guided tour of the principal sights of the city centre followed by time free to explore the market and the excellent shopping centre. Return to Libellule in Seurre for lunch and cruise through the afternoon down the Saône River to our mooring for tonight at Chalon sur Saône, the second largest city in Burgundy and an important trading centre since Gallo-Roman times. Time to visit the beautifully preserved medieval town centre surrounding the Cathedral of St Vincent before dinner.

Wednesday - Chalon sur Saône / Chagny
We cast off from our mooring in Chalon during breakfast; however there will be an opportunity to stay in town to visit the excellent shops or the Niecephore Niepce museum, inventor of photography and native of Chalon. We enter the Canal du Centre from the river through a lock with a fifty-foot rise and cruise along an attractive winding stretch, with good opportunities to walk or cycle along the green cycling track recently built along the Canal du Centre between Chalon and St Léger. Towards the end of the afternoon we make an excursion to the nearby village of Rully for a guided tour of the twelfth century château. Return to Libellule at our mooring for tonight in the lively little town of Chagny.

Thursday - Chagny / Santenay / Dennevy / St Léger sur Dheune
We cruise through the morning today to Santenay and moor in time to explore this famous wine-producing village of the Côte de Beaune before lunch. We enjoy a wine tasting and then we cruise over lunch and through the afternoon to St Leger for our gala dinner. Good cycling and walking all day on the restored towpath.

Friday - St Léger sur Dheune
After an early breakfast, transfer by coach to Dijon for your on ward travel.

PLEASE NOTE— this is a sample itinerary: it is subject to modification in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as canal closures. Libellule cruises in opposite directions on alternate weeks.