Day
1 - Sunday: Montbard to Pouillenay.
Late afternoon transfer from the Montbard TGV (high-speed train) station or a
designated hotel by private air-conditioned minibus to the barge moored in Pouillenay.
The full crew will welcome you with champagne and appetizers. After settling into
your cabin, enjoy your first dinner aboard - an introduction to Burgundy’s
excellent cuisine, accompanied by local wines.
Day
2 - Monday: Pouillenay to Venarey les Laumes. Enjoy
a leisurely breakfast and morning cruise through the Burgundian countryside. Your
wine guide will introduce the wine regions to be visited during the week and have
you taste some of the wines. After lunch, tour the 12th-century Abbey de Fontenay,
a World Heritage Site founded by St Bernard. A virtually intact example of early
Cistercian architecture, Fontenay provides an exceptional glimpse of medieval
life, with its peaceful gardens and ponds and beautiful cloisters, dormitories
and scriptorium. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
3 - Tuesday: Venarey Les Laumes to Buffon.
Leaving the barge shortly after breakfast, head south to some of the most prestigious
vineyards in the world. In the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges, visit the cellar of
a small family wine producer and taste some of their world renowned pinot noir
wines from villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée. After
lunch at the 15th-century Caveau des Arches in the wine capital of Beaune, return
to the barge and enjoy a cruise through the picturesque Burgundian countryside.
Light dinner aboard.
Day
4 - Wednesday: Buffon to Ancy-le-Franc.
Morning visit to the local market at Noyers, where you can savor the sights and
smells of the vegetables, cheeses, and other local produce. Back on the barge,
cruise gently down to Ancy-le-Franc, with plenty of time to walk or cycle on the
towpath as the barge descends through the locks. Time before dinner to wander
around the village and across to the 16th-century chateau. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
5 - Thursday: Ancy-le-Franc to Tanlay.
After breakfast, you're off to the picturesque town of Les Riceys, in the southern
champagne-producing region of the Aube. Visit and tasting at an excellent local
champagne producer, followed by a walk around the village. Back on the barge for
lunch while cruising through woodlands and rolling fields. Bike or walk on the
towpath past the villages of Lezinnes, Argentenay and Saint Vinnemer. Late afternoon
arrival in Tanlay. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
6 - Friday: Tanlay to Tonnerre.
Morning
visit to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis with a wonderful view of the world-famous
chardonnay vineyards. Your wine guide will provide a brief history of the region
before taking you to the village of Chablis. Stop at a great local producer and
taste some Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines. Return to the barge and after lunch,
cruise on to Tonnerre. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Day
7 - Saturday: Tonnerre.
After breakfast, transfer from the barge to the Montbard train station.
On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction. This
itinerary is subject to change without notice and may be adapted to special requests.
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Highlights
- Professional
wine guide: introduction to regional wines and tasting techniques
- Onboard
wine list upgraded to include additional Premier
Cru and Grand Cru wines
- Wine
tasting in Nuits-Saint-Georges
- Lunch
at the Caveau des Arches in Beaune
- Champagne
tasting in Les Riceys
- Wine
tasting in Chablis
- Tour
the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit
the local market in Noyers
- Visit
the Chateau of Ancy-le-Franc
