Cruising between Venarey-les-Laumes and Tanlay on the Burgundy canal
Venarey-les-Laumes
Sunday
Guests are met at the Hotel Westminster in Paris and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to La Belle Epoque.
A full crew Welcome Aboard awaits, with Champagne and canapes.
After time to settle into your cabin, you will enjoy your first Dinner aboard and an introduction to Burgundy's excellent cuisine.
Sunday
Guests are met at the Hotel Westminster in Paris and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to La Belle Epoque.
A full crew Welcome Aboard awaits, with Champagne and canapes.
After time to settle into your cabin, you will enjoy your first Dinner aboard and an introduction to Burgundy's excellent cuisine.
Venarey-les-Laumes to Montbard
Monday
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and les Granges to our mooring at Montbard.
After lunch, we visit the Chateau de Commarin, encircled by a moat, for a close-up encounter typical of medieval times, a magnificent falconry display. After this, we meet Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident of the chateau, being the 26th generation of his family in residence. He will tell some fascinating tales of the chateau's history before we enjoy a private tour.
Dinner on board.
Monday
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and les Granges to our mooring at Montbard.
After lunch, we visit the Chateau de Commarin, encircled by a moat, for a close-up encounter typical of medieval times, a magnificent falconry display. After this, we meet Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident of the chateau, being the 26th generation of his family in residence. He will tell some fascinating tales of the chateau's history before we enjoy a private tour.
Dinner on board.
Montbard to Ravieres
Tuesday
Morning cruise with excellent towpath walking or cycling for those who wish, passing the 18th-century Forges de Buffon.
Then after lunch, we escort you to the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay, founded by St Bernard in 1118.
Representing a notable example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens, ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium.
Return to the barge for a relaxing early evening cruise to Ravieres.
Dinner on board.
Tuesday
Morning cruise with excellent towpath walking or cycling for those who wish, passing the 18th-century Forges de Buffon.
Then after lunch, we escort you to the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay, founded by St Bernard in 1118.
Representing a notable example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens, ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium.
Return to the barge for a relaxing early evening cruise to Ravieres.
Dinner on board.
Ravieres to Ancy-le-Franc
Wednesday
This morning is all about Champagne! We take a trip to Les Riceys, the only wine-growing area of the Champagne region to have the coveted 3 Appellation d'Origine Controllés. Enjoy the elegant setting in the Maison Alexandre Bonnet for a private tasting.
It's just a short drive to our lunch date in the magnificent Château de Ricey-Bas where we dine with the Baroness herself in either the private salon or the vaulted 13th-century kitchen.
We return to the barge after lunch, to enjoy a gentle afternoon cruise past grazing Charolais cattle, with plenty of opportunities to walk or cycle along the towpath, to our mooring in Ancy-le-Franc.
Dinner on board.
Wednesday
This morning is all about Champagne! We take a trip to Les Riceys, the only wine-growing area of the Champagne region to have the coveted 3 Appellation d'Origine Controllés. Enjoy the elegant setting in the Maison Alexandre Bonnet for a private tasting.
It's just a short drive to our lunch date in the magnificent Château de Ricey-Bas where we dine with the Baroness herself in either the private salon or the vaulted 13th-century kitchen.
We return to the barge after lunch, to enjoy a gentle afternoon cruise past grazing Charolais cattle, with plenty of opportunities to walk or cycle along the towpath, to our mooring in Ancy-le-Franc.
Dinner on board.
Ancy-le-Franc to Lezinnes
Thursday
This morning we visit Chateau d'Ancy-le-Franc.
This beautifully symmetrical, 16th-century masterpiece contains France's biggest collection of Renaissance murals and is set in magnificent gardens and parkland.
In the afternoon, a gentle cruise as La Belle Epoque continues along the Burgundy canal and descends the picturesque locks to moor at Lezinnes.
Dinner on board.
Thursday
This morning we visit Chateau d'Ancy-le-Franc.
This beautifully symmetrical, 16th-century masterpiece contains France's biggest collection of Renaissance murals and is set in magnificent gardens and parkland.
In the afternoon, a gentle cruise as La Belle Epoque continues along the Burgundy canal and descends the picturesque locks to moor at Lezinnes.
Dinner on board.
Lezinnes to Tanlay
Friday
After breakfast, we enjoy a leisurely cruise to our final mooring at Tanlay with the opportunity to walk or cycle into the picturesque village of Saint Vinnemer.
Following lunch, we tour the vineyards and town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times and enjoy a private wine-tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche.
No trip would be complete without a visit to the 1000-year-old Obediencerien where the wines have been aged for centuries. This building was originally part of the monastery of St Martin, the founders of Chablis.
We return to the barge ready for the Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.
Friday
After breakfast, we enjoy a leisurely cruise to our final mooring at Tanlay with the opportunity to walk or cycle into the picturesque village of Saint Vinnemer.
Following lunch, we tour the vineyards and town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times and enjoy a private wine-tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche.
No trip would be complete without a visit to the 1000-year-old Obediencerien where the wines have been aged for centuries. This building was originally part of the monastery of St Martin, the founders of Chablis.
We return to the barge ready for the Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.
Tanlay
Saturday
After breakfast, guests are transferred to the Hotel Westminster in Paris.
Saturday
After breakfast, guests are transferred to the Hotel Westminster in Paris.