HOME | BARGES | REGIONS | THEMES | FAQ | BLOG | MORE | ABOUT US | CONTACT US
LA BELLE EPOQUE
| Luxury barge vacation cruises on the French hotel barge LA BELLE EPOQUE cruising the Canal de Bourgogne of Burgundy, France |  |
French Hotel Barge LA BELLE EPOQUE
Canal de Bourgogne - Burgundy, France
WINE TASTING APPRECIATION - WINE LOVERS CRUISE ITINERARY
Canal de Bourgogne - Burgundy, France
WINE TASTING APPRECIATION - WINE LOVERS CRUISE ITINERARY
Sunday, Day 1 - Montbard to Tanlay
Guests are met at the Montbard TGV station at 18.04, or Hotel in Montbard at 18.30 if you have stayed here pre cruise, and transferred to the barge, in a private air-conditioned minibus, moored in Tanlay. A full crew Welcome Aboard with Champagne and canapés. After time to settle into your cabin, you are invited to join us for a first dinner aboard and introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine and wines.
Monday, Day 2 - Tanlay to Lezinne
Wake to the aromas of ground coffee and French patisseries, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and your wine guide collects you for your visit to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis where you get a wonderful view of these world famous Chardonnay vineyards. A brief history of the region is given then on to a great local wine producer to taste a selection of wines including 1er Premier Cru and Grand Cru’s. Return to the barge and cruise this afternoon to Lezinne. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 - Lezinne to Ancy le Franc
This morning we visit Les Riceys, the center of Champagne producing region of the Aude. A visit and tasting at an excellent local Champagne producer followed by a wander around the old town center. We return to the barge and enjoy a lazy cruise gently up to Ancy le Franc with plenty of opportunity to wander or cycle ahead as the vessel ascends through the locks towards the beautiful 16th century Renaissance palace and gardens of Chateau d’Ancy le Franc. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 - Ancy le Franc to Ravieres
Morning visit to the medieval Noyers sur Serein to enjoy the vegetables, cheeses, colors and delights of the local market, or wander the town ramparts in one of the most beautiful villages of France. A lazy afternoon cruising past grazing white Charolais cattle and before dinner on board, cycle or wander around the village of Ravieres. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, Day 5 - Ravieres to Montbard
Leaving the barge shortly after breakfast we drive south to some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. In the town of Nuits St George, we visit a small family wine producer to visit their cellar and taste some of their world renowned Pinot Noirs from villages, including Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée. Lunch in the wine capital of Beaune during today. Return to the barge and, if time allows, cruise to Montbard passing the Forges de Buffon where later in the day we see various examples of early Industrial Revolution engineering on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 - Montbard to Venarey les Laumes
Morning cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and Les Granges. During the cruise your wine guide joins the barge and while cruising he will give a wine talk whilst you taste samples of wines from different villages of Burgundy .This afternoon we escort you to the exquisite World Heritage Unesco site of Abbayé de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Representing a distinctive example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of early Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens and ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 – Venarey les Laumes to Montbard
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to Montbard railway station by 11am.
Note:
LA BELLE EPOQUE HOME > ITINERARY > Wine Tasting / Appreciation Cruise Itinerary
Guests are met at the Montbard TGV station at 18.04, or Hotel in Montbard at 18.30 if you have stayed here pre cruise, and transferred to the barge, in a private air-conditioned minibus, moored in Tanlay. A full crew Welcome Aboard with Champagne and canapés. After time to settle into your cabin, you are invited to join us for a first dinner aboard and introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine and wines.
Monday, Day 2 - Tanlay to Lezinne
Wake to the aromas of ground coffee and French patisseries, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and your wine guide collects you for your visit to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis where you get a wonderful view of these world famous Chardonnay vineyards. A brief history of the region is given then on to a great local wine producer to taste a selection of wines including 1er Premier Cru and Grand Cru’s. Return to the barge and cruise this afternoon to Lezinne. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 - Lezinne to Ancy le Franc
This morning we visit Les Riceys, the center of Champagne producing region of the Aude. A visit and tasting at an excellent local Champagne producer followed by a wander around the old town center. We return to the barge and enjoy a lazy cruise gently up to Ancy le Franc with plenty of opportunity to wander or cycle ahead as the vessel ascends through the locks towards the beautiful 16th century Renaissance palace and gardens of Chateau d’Ancy le Franc. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 - Ancy le Franc to Ravieres
Morning visit to the medieval Noyers sur Serein to enjoy the vegetables, cheeses, colors and delights of the local market, or wander the town ramparts in one of the most beautiful villages of France. A lazy afternoon cruising past grazing white Charolais cattle and before dinner on board, cycle or wander around the village of Ravieres. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, Day 5 - Ravieres to Montbard
Leaving the barge shortly after breakfast we drive south to some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. In the town of Nuits St George, we visit a small family wine producer to visit their cellar and taste some of their world renowned Pinot Noirs from villages, including Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée. Lunch in the wine capital of Beaune during today. Return to the barge and, if time allows, cruise to Montbard passing the Forges de Buffon where later in the day we see various examples of early Industrial Revolution engineering on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 - Montbard to Venarey les Laumes
Morning cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and Les Granges. During the cruise your wine guide joins the barge and while cruising he will give a wine talk whilst you taste samples of wines from different villages of Burgundy .This afternoon we escort you to the exquisite World Heritage Unesco site of Abbayé de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Representing a distinctive example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of early Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens and ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 – Venarey les Laumes to Montbard
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to Montbard railway station by 11am.
Note:
- On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.We recommend you book the following trains in advance: Before cruise (Sunday) Paris Gare de Lyon to Montbard (TGV), train departs Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:58hrs and arrives in Montbard at 18:04hrs. End of cruise (Saturday) Montbard to Paris Gare de Lyon (TGV), train departs 11:28hrs arriving in Paris Gare de Lyon at 12:37hrs. Verify train timetables as may have changed since this writing.
LA BELLE EPOQUE HOME > ITINERARY > Wine Tasting / Appreciation Cruise Itinerary