La Belle Epoque

Sunday, Day 1 Lézinnes

Guests are met at a location of their choice in central Paris** and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to La Belle Epoque. A champagne reception with canapes welcomes you on board and the opportunity to meet the captain and crew. Time to settle into your cabin before your wine guide arrives to introduce himself and outline the week’s itinerary. Then enjoy your first dinner aboard and an introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.

Monday, Day 2 Lézinnes to Ancy-le-Franc

Wake to the aromas of ground coffee and French patisseries and enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning cruise to Ancy-le-Franc. Following lunch, we visit the town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times, and enjoy a private wine tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche. There, we also visit the 1000-year-old Obédiencerie, originally part of the monastery of St Martin, the founders of Chablis, where for centuries, the Domaine’s wines have been aged. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 Ancy-le-Franc to Ravières

After breakfast, we continue our lazy cruise up the Burgundy Canal to our mooring at Ravières, again with plenty of opportunity to wander or cycle ahead as the vessel ascends through the locks. After lunch on board, we visit Château 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.  Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 Ravières to Buffon

A truly unique day lies ahead. Following breakfast aboard we head to Les Riceys, the only wine growing area of the Champagne region to have 3 Appellation d’Origine Contrôlées. Here we visit the Maison Taisne Riocour, viewing the vineyards and winery with the Baron. We then take a short drive to Château de Ricey-Bas with its 12^th century vaulted cellars and thousand’s year history. It’s the ideal location to appreciate the rolling vineyards and enjoy a glimpse of life in a rural château. Here we will be greeted for a champagne tasting and a gourmet lunch with the Baron and Baroness themselves, which we take in the private family salon. We will spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling the beautiful gardens or exploring the regal chateau interiors. We return to the barge and begin our cruise to Buffon, with time to walk or cycle along the towpath or sit on deck with another glass of bubbly. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Buffon to Montbard

Leaving the barge shortly after breakfast we drive south with our wine guide to some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. In the town of Nuits-St-Georges, 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. After lunch in the wine capital of Beaune we return to the barge and enjoy a cruise to Montbard passing the Forges de Buffon on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Light dinner on board.

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 canal side villages of Nogent, Courcelles and Les Granges. 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 on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Venarey les Laumes

After breakfast, guests are transferred to a location of their choice in Paris*.

*Other locations available

On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.