Heart of Burgundy Cruise : Architecture and Wines of Central Burgundy

Itinerary

Day 1

We shall travel to Dijon by plane. Transfer to Caprice located at the Port in Dijon where a welcome aboard Kir Royale awaits you. You will then be introduced to the crew and to Caprice while your luggage is quietly taken to your cabin. Before and after dinner there will be time to use the internet cafe at the Port, have a quiet drink at the Bargie Lounge across the street, stroll along the tow path or walk uptown.  Dijon centre is but 10 minutes away. Dinner and overnight on board Caprice.

Day 2

After your buffet breakfast we begin our cruise on the Canal de Bourgogne. Later our motor coach will whisk us off for a tour of Dijon, the capital of Burgundy. After we return to Caprice we will continue via the Canal de Bourgogne. There are many opportunities to walk along the towpath or cycle into nearby villages. This evening we will moor in Longecourt, a quiet canalside town. Our mooring spot allows a magnificent view of the Chateau Longecourt from the forward deck. There is time to explore the village after dinner, stroll along the tow path, or sit on the deck and get to know your fellow passengers.

Day 3

This morning your guide will take you to visit Clos de Vougeot. Wine was produced here as early as the 12th century by the local monks. A private wine tasting follows in Nuits St Georges before we return to Caprice. We continue our cruise to St Jean de Losne where the Canal de Bourgogne merges with the river Saône. There are hundreds of barges moored here in addition to major barge manufacturers. We will continue our cruise on the Saône to Seurre, a lovely riverside town with a 16th century church and beautiful brick houses from the 17th century.

Day 4

This morning we will visit the Museum of Seurre before setting out on a beautiful river cruise to Chalon sur Saône where we arrive in mid afternoon. A guided walking tour of the old town begins after we arrive. There will be time for shopping in the town's elegant shopping district. Chalon Sur Saône was built alongside the Saône about 3000 years ago, the town was a naval base during Antiquity, the place of big fairs during the Middle Ages, and a trading centre in contemporary times. The Old town is magnificent.

Day 5

Today we enter the Canal Du Centre from the Saône through a lock with a fifty foot rise. Our shore excursion today will be to beautiful Beaune. Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy and home to the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu, a charity hospital founded in 1443. This monument boasts the finest Burgundian-Flemish architecture in the world. Wednesday is market day in Beaune. We will spend time at the market before returning to Caprice and setting off for the town of Chagney. Your cruise is through the vineyards of the Chalonaise and Santenay. There is ample time to walk along the tow path

Day 6

Our excursion will be to the village of Rully for a private guided tour of the 12th century Chateau Rully. Chateau Rully has been in the same family for 900 years. This Medieval fortress is built around a 12th century keep and reveals some interesting features of medieval military architecture with battlements, machicoulis and loopholes. The main building dates back to the Renaissance. The vaulted kitchen has a monumental fireplace and an extensive range of copper utensils. An 18th Century building boasts Burgundy's largest stone roof. The Rully vineyards surround the Chateau. Later we cruise to the picturesque village of St Léger-sur-Dheune for a farewell dinner.

Day 7

After breakfast, drive to Dijon for our flight back to London.

NOTE: For operational reasons, including weather, flight schedules and canal conditions, this itinerary may be changed slightly at late notice or reversed, and the excursions may be seen in a different order.

Tour Details

DATE:

14 - 20 July 2012

PRICE:

From £2395 from London, including wines at meals

INCLUDES:

return airfare from London, twin or double bedded cabin with private bathroom, full board including red and white wines with lunch and dinner, all excursions with local guides, entrance fees, UK departure tax, transfers, expert leader.

NOT INCLUDED:

are regional connecting flights if not departing from London, UK air ticket taxes other than UK departure tax (i.e. passenger service charge, security tax, foreign departure tax fuel surcharges), travel insurance, drinks other than included wines, tips to crew, drivers & local guides.

Single supplement £950. May be joined without flights - ask us for the land-only price.

ACCOMMODATION:

First Class hotel barge. This tour uses the Caprice, a very comfortable and unusually spacious hotel barge.

FITNESS LEVEL:

Easy/Moderate - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Easy/Moderate. This is a relaxed itinerary, though for those who wish to be more active there are opportunities to hike and cycle. There are no strenuous walks in this tour however in order to see all the points of interest some long strolls through villages and towns are required, at a moderate pace. Whilst sightseeing we may be on the go for several hours at one time, and it is important that everyone is able to keep up with the group. It is possible to remain on board the barge and relax instead of sightseeing. We regret that the accommodation on board the barge is not wheelchair accessible. If unsure whether this tour is suitable for you, please check with us.

Trip Lecturer

Dr Peter Collins, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, was cellarer of St Edmund Hall for 20 years.  He has a passion for Burgundy and its wines and has led many of our barge cruises in this area in the past. He is familiar with many of the vineyards in the region.

Fast facts

• Sovereignty: France is a Republic
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Language: French
• Immunisations: The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that all travellers to France confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly). Vaccines sometimes advised: Tick-bourne encephalitis. *Note this advice is intended to be a guide only, as we are not qualified to give out medical advice. Travellers should always consult their own GP before they travel to get up-to-date information which is relevant to their own circumstances.
• Visas: UK and other EU passport holders do not need a visa to enter France. Nationals of several other countries, including South Africans, do require a visa in advance. Please check with your local French consulate.
• Flying time: 1-2 hours to an airport near Dijon
• Will my phone work: France uses 900 and 1800 MHz bandwidths as per the UK so almost all UK phones will work there as long as your provider has authorised its use abroad.

Extensions in Europe

We recommend a three-night extension to lights of Paris or the lakes of Geneva after your tour, or why not spoil yourself and travel back from Paris by Orient Express. Visit our tailor-made Europe pages for inspiration on other exciting extensions which we can design to fit with the dates of this tour. After all, you’re already there!