Fleur de Lys

St Leger (Chagny) to Dijon

Burgundy

The day to day itinerary described below is a sample of a typical cruise on the Fleur de Lys. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change, there may be fewer or more excursions, the places visited may vary depending on the season and the passenger preferences. Because there are a limited number of passengers on any of our vessels the guide can tailor the itinerary in accordance with the passengers’ wishes.

Sunday - Paris to Dijon.
Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Lyon via the TGV train will arrive at approximately 15:45 at the Dijon train station where you will be met by the Fleur de Lys guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van to St. Léger where you will board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy.

A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard.

Time permitting the barge gangplank is raised and you can enjoy your first experience of navigating a lock and cruising the Canal du Centre from St. Léger to Denevy, a quiet mooring near the village of Denevy- great for an after dinner stroll.

  Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger’s wishes).

Monday - Cruise to Rully.   Visit Domaine Prieure-Brunet & Meursault.
Following a typical French breakfast, the barge will cruise to Rully, another quaint village along the Canal du Centre. Passengers may elect to stay aboard and enjoy the passing scenery, bicycle and keep up with the barge or walk along the towpath and meet the barge further down the canal.  As we approach the town, you can see the 18^th century château sitting on the hills above the town.  This afternoon your guide has wine tasting on the agenda.  You will have the opportunity to see a family run winery and to sample wines that may never reach your corner or the world.  In contrast, Meursault is one of the largest wine producers of the Côte d’Or.

Tuesday – Cruise to Fragnes.  Visit Beaune
Your last lock on the Canal du Centre is the10.76 metre lock which takes you from the canal into the River Saône just north of Chalon-sur-Saône. The scenery changes from the close proximity of the canal banks to the expanse of this beautiful river. After lunch your guide will escort you around Beaune, the capital of Burgundy to visit the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune. Tonight’s mooring is the village of Fragnes.

Wednesday - Cruise to Seurre/Verdun.  Visit Clos de Vougeot.
Today, you will cruise the river Saône, quite a different feeling from canal cruising. If you decide to go biking make sure you get your rendez-vous instructions from the guide or pilot, take a map, a phone card and the telephone number of the boat with you.  Towpaths do not exist on the river so you must pay attention to the traffic and know where you are heading. Seurre is our mooring for this evening. From here your guide will take you to sample the delights of the Clos de Vougeot.

Thursday -  Cruise to Longecourt. Visit the Château de Longecourt.
Seurre is a lovely town on the Saône and you will moor right on the main quay. From this mooring you can explore the town or cross the lock and have a long walk on a quiet road by the river. From Seurre it is a short cruise to St. Jean de Losne where you will refuel and then enter into the Canal de Bourgogne.  While the barge cruises the Canal de Bourgogne across the flat plain from the River Saône towards Dijon, your guide will take you to visit the Château de Longecourt, a 15^th century castle.  The Castle was a former stronghold (13^th century kitchen) restored in the 19^th century in a neo-gothic style.  If you prefer to stay onboard and enjoy the passing scenery, pay attention to the lock keepers’ gardens and, by all means, make sure you don’t trespass by foot or by bicycle – a definite ‘faux pax’.  The French government sponsors competitions for the best garden on the canal, thus the lock keepers take great pride in tending to their flowers.

Friday - Cruise to Dijon. Visit Dijon.
Up bright and early if you want to have the tour of Dijon. You may wonder why we have saved Dijon until the last and the reason is that today is market day in Dijon and one must experience a French market day. So off in the van to Dijon. Back on board the chef is preparing a memorable feast for your farewell dinner. Bon appetit.

SATURDAY - Disembark the Fleur de Lys. Transfer to Paris.
After breakfast you will disembark the barge an all aboard the van for the last time for the drive to Dijon train station and the return to Paris on the TGV, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon approximately 11:30.

THE ITINERARY MAY BE ALTERED (WITHIN LIMITS) TO SUIT PASSENGER PREFERENCES. THE MOORINGS MAY VARY DUE TO CONDITIONS ON THE CANALS AND RIVERS. THE VISITS MAY CHANGE, BUT USUALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DAY ON WHICH THE VISIT TAKES PLACE.