Le Premier

LE PREMIER’S cruising area is the Côte d’Or and includes the Burgundy Canal, the river Saône, the Canal du Centre and the Canal du Rhone au Rhine.

Click here for map of itinerary

Enjoy the relaxed pace of cruising or visit the many interesting sites, towns, museums,
abbeys and vineyards. Traveling the serene waterways along tree lined canals through picturesque villages is the ideal way to see France.
Our aim is to achieve the balance that suits you in all aspects of the cruise.

Burgundy - at the heart of the natural beauty of this fascinating cruising area are the golden slopes of the Cote d’Or. It has always been a wealthy and important region fought over by empires and kingdoms since Roman times. As the Cistercian order was founded here, there are many abbeys and churches and the vast empire of the Ducs de Bourgogne produced the chateaux and palaces.

This route passes through the valley of the river Ouche as the Burgundy Canal winds its way to its' summit at Escommes.  This is an interesting cruise with many twists and turns through the scenic countryside as we pass medieval chateaux and picturesque villages along the way.

Day 1, Sunday DIJON 
Arrive late afternoon in Dijon and transfer to Le Premier for a champagne welcome and your first dinner on board.  Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, is renowned for its stunning architecture.  The home of the Dukes of Burgundy, the influences of its' long and varied history make it an interesting city.  The center is only a short walk from the canal.

Day 2, Monday DIJON to FLEUREY SUR OUCHE 
During the trip guests can visit the famous wine making village of Nuits St George in the center of the Cote de Nuits and the neighboring Clos de Vougeot, the site where the Cistercian monks originally started wine making in Burgundy. We moor for the night at Fleurey sur Ouche, under the trees on the village quay.

Day 3, Tuesday FLEUREY SUR OUCHE to GISSEY 
Continuing along the glorious Ouche Valley, today we navigate through a mixture of forests and canal side villages.  Guests may visit one of the domains of the Cote d'Or for lunch and a degustation of some of Frances' best Premier and Grand Cru wines.  We moor for the night in the tiny but beautiful village of Gissey, overlooking the ancient bridge over the river.

Day 4, Wednesday GISSEY to Pont d'Ouche 
This is a particularly attractive section of the canal.  Around lunchtime, we are very close to La Bussiere, an ancient abbey, founded by the Cistercians, within beautiful landscaped grounds.

Guests who enjoy a little exercise can easily cycle to the abbey and rejoin Le Premier along the canal towpath.  Alternatively, simple enjoy the cruise and visit the abbey by car later.  We arrive in Pont d'Ouche in the late afternoon; here the canal crosses a small aqueduct as the river heads towards Bligny and the canal makes it's way slowly upwards towards the summit.

Day 5, Thursday Pont d'Ouche to VANDENESSE
After Pont d'Ouche, the canal passes through the stunning scenery of a very narrow gorge, which in previous times was clearly worked as a quarry.  This morning, guests may visit the ancient town of Beaune.  We meet the boat again at Crugey in time for lunch and continue towards Vandenesse.  During the afternoon we catch glimpses of the fortified village of Chateauneuf perched high above, as the canal winds its' way through the valley towards andenesse.  The floodlit chateau stands guard over our mooring and is a spectacular setting for dinner aboard. 

Day 6, Friday Vandenesse to ESCOMMES 
This morning Le Premier climbs the final flight of locks to the summit of the Burgundy Canal through forests and fields.  We pass an unusual section of canal populated by mannequins fishing from boats, climbing trees and doing the garden.  The eclusiers, the French lock keepers, are colourful characters, creating beautiful and ornately decorated houses and gardens.  Some exhibit art or a small museum or sell their fresh produce such as eggs and honey.  After lunch a visit to the chateau at Commarin and watching the sunset from Chateauneuf are the ideal finale to your cruise of Burgundy.  Time to enjoy cocktails and a farewell dinner aboard Le Premier.

Day 7, Saturday ESCOMMES to DIJON 
After breakfast, passengers transfer to Dijon.

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