Saroche
Mâcon to Dijon - River Saône / Burgundy Canal

June 17, 2007

June 15, 2008

France revolves around exquisite food and fine wines - whilst other nations eat to live, France lives to eat! Every cruise on board Saroche is a gourmet experience. Whilst the majority of other passenger barges have a set menu each evening, Saroche offers a choice of dishes each evening on its 5-course menu. The chef will discuss your personal preferences with you and tailor the week's menus to reflect these. We also cater for special dietary needs. 

SUNDAY, DAY 1 - Mâcon
Guests are greeted at the pre-designated meeting point in Mâcon by the captain and escorted to Saroche. After settling in you are invited to join the captain for a champagne Reception and cruise safety briefing. Take a pleasant stroll through Mâcon or just relax on deck and admire the view on the mooring downstream of the XIVth Century Saint Laurent bridge.

MONDAY, DAY 2 - Cruising : Mâcon to Tournus
Visit the museum of Ursulines displaying prehistoric artefacts, Gallo-Roman archeology, art and regional traditions including furniture, earthenware and paintings. Visit the ancient Renaissance house built entirely from sculpted wooden panels. Todays 3-4 hour cruise takes us along the tranquil River Saône to Tournus - one of the most attractive towns on the River, lunch on board during the cruise.
Excursion : Optional wine-tasting excursion to sample the regional vintages of the Mâconnaise and Beaujolais wines.

TUESDAY, DAY 3 - Cruising : Tournus to Châlon sur Saône
Explore the town with its many ancient churches including Saint Philibert church with it's remarkable facade of hewn stone and XIlth Century bell tower; visit the abbey with its XVth Century apartments and Romanesque architecture. Today's 3-4 hour cruise takes us to Châlon-sur-Saône, enjoy lunch on board during the cruise.
Excursion : Optional excursions to the Château of Cormatin with it's marvellously rich, early 17th Century interior or the Château of Philip the Bold (Duc de Bourgogne from 1342-1404), in the beautiful hillside village of Santenay, famous throughout the world for its wines.

WEDNESDAY, DAY 4 - Cruising : Châlon sur Saône to Seurre
Châlon-sur-Saône is a bustling riverside town with good shopping and many picturesque riverside walks or cycle paths. The old city is a mesh of mediaeval cobbled streets with half-timbered houses and lively squares. Visit the Denon museum and the Niepce museum, tracing the history of photography, and named after Nicéphore Nièpce (1765-1833) the inventor of photography and a native of Châlon. Todays 4-5 hour cruise is to the picturesque village of Seurre, our final stop on the river.
Excursion : Your afternoon excursion to Beaune, Burgundy's wine capital, tour its Hotel Dieu with its honeycombed, coloured tiled roof - famous for its collection of pottery jars and its annual wine auctions.

THURSDAY, DAY 5 - Cruising : Seurre to Longecourt en Plaine
Explore the pretty village of Seurre - with origins going back to the Vth Century BC. Stroll or cycle the scenic paths along the river before the brief morning cruise to the busy peniche port of Saint jean de Losne. This picturesque little town, the regional capital of Inland Navigation, is a bustling centre of commercial barge activity and the junction with the Canal de Bourgogne where we experience the first of todays 7 small locks. Relax on board, walk or cycle alongside during our afternoon cruise along the Canal de Bourgogne to the village of Longecourt en Plaine.
Excursion : Optional excursion to the Côte de Nuits vineyards known as the Champs Elysées of Burgundy, to, sample the Nuits Saint Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin wines at a special tasting.

FRIDAY, DAY 6 - Cruising : Longecourt en Plaine to Dijon
The final cruise takes us to the busy city of Dijon with many places of interest such as the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy which houses the Fine Arts Museum with its magnificent paintings from the 14th Century to the present day. Climb the 316 steps of Philippe the Good's Tower to get a wonderful view of the region.

SATURDAY, DAY 7 : Dijon
Time after breakfast for one last chance to sit on deck before your departure from Saroche.

This itinerary details the cruise route and gives examples of the visits which may be made from the vessel.
It is our aim to provide a cruise tailored for you,
wherever possible we will adjust the cruise to fit in with your requirements.
Activities such as riding, tennis, hot air ballooning and golf can be organised on request.
18 speed mountain bikes and boules are available on board.