France - Burgundy
Introduction
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The luxury barge, La Belle Epoque, is our home for seven days as we glide along the Burgundy Canal.
A champagne reception on board sets the tone before we set off on our journey, cruising peacefully through Burgundy. Every day we leave our barge to set off on foot to explore Renaissance châteaux, dramatic cliffs, wooded hills, medieval towns, lush valleys and ancient vineyards.
Fine French cuisine is prepared on board La Belle Epoque by our personal chef and every meal is accompanied by a different regional wine, making this trip a gourmet's delight.
Walk Summary
| Dates | |
| Trip | 7 days, 6 nights |
| Terrain |  Walk Rating: Easy to Moderate. The soft landscape, low hills and level tow-paths skirting canals make for easy walking. 3 - 5 miles per day. |
| Price |
Walk begins in Montbard, with transport to the barge in Pouillenay and ends in Tonnerre, with transport back to Montbard.
Important note: Cruise direction may be reversed depending on barge scheduling.
Walk Itinerary
Sunday
We rendezvous in Montbard and transfer to the barge moored in Pouillenay. A full crew Welcome Aboard with champagne and canapés during which we hear about the week’s itinerary, its walks and its activities. After time to settle into your cabin we gather for our Welcome Dinner on board - a wonderful introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.
Monday
Wake to the aroma of ground coffee and French patisseries and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. After a short cruise we take our first walk into the idyllic Burgundian countryside ~ ancient, sleepy and charming ~ before rejoining the barge for lunch. In the afternoon we drive to the exquisite World Heritage Unesco site of Abbey de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Not only is it a wonderful example of early Cistercian architecture but it is virtually intact. With its peaceful gardens and ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium Fontenay gives an exceptional glimpse of early Cistercian life and industry. We moor at Venaray les Laumes where we have dinner aboard.
Tuesday
After a morning stroll around the hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain, where the film Chocolat was filmed, we walk to Alesia, the last battle site between the Gauls and Romans that took place in 52 BC, and then on to the canal. We see the site where the Julius Caesar’s army camped the night before the battle and visit the monumental statue of Vercingetorix, his opponent . Back on board for lunch we cruise through the market town of Montbard to the stone steps of the Forges de Buffon, founded in 1768 by 18th century naturalist Georges-Louis de Buffon. We wander around the forge and see various examples of early Industrial Revolution engineering on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Dinner ashore in Semur-en-Auxois.
Wednesday
Morning visit to Noyers to enjoy the vegetables, cheeses, colors and delights of the local market. Returning to the barge we either enjoy a lazy cruise gently down to Ancy le Franc or wander through pastoral scenery to Ancy le Franc and its 16th century Renaissance Chateau. En route we pass the ancient church in Chassignelles. Dinner aboard.
Thursday
This morning’s walk takes us through a cacophony of woodland, rolling fields and the tiny canalside villages of Lezinnes and Argentenay. As we enter Tanlay we pass the 16th century Renaissance-style Chateau. During the afternoon we visit the vineyards and town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times. We enjoy a private wine tasting at Saint Bris le Vineaux in the Bersan cellars before returning for dinner aboard.
Friday
Our last walk is through the famous Tonnerrois vineyards and two of its villages, in October ablaze with hues of gold, yellow and orange. Back on board for lunch, our afternoon cruise takes us to our final destination of Tonnerre. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to the railway station in time for the 11.28am train to Paris Gare de Lyon.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
**This itinerary may operate in reverse according to the barge scheduling.
This itinerary represents a typical Walk. We prepare itineraries well in advance of the trip and therefore we reserve the right to make changes due to weather, local events or other circumstances - but always to improve the experience of our guests.
Hotels
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THE BARGE HERSELF
FORMER PURPOSE: Ex Freight Barge carrying logs from Burgundy to Paris and Amsterdam
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: Built in 1930
DIMENSIONS: Length 126 ' and Width 16 ' 6"
YEAR CONVERTED INTO A HOTEL BARGE: 1995
LAST REFIT: Spring 2006
GENERATORS: 3 x 220 volt generators (silent night) for air-conditioning and/or heating and a silent running inverter.
MAIN ENGINE: 150 HP M.A.N.
MAXIMUM SPEED: 10 knots
WATER AND FUEL CAPACITY: 20 tons of water, 3 tons of fuel
PERSONNEL
CREW: 5 to 6 crew - Captain, Walk Leader, Chef, Housekeeper/s, Stewardess
Our crew are generally British and speak both English and French, while some speak other languages as well.
ACCOMMODATION
CAPACITY FOR ACCOMMODATION: Up to 13 passengers
NUMBER AND TYPES OF CABINS: 7 cabins:
2 Suites: one at the bow with a double bed and one at the stern which can be configured as twin or double bedded
4 Junior Suites: two of which can be configured as twin or double bedded and two which can only be twin bedded
1 Single Cabin: Mid ship with single bed
SIZES OF THE CABINS
Stern Suite - 165sq feet (Nuits St Georges ) including bathroom
Bow Suite - 150sq feet (Meursault ) including bathroom
Stern Junior Suites - 130sq feet (Santenay and Vougeot ) including bathroom
Bow Junior Suites - 125sq feet (Chablis and Sancerre) including bathroom
Single Cabin- 90sq feet including bathroom
Electric sockets supplying the standard French 220 voltage are located in the cabins. These take a two-pin French plug.
BATHROOMS:
The 2 suites have full-length baths; the 4 junior suites and single cabin have showers in a shower cubicle.
All have marble tiled floors and walls. They all have toilet and basin.
Supplied with: Washing gel, hand soap, shampoo, towels.
CLOSET SPACE: Yes
HAIRDRYERS: Yes
SIZE OF THE BEDS: Doubles are 6ft x 6ft and singles 6ft x 3ft except the Bow Suite (Meursault) which has a double bed only and that is 6ft x 5ft wide.
SAFES: Meursault cabin has a safe built into the wardrobe.
CLIMATE CONTROL & ELECTRICITY
AIR CONDITIONING: Yes and can be individually controlled
CENTRAL HEATING: Yes
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: All our barges are wired for 220 and 240 volts but not 110 volts. We suggest you bring an adapter for your particular appliance, which corresponds, to the standard French (two pin plugs). If you wish to use an electrical appliance on board, please ask one of the crew when you arrive on board to ensure that it is suitable to the barge’s electrical system. European Waterways cannot be held responsible for unforeseen voltage fluctuations, which sometimes occur when swapping from one voltage system to another.
PUBLIC ROOMS
SALOON/DINING ROOM DIMENSIONS & DESCRIPTION: 13' x 25'
2 built in sofa areas with coffee table and fully stocked bar built in Mahogany with 4 bar stools. Antique drinks cabinet. The saloon is home to an antique barograph and gramophone. Mahogany dining table seating 14. An antique interlock telephone exchange board stands in the passageway to the cabins and dates from 1913. Teak paneling and wallpaper with hardwood ceiling. Carpeting throughout and Art Nouveau paintings of La Belle Epoque.
SUNDECK: There are two sundecks 12' 6" x 9' 6" and 12' 6" x 35'.
Iroko hard wood deck on first sundeck by Jacuzzi. Sunken Jacuzzi. 2 steamer chairs, 10 reclining chairs, 4 parasols, large table and Iroko African hardwood handrail.
GASTRONOMY
There is no assigned seating for meals and the dining room on board ‘La Belle Epoque’ accommodates all guests at a single sitting. French cuisine is featured.
BREAKFAST: Continental-style buffet breakfast with fresh breads, fruit, cereals, fruit juices, decaffeinated and regular tea and coffee.
LUNCH: Luncheons are generally buffets of colourful salads, pates and cold meats that may be accompanied by hot soup or entrée, delectable desserts and a different selection of regional cheeses and wines daily
DINNER: Always a gastronomic adventure by our talented chef. A taste of regional cuisine by candlelight. Harmonising food and good wines from the best vineyards. Followed by a selection of regional cheeses. Coffee and liqueurs served in the salon
CAPTAIN’S DINNER: Captain’s dinner on the last night. Dress slightly formal.
SPECIAL FOOD REQUIREMENTS: Special food requirements (such as vegetarian or allergies) are catered for if requested in advance. Please notify our Reservations Manager well in advance, at least 8 weeks prior to the cruise departure.
DRINKS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE PRICE: There is an open bar available 24 hours a day serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Non-alcoholic beverages and regular or decaffeinated tea and coffee, whole or low fat milk, are offered with all meals. All wines provided with meals and a Champagne welcome are included. Some vintage wines and Champagne, other than at the welcome, will not be included although we can arrange to purchase these for you at an additional cost if you notify our Reservations Department in advance: e-mail address: sales@gobarging.com.
TAP WATER
Tap water in and on board ‘La Belle Epoque’ is potable and bottled water is available on board.
LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT
ON BOARD
6 person Jacuzzi
Compact disc player. A variety or tapes and CDs are available and guests are welcome to bring their favourite CDs from home.
10 touring bikes with 21 speed gears.
Board games etc
A small library of books
Binoculars for watching the bird life and scenery
CYCLING
Passengers are welcome to walk or cycle using the on board bicycles as often as they like. Most people choose to disembark the barge at a lock and then visit local villages and then return to the canal and meet the barge a little further along. The barge travels very slowly and therefore “catch up” will not be a problem.
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
Once on board the Captain can arrange this directly with the hot air balloon company. Flights last about 1 hour and are weather dependent. The cost is between 185-230 Euros per person and this should be paid directly to the balloon company on the day of the flight and they do accept credit cards. Please let our Reservations Department know in advance if you are interested in ballooning. The Hot Air Balloon Company’s web site is www.franceballoons.com and they are called France Montgolfieres.
CLOTHES, LUGGAGE
Practical comfort and relaxed is the norm aboard the ‘La Belle Epoque’ and for most shore excursions. Dress codes for dinner are relaxed and informal; however, for the Captain's Dinner, gentlemen may opt to wear a jacket and ladies a dress or coordinated outfit.
Here are some suggestions of what to pack:
A sweater or lightweight jacket for evenings and air-conditioned interiors. During spring and autumn cruises, medium-weight clothing made of wool (or similar fabric) will be necessary.
A lightweight (preferably non-plastic) raincoat or poncho; an umbrella.
Comfortable walking shoes with low or no heels and textured soles.
La Belle Epoque has a jacuzzi, so you may wish to pack your swimming suit.
Once you have unpacked your cases will be safely stored. Please try and fit everything for your cruise into one reasonably sized suitcase per person. Soft bags are preferable.
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Laundry facilities are limited. It is advisable to bring sufficient clean clothing for your cruise. We generally cruise through rural areas and launderettes are few and far between.
SMOKING
Our barges have a strict non-smoking policy. We ask smokers not to smoke inside the barge as this may give offence to your shipmates. We categorically do not permit smoking in the cabins for safety reasons. If you would like to smoke we request that you smoke outside on deck away from fellow passengers.
FACILITIES
There are no passenger telephones or internet access aboard ‘La Belle Epoque’. There is only occasional cell phone signal availability during the week and several back spots with no coverage at all. You may find it beneficial to buy a French sim card on arrival in France to use in your cell phone while in the country.
This hotel list is a provided as an example. We may use different hotels of the same quality and style on specific trips. The Wayfarers will notify confirmed travelers of any changes to the hotels.
Photo Gallery
Travel Information
Before & After:
- Plan a pre-celebration to your walk with a visit to the nearby Champagne region and conclude your vacation with a stop-off in Lyon, which is known for its Musee des Beaux Arts and sumptuous food served at simple bistros and Michelin starred restaurants.
- Go sight-seeing in Paris before you catch your train to Montbard and there are several lovely French markets held most Sunday mornings.
Weather:
Autumn is a very pleasant, sunny season in Burgundy with average daytime temperature of 60°F (16°C) with mid-day peaks reaching 70°F (21°C) during October. You are likely to need a sweater or light jacket in the evenings. Burgundy is dominated by the variations of western weather that characterise the whole of Western Europe. Weather fronts usually approach from the west and can bring anything from light clouds to a steady downpour so you need to bring good quality rain gear.
To see more Travel Information and a list of our recommended tips please register or sign in. Once you confirm a booking for this walk, as a registered website member, you will be able to access detailed Joining Instructions including exact arrival and departure points and times as part of the Travel Information.
FAQs
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Are there any hidden costs?
Our Vacations do not include the cost of air or rail fares to and from the destination or tips for your walk leader and manager. -
How large are the Groups?
Our maximum group size is 16, but groups average between 8-12 people. -
Will I feel welcome as a single traveler?
Yes! Our walks are the perfect environment of comfortable camaraderie for the single traveler. -
Can you accomodate special diets?
Yes! -
How physically fit do I have to be to do a Wayfarers Walk?
If you are in good health and reasonably fit you will be comfortable participating in a walk.
Ask a question
Please do not hesitate to ask us a question about this walk.
Reading List
A fascinating and exhaustive look at France's most celebrated piece of real estate. Coates, who did an award-winning job in his last book, on Bordeaux, turns his considerable scholarship, wit and savvy, without pulling punches, on a region too often restrained by tradition yet driven by commercialism. A requisite book for the wine lover ~ not only gives ample factual information about what is considered the greatest wine growing region in the world but is also filled with colorful history and anecdotes.
An American renovates a house in France! But what's new here is that the house is in the Burgundy town of Rogny. The region of La Puisaye, with its swamps and murky woods, lacks the immediate attraction of Provence or Normandy. The American builder is celebrated poet Greene and his companion, Mary, a renowned scientist currently at the University of Paris. After finding nothing fit for their taste or budget in better-known Burgundian towns, the author's real estate agent leads them to remote Rogny. Reconstruction efforts center on the town's presbytery, abandoned by the church and its previous owner and ripe for restoration. Friends of the last priest to occupy the grounds and town tradesmen make up the cast of characters, whom Greene makes into neither caricatures nor odd rustics. As always, reconstruction absorbs more time and money than the author had anticipated. The property takes on sentimental significance when Greene and his companion decide to get married there and their families descend on the little town. So attractive the place becomes that Greene's mother emigrates from America.
A tale of fantasy and romance, chivalrous adventure, bravery, loyalty, sorcery, and more representing the rise and fall of Camelot through Guenevere's perspective. It clearly establishes a platonic love between her and Arthur, and the eternal struggle that she faces with as her forbidden love for Lancelot grows. It also presents the deep friendship and comradery of the Round Table, as well as the anguish of her childlessness. In this version of the story, Lancelot and she raise Galahad as their own son, even though Elaine is the real mother.
Between 1364 and 1477 a dramatic struggle played out between the Duchy of Burgundy and the French kings. This enthralling phase of history was embodied in the lives of four dukes--Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good, and Charles the Rash--who ruled Burgundy at the time and dared challenge the power of France. With sweeping pageantry, here is the history of each duke, his policies, varying successes, and the civilizing values of his glorious sponsorship.
The Heart of Burgundy focuses a wide lens on a little region in the French countryside Burgundy begins about seventy-five miles south of Paris and stretches down through the Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais in a skinny and wavy line more than two hundred miles long. The decision by the Cistercians to cultivate its soil, which Robert Parker mentions above, was a monumental one, for today the chief products of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Chablis, and Pouilly-Fuissé, and it is home to one of the most famous vineyards in the world, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. While the Burgundy region is not the largest in acreage, or even in wine production, its yearly wine auction held at the Hospices de Beaune is an indication of where prices will be set for France's entire vintage. That means that at a certain time of year all of France, indeed all the world, can become fixated on this otherwise sleepy agricultural area.
The stunning color photographs of the architecture and countryside of this premier wine-growing region in France capture its historical heritage. France is a magical place and Burgundy is one of its most magical regions. The premier wine-growing region of France, Burgundy is also the center of fine cuisine, Romanesque architecture and lazy canals bordered by meadows of wildflowers. This book, with its more than 260 color illustrations, shows Burgundy at its finest. A region dominated by water, the book begins in the north and travels through all of Burgundy's four departments. From the Yonne, a land of peaceful river valleys and almost 1000 canals, we travel southward with the author to visit little Romanesque churches and learn how the Benedictine and Cistercian monks spread the Romanesque style. Burgundy is one of the most beautiful places on earth--unspoiled, unhurried and faithful to its past.
Brendan Prescott, a foundling raised in the household of the duke of Northumberland, is summoned to London to serve as squire to his benefactor's son, Robert Dudley. His arrival in London coincides with the climax of one of England's greatest and most complex power struggles ever. It's 1553, and, with England's teenaged King Edward VI near death, Northumberland is the country's de facto ruler. Next in line for the throne are Edward's sisters, first Mary and then Elizabeth. But Northumberland doesn't intend to relinquish his power; he determines to keep control of the throne for himself, and no expediency is beneath him.
Imagine three friends on a boat... with no Jeeves. Jerome’s enchanting comic novel about three young men who discover the "joys" of roughing it. The three men are George, Harris and the narrator, who are all massive hypochiandriacs -- they find that they have symptoms of every disease in existence (except housemaid's knee). To prop up their failing health, they decide to take a cruise down the Thames in a rented boat, camping and enjoying nature's bounty. Along with Monty -- an angelic-looking, devilish terrier -- the three friends set off down the river. But they find that not everything is as easy as they expected. They get lost in hedge mazes, end up going downstream without a paddle, encounter monstrous cats and vicious swans, have picnics navigate locks, offend German professors, and generally get into every kind of trouble they possibly can... Even though it was published more than a century ago, "Three Men in a Boat" remains as freshly humorous as when it was first published.
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