Featuring Back-Roads Touring and Luxury Hotel Barge L’Impressionniste
Step into a land of renowned artists and royal crusaders, hilltop monasteries and valley castles. This tour takes us from France’s dramatic northern shores to château-sprinkled countryside, breaking off to see WWII sites, explore centuries-old villages and sample home-grown delicacies.
And after 10 days of sightseeing on your own, private tour, it will be time to board your exclusive Luxury Hotel Barge in Burgundy. If France is where the idea of luxury barge cruising first started, Burgundy is the jewel in Luxury Hotel Barging’s crown. Taking a Luxury Hotel Barge cruise down one of the region’s canals is a delightful experience as the area boasts some of the world’s finest wines with around 60,000 acres of sunlit vines and arguably the prettiest canals in France.
Tour Highlights
- Wander the enchanting island village of Mont Saint-Michel
- Enjoy a tasting session at a local winery set amidst the rolling vineyards of the Loire Valley
- Be inspired by the vivid colours of Claude Monet’s estate in Giverny
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit Clos de Vougeot, home of the Chevaliers du Tastevin | Tour of Dijon and its markets | Private Falconry Display & Tour at the Château de Commarin | Gastronomic private lunch and wine tasting at Château de Beaune | Visit to medieval Châteauneuf-en-Auxois | Optional hot air ballooning | Excellent towpath for walking and cycling
CRUISE INCLUDES:
- 6 Nights’ accommodation in airconditioned, en-suite rooms
- All gourmet meals aboard and ashore
- Selected regional wines
- Champagne welcome
- Open bar
- All excursions and admittance fees
- Use of bicycles
- Other hotel barge facilities (i.e.: spa pool)
ITINERARY
Thursday, Day 1: Paris
Welcome to the City of Lights. After meeting the group at our hotel, we’ll get to know each other over a sumptuous welcome dinner. Bon appétit! Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) D
Friday, Day 2: Paris to Honfleur
Our first impressions of France will be formed in Giverny at the home of Claude Monet – one of the world’s most celebrated artists. The vivid colours in every room paint a picture of his life, and the surrounding gardens host flowers in every shade. Our home for the next two nights will be the charming port town of Honfleur – which you may recognise as the subject of a fair few Impressionist paintings. We’ll spend the evening at our leisure, soaking up the rugged maritime atmosphere of this quaint town. Accommodation: Hôtel du Dauphin et des Loges (or similar) B
Saturday, Day 3: Honfleur to Normandy to Honfleur
This morning we’ll visit Honfleur’s bustling market and wander past its historic buildings and 17th-century harbour on an orientation tour. Then: we’ll track the Route du Cidre in Normandy, pausing at a local calvados producer to sample the fruits of the region’s orchards. From cool, crisp ciders to heady, amber-hued calvados – it makes for a delicious end to our day of exploration! Back in Honfleur, we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel du Dauphin et des Loges (or similar) B
Sunday, Day 4: Honfleur to Normandy Beaches to Bayeux to Arromanches-les-Bains
Today we’ll turn our attention to the windswept shoreline of the Normandy beaches, where we’ll visit the sites of the 1944 D-Day landings. Afterwards, there’s the opportunity to pay a poignant visit to the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, where we’ll take some time to reflect on history overlooking Omaha Beach. An awe-inspiring Tapestry awaits in Bayeux and after taking some time to inspect this masterpiece, we’ll move on to Arromanches-les-Bains – our home for the night and setting for tonight’s included dinner. Accommodation: Les Villas d’Arromanches (or similar) B, D
Monday, Day 5: Arromanches-les-Bains to Mont Saint-Michel to Dol-de-Bretagne to Dinan
This morning we’ll drive on to the enchanting Mont Saint-Michel, crossing the walkway to wander the buzzing island village and explore the Abbey. As we make our way to Dinan, we’ll stop off for a photo opportunity at Dol-de-Bretagne – where we’ll see the famous Menhir de Champ-Dolent. Tonight, an included dinner awaits us in a traditional Breton crêperie. Accommodation: Hôtel Le d’Avaugour (or similar) B, D
Tuesday, Day 6: Dinan
Today is yours to spend however you wish in the medieval town of Dinan. Wander cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses, take a closer look at the Basilique St-Sauveur, visit the old bridge, walk along the Rance River – you certainly won’t be short of things to do! Accommodation: Hôtel Le d’Avaugour (or similar) B
Wednesday, Day 7: Dinan to Angers to Chinon
Today will find us deep in fairytale territory as we travel towards the Loire Valley. Here, the landscape’s skyline is peppered with the turrets of castles. Our first port of call will be Angers, which was once the medieval stronghold of the Plantagenet kings. After spending some time absorbing the history of the castle, we’ll move on to Chinon – where we’ll dine together at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Plantagenêt (or similar) B, D
Thursday, Day 8: Chinon to Château de Villandry to Chinon
Next stop: Château de Villandry. Famous for its impeccably manicured gardens and architectural elegance – this mesmerising château is one of the last built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. Taking in so much beauty is thirsty work, so on our way back to Chinon we’ll enjoy a detour at a local winery – where we’ll visit the vineyard and cellars before sampling a glass or two. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Plantagenêt (or similar) B
Friday, Day 9: Chinon to Château de Chenonceau to Amboise to Chartres Region
Today’s château? One of the Loire Valley’s finest: Château de Chenonceau. Here we’ll take some time to stroll through the idyllic gardens and explore the fascinating museum. We’ll make a brief stop in Amboise – the town where Leonardo da Vinci lived out the last years of his life – before making our way to the region of Chartres. This evening, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner together. Accommodation: Castel Maintenon (or similar) B, D
Saturday, Day 10: Chartres Region to Chartres to Paris
On our way back to Paris, we’ll have the opportunity to visit the medieval city of Chartres. The celebrated Chartres Cathedral is believed to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France – and it’s a beautiful image to take with us back to Paris. Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) B
Sunday, Day 11: Paris to L’Impressionniste
Enjoy this morning at leisure in Paris before being transferred the Luxury Hotel Barge, L’Impressionniste. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and the opportunity to meet the captain and crew. Then enjoy your first dinner on board.
MONDAY, DAY 12: FLEUREY-SUR-OUCHE TO SAINTE MARIESUR-OUCHE
This morning, experience your first day’s cruise along this enchanting canal, which also promises a walk or cycle along an ever-present towpath past sleepy villages and pretty lock houses. After lunch we visit Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin, who award a special prized label to the finest Côte d‘Or vintages every year. On the way back to the hotel barge we enjoy a tour of the cellars and a private tasting of fine Burgundy wines at another long established domaine. Dinner on board.
TUESDAY, DAY 13: SAINTE MARIE-SUR OUCHE TO LA BUSSIÈRE
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of old Dijon, including a visit to the vivid produce markets, mustard shops and the impressive Notre-Dame de Dijon, or enjoy some excellent shopping time. Return to the hotel barge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to La Bussière and perhaps a walk or bicycle ride to the next lock or two. Dinner on board.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 14: LA BUSSIÈRE TO PONT D’OUCHE
After a short morning cruise, we set off on a drive through the slopes of the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. Here, our expert guide will offer an insight into the production of the region’s finest Premier and Grand Cru wines. We continue to Beaune – the capital of the Burgundy wine country, for a private tour and tasting at the renowned Domaine Chanson. The tour includes its medieval Bastion de l’Oratoire, a 15th century defence tower whose 25-foot-thick walls now maintain the perfect temperature for ageing wine. This is followed by a private gastronomic lunch in the domaine’s chateau. Afterwards, we visit the fascinating Hôtel-Dieu Hospice with time to explore the town, before returning for a short evening cruise to Pont d’Ouche. Dinner on board.
THURSDAY, DAY 15: PONT D’OUCHE TO VANDENESSE
After breakfast, we cruise to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, passing grazing white Charolais cattle, rolling hills and picturesque villages, crossing the only aqueduct on the Burgundy Canal. After lunch on board, we visit the medieval village, craft shops and castle of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, once an outpost of the Dukes of Burgundy and offering a fine overview of the feeder lakes, canal and surrounding countryside. Dinner on board.
FRIDAY, DAY 16: VANDENESSE TO ESCOMMES
Our last day’s leisurely cruise takes us to the canal summit, 1,250 feet above sea level, just before the Pouilly tunnel. After an early lunch, we visit the moat-encircled Château de Commarin to be treated to a private demonstration of the medieval sport of falconry. The close-up encounter with these majestic birds against the backdrop of the castle grounds is an amazing experience and afterwards, we meet Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident and 26th generation of the de Vogue family to maintain continuous residence since the 13th century, who will give a fascinating insight into the Château’s history. This is followed by a private tour of the building. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
SATURDAY, DAY 17: ESCOMMES
After breakfast the crew bids you farewell before you disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.
NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
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