Fleur de Lys: DIJON TO ST LEGER

You’re welcomed aboard Fleur de Lys at Dijon's Port du Canal by your private crew, dedicated guide and personal chef. Celebrate the start of the cruise with chilled champagne and settle into your beautiful cabin, where exquisite furnishings and embroidered Indian textiles offer new levels of luxury. Later, enjoy your first gourmet dining experience on board. A feast of French specialities, tailored to your tastes, is enhanced by fine wines and bucolic views.

This morning, relax into life on the water as you cruise gently out of Dijon and continue along the Burgundy Canal to the small town of Longecourt. A dip in the on-deck pool is the perfect way to prepare for the adventures ahead. After lunch, alight with your guide for a drive down the famous Route des Grands Crus, passing through the villages of the Côte d’Or. Stop to visit the historic Clos de Vougeot, built in the 12thcentury by the monks of nearby Cîteaux. A symbol of almost 1,000 years of Burgundy history, the imposing château is now the headquarters of the Burgundian wine society, the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. Explore the ancient winery with its four huge presses and the cellar, built to accommodate 2,000 casks. Afterwards, enjoy a private wine tasting at a renowned Gevrey-Chambertin producer before returning to the barge for dinner.

After breakfast, it’s time to visit Dijon, the former capital of the Duchy of Burgundy. The compact centre, rich in medieval and Renaissance buildings, makes it ideal for a walking tour. Visit the monumental Ducal Palace, once home to Burgundy’s powerful dukes, then browse the traditional covered market and pick out some enticing specialities. Return to the boat and savour a leisurely lunch featuring the ingredients from your market visit as you cruise to St-Jean-de-Losne. This delightful port is one of the smallest towns in France and yet the country’s barging capital, worth a stroll either after dinner or early tomorrow morning to see the array of working and pleasure barges. Enjoy dinner on board tonight.

Continue cruising on the River Saône until you enter the Canal du Centre via the impressive lock at Crissey. After lunch on board and mooring up in Fragnes, your guide will take you to explore the vinous wonders of the Côte de Beaune. Tour the cellars of a prestigious winery and taste some of its finest vintages. Return to the boat for cocktails on deck and an enchanting dinner under the stars.

Relish the carefree bliss of a morning spent cruising along the Canal du Centre. Take advantage of the unhurried pace to alight at a lock and cycle or walk alongside the barge. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before an afternoon tour of Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. A treasured highlight here is the Hôtel-Dieu, a magnificent former charitable hospital renowned for its glorious coloured-tiled roof and artistic gems. After your visit, stroll through Beaune’s cobbled streets and discover its enticing shops before heading to the Joseph Drouhin cellar, where the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy used to store their precious wines. End the afternoon in style with an exceptional wine tasting before returning to the barge for dinner.

This morning, as we glide gently towards the attractive village of St-Léger-sur-Dheune – our final destination – look out for the Santenay vineyards, the most southern of the Côte de Beaune. After lunch, your guide takes you to the 14th-century Château de Germolles. The best-preserved residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, it offers an evocative snapshot of ducal court life in the Middle Ages. The passionate owner will guide you around his home and unravel the fascinating history, secrets and anecdotes hidden within its walls. Discover exceptional murals, sculptures and a private chapel, as well as romantic, 19th-century gardens. On your way back to the barge, stop at a distinguished local vineyard and sample the smooth, luscious wines of Côte Chalonnaise. Back on board, your chef is busy preparing your farewell gala dinner. Sit out on the balmy deck and share your Burgundy highlights as you savour an array of seasonal delicacies.

After breakfast the crew bid you a fond farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements.