Napoleon: TAIN L'HERMITAGE TO ST JEAN DE LOSNE

Board Napoléon for your cruise along the Rhône. Toast the start of your adventure with chilled champagne as you meet your dedicated crew and guide. After settling into your plush cabin, admiring the views through your generous window, enjoy a private tasting and introduction to Northern Rhône Valley wines. Later, sit down to your first gastronomic experience on board, a perfect blend of seasonal delicacies, irresistible wines and balmy, bucolic views.

This morning, experience the thrill of cruising through the Vallée du Rhône, past the magnificent vineyards of the Côte-Rôtie and Côtes du Rhône, which seem to descend right to the river's edge. After a leisurely lunch on deck, alight to visit the ancient city of Vienne. Discover remarkable Roman remains, including the amphitheatre, aqueduct and Temple of Augustus and Livia. Tonight, aperitifs whet your appetite for a relaxing dinner on board.

Begin the day with a gentle cruise to France's second city, Lyon, renowned for its culture and gastronomy. Dominating the skyline is the splendidly ornate Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Enjoy a lunch of local specialities in a traditional bouchon, followed by a walking tour with your guide. Discover the city’s secret passageways, called traboules, its Roman ruins and famous murals. Afterwards, enjoy time to stroll, explore or shop at leisure. Back on board, unwind over dinner and an evening under the stars.

Notice a change of pace this morning as we leave the bustling River Rhône and join the smaller, quieter River Saône. Mid-afternoon, we moor in Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering both the Mâconnais and Beaujolais vineyards. Embark on a short drive to Fuissé, one of the four Pouilly-Fuissé producing villages, for a delicious wine tasting. Afterwards, stop at the picturesque Roche du Solutré to gain spectacular views of the vineyards. Dinner is served back on board. 

This morning, visit the Abbaye de Cluny, a former medieval Benedictine monastery and masterpiece of Romanesque art. Founded in 910, it was once an astounding 187 metres long, making it the largest religious building in the West. After lunch on board, cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône for a guided tour. Famous as the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce who is credited with the invention of photography, the town is equally beguiling for its stunning central square lined with half-timbered buildings and its vintage and antique shops. Return to the boat to decompress on deck and linger over dinner.

This morning’s cruise takes you to Seurre. Late morning, alight with your guide to visit Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. The town has hardly changed through the years, its tiny centre a maze of narrow, cobbled streets with a circular boulevard encircling its former ramparts. After lunch in a beautiful local restaurant, enjoy a private tour of the fabled Hôtel-Dieu, venturing behind its splendid gothic façade to discover 500 years of Burgundian history and treasures including 17th -century murals, tapestries and furniture. Afterwards, enjoy a special wine tasting in Joseph Drouhin’s storied cellar. Back on board, continue cruising to St-Jean-de-Losne, where Chef serves an exquisite farewell gala dinner. 

Please check out this morning by 09:00. 

After breakfast, your crew bids you farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you back on board soon. 

Please note, in exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to alter the route without prior notice.