Sunday
Board the barge moored in Lyon for your cruise up the River Saône and through Burgundy.  A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew.  Later this evening enjoy your first dining experience on board.

Monday
Today's visit is to Lyon, the second city of France. Lyon is a cultural, historic, gastronomic, and commercial centre, little known outside of France. Dominating the city is the splendidly ornate Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière. The standard of Lyon's shopping facilities is renowned for its quality and includes many chic boutiques and a market hall devoted entirely to antiques.  There is free time for shopping or perhaps just sit in one of the numerous pavement cafés and simply watch the world go by.  After lunch relax on the top deck and watch the passing scenery of the river Saône.  Tonight we are moored in the town of Montmerle which is set in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region.

Tuesday
Cruise this morning to Mâcon.  Visit the Roche de Solutre, a picturesque site with a superb view of Mâcon, the River Saône and the vineyards.  Stop along the route to enjoy a wine tasting in the village of Fuissé, where the vines grow right up to the village walls.  The roads actually seem to get narrower, encroached by the vines planted as tightly as possible in every available space.  The mooring this evening is Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering both the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais vineyards.

Wednesday
After breakfast, relax on board and savour the beauty of Burgundy and Beaujolais as you cruise the River Saône to Tournus. The afternoon's visit is to the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny, for centuries the largest church in the world.  The abbey church is a masterpiece of Romanesque art whose influence spread throughout the western Christian world.  Our mooring this evening is in the pretty town of Tournus.

Thursday
This morning we cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône before enjoying lunch at the famous Relais & Chateaux hotel in Levernois.  After a stroll around the grounds  In the afternoon your guide escorts you to Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, and a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune. You will have the chance to explore Joseph Drouhin's cellar, where the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy used to store some of their wines. The town itself has hardly changed in appearance throughout the years; it's tiny centre is a dense maze of narrow old streets with a circular boulevard running round it's former ramparts, many of which still stand.  Our mooring tonight is is  Chalon-sur-Saône, the last of the Burgundian style river towns, and one of the major cities of the Saône valley.

Friday
This morning you may take a walking tour of the pedestrian area of Chalon-sur-Saône.  As it is market day you should enjoy the wonderful atmosphere in the cathedral square with stallholders busy selling their locally produced cheeses, pates and delicacies.   Continue the cruise up the River Saône to St Jean de Losne. Why not take a take a stroll over to the port and see the many working and pleasure barges. Back on board the chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.

Saturday
After breakfast, disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.

For more information on this itinerary and details on how to book please contact us.