Highlights:
-Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay
-Private tasting of Chablis wines at the prestigious Domaine Laroche, including a visit to the 1000 year old monastery cellars
-Majestic falconry display at the Chateau de Commarin, with the chance to meet Count Bertrand de Vogue
-Private champagne Tasting at Maison Taisne Riocour
-Dine with a Baroness at the magnificent Chateau de Ricey-Bas
-Excellent towpath for walking & biking. “Biking Plus” option available~
-Optional hot air ballooning (additional costs apply)
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Northern Burgundy Barge Cruise package includes:
– 6 night barge cruise aboard La Belle Epoque from Venarey les Laumes to Tanlay
– Gourmet meals prepared by the on-board chef, both onboard and ashore
– Good regional wines served throughout the cruise, a champagne welcome and an open bar with a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
– Chauffeured and guided sightseeing excursions, including admittance fees (where stipulated)
– Use of non motorised bicycles (E-Bikes available at an additional charge)
– Attentive service from an experienced crew
– Local transfers to and from the barge and designated meeting points^
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PRICING:
The fares shown here are full brochure fare. Please contact us for the best current offer. All rates in EUR.
Solo Travellers: Single supplements apply.
CHARTER:
This barge is available for charter. When the vessel is chartered, you and your party will have the full capacity of the boat and may request certain deviations from the regular schedule and the service. When doable, the crews will make all efforts to accommodate. These special requests must be made known at the time of the first deposit and will be confirmed in writing. Please contact us for current charter rates.
THEMED CRUISES:
European Waterways offer a wide selection of themed itineraries available for whole boat private charters, which appeal to all types of interest groups, large or small. Some themed cruises will incur a supplement – please check with our reservations team at time of enquiry.
~Biking Plus:
For those passengers who would like to be a little more adventurous, a number of the hotel barges have now had several upgrades to their “Biking Plus” option, as follows:
-Whilst others are relaxing on deck, or maybe enjoying a stroll, you can take a bike on most days and follow an interesting, but not too challenging route which we will have already carefully researched.
-You will be given clearly marked maps for each round trip route and a backpack with everything you might need so that, for an hour or two, you can explore the surrounding countryside and villages along the lanes, towpaths and byways.
-If you get stuck or lost, a crew member will come to fetch you. Otherwise, you can just rejoin the hotel barge where you left her – or maybe a little further along the canal.
-The hotel barge itinerary is arranged so that you won’t miss any of the organised excursions or much of the cruising, but you will have seen a little more of the people & places around you – and done yourself some good at the same time!
-Bike helmets are provided and our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each itinerary.
-If the idea of a little pedalling appeals, our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each cruise itinerary.
-With pre – designed offline maps and directions that you can download to your phone, you’ll never get lost!
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Not included:
-Service charges/crew gratuities. Tipping is entirely discretionary but is greatly appreciated by the crew if you would like to acknowledge recognition for the standard of service provided.
-Superior Chateaux vintage wines, optional activities such as hot air balloon flights, items of a personal nature such as laundry, communication charges or purchases and any other items not specifically included in the cost of your cruise.
Special Conditions
Special Validity Dates
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 2024 | Venarey les Laumes, Burgundy, France |
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| 21 Oct 2024 | Montbard, Burgundy, France |
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| 22 Oct 2024 | Ravieres, Burgundy, France |
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| 23 Oct 2024 | Ancy le Franc, Burgundy, France |
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| 24 Oct 2024 | Lezinne, Burgundy, France |
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| 25 Oct 2024 | Tanlay, Burgundy, France |
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| 26 Oct 2024 | Tanlay, Burgundy, France |
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
6 Night Cruise from Venarey les Laumes to Tanlay aboard La Belle Epoque.
NOTE: On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. Please check at time of enquiry/booking.
Sunday, Day 1 Venarey-les-Laumes
A full crew Welcome Aboard with champagne and canapés. After time to settle into your cabin you will enjoy your first dinner on board and an introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.
Monday, Day 2 Venarey-les-Laumes to Montbard
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and Les Granges. 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. This is followed by a private tour of the building. Dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 Montbard to Ravières
Morning cruise with excellent towpath walking or cycling, passing the 18th century Forges de Buffon. Then after lunch we escort you to the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Representing a distinctive example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens, ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium. Return to the barge and cruise to Ravières. Dinner on board.
Wednesday, Day 4 Ravières to Ancy-le-Franc
A truly unique day lies ahead. Following breakfast aboard we head to Les Riceys, the only wine growing area of the Champagne region to have 3 Appellation d’Origine Contrôlées. Here we visit Maison Taisne Riocour, viewing the vineyards and winery before tasting some of their champagnes. We then head to Château de Ricey-Bas; with its 12th century vaulted cellars and thousand’s year history it’s the ideal location to appreciate the rolling vineyards and enjoy a glimpse of family life in a rural château. Here we will be greeted for a Champagne aperitif and a gourmet lunch with the Baroness herself, which we take in either the private salon or the atmospheric vaulted 13th century kitchen. We will spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling the beautiful gardens or exploring the regal chateau interiors. We return to the barge and begin our cruise to Ancy-le-Franc, with plenty of opportunity to walk or cycle along the towpath… or sit on deck with another glass of bubbly. Dinner on board. Dinner on board.
Thursday, Day 5 Ancy-le-Franc to Lezinnes
This morning we visit Château d’Ancy-le-Franc. This beautifully symmetrical, 16th century masterpiece contains France’s biggest collection of Renaissance murals and is set in magnificent gardens and parkland. In the afternoon, a gentle cruise as your hotel barge continues along the Burgundy Canal and descends through the picturesque locks to moor at Lezinnes. Dinner on board.
Friday, Day 6 Lezinnes to Tanlay
After breakfast we enjoy a leisurely cruise to our final mooring at Tanlay, with the opportunity to cycle or walk into the picturesque village of Saint Vinnemer. Following lunch, we visit the town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times, and enjoy a private wine tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche. There, we also visit the 1000-year-old Obediencerie, originally part of the monastery of St Martin, the founders of Chablis, where for centuries, the domaine’s wines have been aged. Later we return to the barge for the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Tanlay
After breakfast, disembark.
*** Weather dependent
La Belle Epoque in her first life carried logs from Burgundy to Paris, but today she is transformed into a deluxe hotel barge carrying a very different cargo along the very same canal.
She has been designed with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind and her welcoming features include a wood-panelled saloon/dining room with bespoke, hand-built seating and a spacious sun deck with spa pool. The comfortable cabin accommodation comprises two junior suites and four staterooms and a choice of twin or double beds, all with marble en suite facilities.
La Belle Epoque is the perfect vessel to take you on a gentle voyage of discovery through a region studded with traditions and history that go back centuries. As she meanders along the Burgundy Canal with its undulating countryside, you fill find that the towpath is always there for spot of walking or cycling.
Ship Profile & Stats
- Length: 38.4 metres
- Maiden Voyage: 1930
- Refurbished: 1995
- Passenger Capacity (dbl): 12
- Crew Nationality: British
Ship Amenities
- Satellite Television
- Air Conditioning
- 220 Volt Electricity (2 Pin French Plugs)
- Hair Dryer
Ship Facilities
- Spa Pool
- Exercise Room
- Sun Deck
- Internet Access
- Dining Area
- Bar
- Saloon
We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for over 35 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.
Our fully crewed, all inclusive luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of nine European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lochs, giving you the opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective.
Our hotel barges are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those choosing a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.
On your all-inclusive cruise, your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides gently along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers. There will be guided tours to castles, chateaux, vineyards, markets and when you return to the barge, you can be sure our dedicated, professional crew will be there to look after you once more.
Select the Deck to view detail.
Select the Cabin to view detail.
2 Twin/Double Junior Suites (150-165 sq ft incl. en suite). Air conditioned/centrally heated. Marble en-suite facilities
* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.
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