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 takes you on 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. Head to the Joseph Drouhin cellar for a tasting where the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy once stored their precious wines. 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. After lunch on board, your guide takes you for an afternoon discovering some of the vinous wonders of the Côte de Beaune. See the prestigious vineyards along the mythical Route des Grands Crus and visit a stunning winery to become acquainted with their finest vintages. Tonight, you enjoy dinner at a beautiful local restaurant.

This morning, as you glide gently towards the attractive village of St-Léger-sur-Dheune – your 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. 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.