Your Heart of Burgundy cruise on Caprice begins in Dijon where the cruise group meets at the Dijon railway station.  Caprice is located 2 hours away in the pretty canalside villiage of St Leger Sur Dheune on Burgundy's Canal Du Centre. Burgundy boasts three major waterways, the Canal du Centre, the River Soane, and the Burgundy Canal. From St Leger you will cruise the Center Canal, one of the oldest in France. From there you will join the Saone River for a one day cruise to the Burgundy Canal, the Heart of Burgundy offers unlimited opportunities to make the the best vacation of your life.

Weekly April thru October on Caprice

Departures each Saturday---7 Day 6 night Cruise
Meeting Place Dijon Railway Station

Return to Dijon Railway Station following Friday    

Cruise Highlights:

• Dijon, the capital of Burgundy

• The barging capital of Europe, St Jean de Losne

• The 12th century monks winery of Clos de Vougeot

• Wine Tasting at Nuit St George

• Walking tour of Seurre

• Medieval town of Chalon Sur Saone

• The picturesque village of Chagny

• The 12th Century Chateau of Rully with a wine tasting and guided tour of the property.

• A tour of historic Beaune, the capital of the vineyards

• Market Day in Beaune

• The world famous Hotel Dieu, the first charity hospital of Europe founded in 1443

·             

• Caprice is Air Conditioned    

SATURDAY

Meet at the Dijon railway station on Saturday afternoon at 5:30 P.M..   We will then transfer to Caprice located in St Leger, a beautiful 2 hour ride through the heart of France's celebrated wine country. When you arrive you will be offered a traditional Burgundian drink of Kir Royale (with champagne). We will then introduce you to the crew and to Caprice while your luggage is quietly taken to your cabin.  There is time to freshen up before diner is served.  Tonight you will  enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board Caprice.

Sunday

After breakfast today we begin cruising the beautiful Canal du Centre which meanders from vineyard to vineyard through Santeney and the Chalonaise Burgundy wine regions. Our shore excursion today will be to beautiful  Beaune.  Beaune is  the wine capital of Burgundy and home to the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu, a charity hospital founded in 1443. This monument boasts the finest Burgundian-Flemish architecture in the world.  We will return to Caprice and continue our cruise to the picturesque canal side town of Chagney.  There is ample time to walk and cycle the tow path.

Monday

This morning we continue our cruise through the beautiful vineyards of Burgundy.  Our shore excursion will be to the village of Rully for a private guided tour of the 12c Chateau Rully.  Chateau Rully has been in the same family for 900. years.  We will have a private visit including the living quarters of this unique family and a private wine tasting.

This Medieval fortress is built around a 12th century keep and reveals some interesting features of medieval military architecture with its parapet walk, battlements, machicoulis and loopholes.  The main building dates back to the Renaissance.

The vaulted kitchen in the keep has a monumental fireplace and an extensive range of copper utensils.  An 18th Century building boasts Burgundy's largest stone roof.  The Rully vineyards surround the Chateau.

After our visit we will continue our cruise to Chalon Sur Saône and pass thru one lock that will lower us 50 feet to the river Saône

Chalon Sur Saône was built alongside the Saône about 3000 years ago, the town was a naval base during Antiquity, the place of big fairs during the Middle Ages, a trading centre in modern and contemporary times.  Old town is magnificent.

Tuesday

This morning we plan a guided walking tour of old town Chalon. There may be time for shopping in the town's elegant shopping district.  We will then set out on the river portion of our cruise with a beautiful cruise up the famous waterway of Burgundy, the river Saône. Our destination is Seurre,a lovely riverside town with a 16th century church and beautiful brick houses from the 17th century.  we will visit the Museum of Seurre and have a guided walking tour of old town. 

Wednesday

This morning we will continue for about 90 minutes on the Saône to St Jean de Losne where the Canal de Bourgogne merges with the river Saône.  There are hundreds of barges moored here in addition to major barge manufacturers. Live aboard barge owners are abundant.  We join the Canal de Bourgogne at St Jean begin canal cruising once again. This evening we will moor in Longecourt, a quiet canalside town. 

Our shore excursion today is to Clos de Vougeot. Wine was produced here as early as the 12th century—by none other than the local monks. A private wine tasting follows in Nuits St Georges  before we return to Caprice.  

Thursday

Our canal cruise today is to Dijon, the capital of Burgundy.  There is ample time to cycle and walk the tow path and simply relax today.  Our visit will be to Dijon with a guided tour.
 

We moor tonight in Dijon in the Port.  The center of town is just a 10 minute walk away.  There is time to explore before the Gala Diner tonight