Afloat in Burgundy
Walking with the Wayfarers on La Belle Epoque

Burgundy walking cruise itinerary

Find out more about La Belle Epoque, visit the
La Belle Epoque barge page

Dates:October 8-14; October 22-28
Trip: 7 days, 6 nights
Price: £2,165 / $3,995 per person based on 2 people sharing a cabin

Burgundy boasts some of the world’s finest food and wine, as well as one of Europe’s prettiest canals. We cruise the Burgundy Canal aboard La Belle Epoque, our luxury barge hotel, slipping into delightful moorings and gaining access to the region’s scenic pathways. We see such Renaissance château towns as Tonnerre, Tanlay and Ancy-le-Franc. On foot and afloat we see rural France at its most romantic; we pass castles rising from vineyards and dreamy old villages.
Sunday We rendezvous in Paris and travel to the barge - “La Belle Epoque” - for our Champagne Reception and Welcome Dinner. Mooring: Auxerre

Monday We walk the banks of the River Yonne and through the vineyard-clad hills to the village of Vaux. Continuing along the river, we arrive at Champs-sur-Yonne where we meet our barge for lunch. We go on to St Bris, with its intricate network of medieval passages beneath the town. At the 12th-century cellars of Monsieur Bersan, we taste the outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot of the region. Mooring: Bailly

Tuesday On foot we follow the canal to Cravant Donjon, a tiny community priding itself on its fine church. A path through rich pastures with views of the valley brings us to Accolay, which sits beside the River la Cure. Following lunch we continue our walk to Regny Abbey and Bessy-sur-Cure. Mooring: Accolay

Wednesday From Vermenton we head towards a wooded hill, while our barge travels south through the Yonne valley. We cruise past dramatic steep cliffs to the market town of Mailly, and then enjoy an excursion to Vezelay, known for its Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene and fine specialty shops. Mooring: Mailly-la- Ville Thursday We walk in the hills above the canal to the pretty cliff top village of Mailly-le-Chateau, finding diverse fauna and fascinating archaeology in La Reserve Naturelle de Bois du Parc. Following lunch on the barge, our walk continues along the canal. Mooring: Lucy-sur- Yonne

Friday This morning we visit Ferme de Joux and gain an interesting insight into the production of foie gras. A cruise through beautiful countryside then takes us to Clamecy. We take a short walk into Clamecy and then tour the Cathedral and the Logging and Barging Museum. There is time to wander through the narrow streets lined with ancient buildings and an opportunity for shopping before returning to the barge. Aboard for our final evening, the Captain hosts our farewell dinner. Mooring: Clamecy Saturday We disembark for a private transfer back from Clamecy to Paris.

**This itinerary may operate in reverse according to the barge scheduling.