Take a magnificent journey through the Saône-et-Loire and La Côte d'Or regions of France on this 7-day French canal cruise. Sail by the banks of the Saône River and discover the attractions of the Canal du Centre, 'the canal of the two seas.' Linking the Saône River to the Loire River, the Canal du Centre is a must see. Cruise past hills and lush green pastures, invigorating forests and countrysides, stopping to discover small villages and renowned vineyards.
Highlights
Hike to the beautiful Cirque du Bout du Monde
Walk to the center of Santenay, a charming little wine-producing village
Enjoy a tasting of the famous local wines and other delights
Tour of Chalon-sur-Saône, birthplace of Joseph Nicéphore Niepce
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Board the MS Jeanine in Saint Leger Sur Dheune at 6 PM and settle into your cabin. Once on board, explore your new home and meet the crew before sitting down for dinner. The ship stays in port overnight.
Enjoy a breakfast buffet on board, then set off by coach for a walk to the Cirque du Bout du Monde. View the imposing chalk cliffs which have been carved out by the river Cozanne, where an 82-foot waterfall was formed. Return to Nolay on foot and re-join the coach, setting off for Mont de Sène (the Mountain of the Three Crosses), an ancient Celtic religious site which overlooks the Santenay vineyards. Classified as a 'nature park,' it is characterized by its rustic plants and wild shrubs. Take in amazing panoramic views of the surrounding main peaks and valleys, including the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, the Saône Valley, Morvan, Jura and the Alps.
In the afternoon, walk to the center of Santenay, a charming wine-producing village with a priceless historic heritage. Enjoy a wine tasting session at one of the 38 wine producers in the village before returning to the ship.
Breakfast and lunch are served on board as the ship cruises towards Chalon-sur-Saône. Alternatively, choose to bike to Chalon-sur-Saône along the banks of the Doubs River. In the afternoon, explore this charming town, the birthplace of Joseph Nicéphore Niepce, who invented photography in 1824. Enjoy an excursion around the old town, which contains wooden framed houses which were constructed during the 15th to 17th centuries. Also, view the Cathedral of St Vincent and classical dwellings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Continue to the town center and enjoy a wine tasting before returning to the ship for dinner.
Spend the morning afloat as the ship cruises towards Saint-Jean-de-Losne, or use the bicycles on board to continue along the Green Route. Enjoy lunch on board. Spend the afternoon on a guided visit to Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Discover the monuments which bear witness to a prestigious past, such as the monument commemorating the Siege of 1636 and the Hôtel-Dieu, a hospital which was founded in 1658 and is surrounded by wrought iron railings dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Also, visit the Gothic-style Church of St John the Baptist and the Batellerie Museum (also known as the Sailors’ House).
Spend the entire day afloat as you cruise towards Petit-Ouges, or make the journey by bicycle. Pass through several locks, where you can disembark the ship to visit the villages which line the Doubs. Arrive in Petit-Ouges around 7 PM and enjoy dinner on board.
Enjoy breakfast and lunch as the ship spends the morning cruising to Dijon. In the afternoon, set off on an excursion along the Burgundy Grands Crus Wine Route. The Grands Crus wine route crosses through the finest and most prestigious of the Burgundy vineyards. Return to the ship at the end of the evening and attend a Gala Dinner on board.
Day 7: Dijon | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking the ship at 9 AM. Transfer independently for your continued travels.
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Main Deck
12 cabins with private en-suite facilities and window. All cabins are equipped with private en-suite facilities (shower and WC), TV, radio, telephone (for internal calls only), safe and independant air-conditioning.
Notes
20% discount on children between 2-10 years
30% discount for 3rd person in triple cabin
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
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