Burgundy comes packed with feasts for all the senses, making it one of our favourite parts of the country. Add a great selection of waterways – canals and rivers – to these sensual delights, and this postcard-pretty region is a must for a holiday on the water. And while you’re there, you’ll want to take in a few river cruise excursions in Burgundy. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites, all guaranteed to make you fall even further in love with this gorgeous part of France.
Your choice of waterways
But before we dive into the best river cruise excursions in Burgundy, a bit about those waterways. This region has one of the best choices in France since it’s home to five rivers and canals.
The Canal du Bourgogne – this very pretty waterway flanks the east of the region running between Laroche Migennes and St Jean de Losne.
The Nivernais Canal – this important canal takes a westerly route between Auxerre and Digoin.
The Saône – this river ranks among France’s greatest waterways, and its sedate flow leads from the north to join the Rhone at Lyon.
The Loire and Yonne – if you’ve chosen Northern Burgundy for your holiday on the water, you’ll discover the Upper Loire, where both rivers meander across the landscape.
Did you know? Practically every town and village on Canal de Bourgogne comes with an architectural delight, making any canal cruise excursion in this part of Burgundy well worth joining.
Best river cruise excursions in Burgundy to feast your eyes on those sights
Like all the regions covered by French waterways, Burgundy packs in the things to see. From ancient ruins to modern museums via abbeys, castles and châteaux, it fills the guidebooks with must-sees.
If you’re looking for some of the best, try these:
On the Canal de Bourgogne
Fontenay Abbey – a UNESCO World Heritage site
This masterpiece in stone dates back to the year 1118 and is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the world. Every section of the abbey is stunningly beautiful, but we think the cloisters win the competition.
>>> Read our guide to Burgundy architecture through the ages
Semur-en-Auxois – medieval beauty
Set on the banks of the River Armançon, this pretty town provides a picture-perfect photo opportunity at every twist and turn in its medieval street. For the best views, head for the fortress, whose vistas stretch down to the river.
On the Canal du Nivernais
Auxerre – a plethora of treats
Highlights in this city include the 13th-century stained-glass windows in the cathedral and the even older Abbey St Germain. Don’t miss the 17th-century clock tower, bang in the city centre.
Did you know? We have a free guide to Burgundy that lists all the must-sees and must-tries in this beautiful part of France.
>>> Download your essential Burgundy guide now
Best river cruise excursions in Burgundy to feast your eyes on those châteaux
While the Loire Valley is renowned as the destination for fine French châteaux, Burgundy comes a close second. Around 100 magnificent examples of these palaces and castles dot the landscape and are popular spots for excursions. Our favourite Burgundy châteaux include:
Château de Tanlay – a trompe l’oeil fest
Combine this canal cruise excursion with Chablis wine (see below) and enjoy its magnificent towers and turrets. The outstanding feature is, however, the Grand Gallery, where seeing is definitely not believing in one of the world’s best collections of trompe l’oeil frescoes.
Clos de Vougeot – queen of the vineyards
This 16th-century Renaissance palace originated as a vineyard in the 12th century and lies at the heart of Burgundy wine country. It’s also the seat of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the Brotherhood of Burgundy wine. Time your visit to this château with one of their annual events welcoming new knights to the order.
Château de Commarin – mirror, mirror on the moat
Art and tapestry lovers are in for a treat at this château, dating back to the 16th-century and stuffed with furniture, objets and paintings. But the real feast for the eyes comes outside in the view of the château reflected in its wide moat.
Did you know? If you love a château (or hundreds), a Loire river cruise will allow you to get close to some of the finest in France.
Best river cruise excursions in Burgundy to feast your eyes on that art
As well as architectural gems, Burgundy also delivers in the art department. If you love fine paintings, sign up for an excursion to:
Dijon for golden oldies
As you’d expect, the region’s ancient capital offers one must-see after another. However, art fans are in for a particular treat at the Musée des Beaux Arts. This museum ranks as one of the best in France and is a veritable treasure trove of masterpieces carrying signatures by the likes of Brueghel, Rubens and Titian.
Beaune for a medieval treat
This town is a regular on river and canal cruise excursions in Burgundy for several reasons (including wine – see below). But we’re featuring it here for one arty reason: The Last Judgement. Roger van der Weyden painted the polyptych from 1445 to 1450, and its nine panels adorn the altar in the Beaune Hospital.
Vézelay for modern gems
If more recent art is your thing, book an excursion in Vézelay that includes a visit to the Musée Zervos. The home of writer Romain Rolland now houses a unique collection of artwork collected by Christian Zervos, who donated it to the town. Picasso, Calder, Giacometti and Miró signed just a few of the masterpieces on the wall.
Did you know? Most Burgundy museums have temporary exhibitions and events going on all year round. Check out the calendar on the website and time your excursion with the one you fancy.
Best river and canal cruise excursions in Burgundy to feast your nose and palette on that wine
This is, of course, one of the world’s prime wine regions and, along with Bordeaux, it ranks as the best in France. There are numerous wine-producing areas, listed in our Burgundy wine guide, and you won’t want to miss an excursion that includes wine in any shape or form, such as:
Bailly – spectacular sparkling
This corner of Burgundy produces the region’s fine bubbles, Crémant de Bourgogne. The sparkling process happens in the wine caves where some 430 wine growers store around five million bottles of wine while it matures to its full fizz. Be sure to try the Vive-la-Joie white and rosé versions, considered the flagship for Burgundy bubbles.
Beaune – one fine label after another
This historic town at the heart of Burgundy is home to a long list of excellent wine labels, some of which fetch eye-watering prices at auctions. Beaune’s finest vineyards include Meursault, Pommard, Romanée-Conti and Vougeot. Those at Romanée-Conti in the Côtes de Nuits produce the most expensive wine in the world despite being one of the smallest vineyards in the region.
Chablis – home to an iconic grape
Chardonnay, one of the signature wine grapes, hails from this part of Burgundy whose terroirs produce the best whites on the most discerning wine lists. The town has several notable vineyards but La Chablisienne cooperative offers fine wines at wallet-friendly prices.
Did you know? The Route des Grands Crus whisks you away from the waterways into the best of Burgundy wine and landscapes.
Best river cruise excursions in Burgundy to feast your tastebuds
Fine wining always goes hand in hand with fine dining, and Burgundy does both to perfection. While you’re out and about on the canals and rivers, be sure to try some of the local culinary treats.
River cruise excursions to markets
As one of the world’s gastronomic destinations, France does food markets with a capital F and M, as our selection of the best markets in France shows. In Burgundy, we recommend visiting these:
Châlon-sur-Saône
As well as plenty of things to admire in the architecture and art world, this city also has a great market. Time your Saône river cruise excursion for a Friday or Sunday morning and head for Place St Vincent, near the cathedral. Here you’ll find dozens of stalls selling local produce, including some of the finest cheeses in Burgundy.
Dijon
Gustave Eiffel put his signature on the city’s famous covered market, open on Tuesday and Friday mornings. It’s one of the main hubs for Burgundy produce and specialises in local cheeses and cold cuts, including endless types of sausage. And yes, there’s also a stall or two selling the famous Maille mustard.
River cruise excursions with the highest accolades
Not for nothing is Burgundy home to the biggest concentration of Michelin stars in the world. In 2023, the region had no less than 35 restaurants boasting one, two or three. They included six with two Michelin stars and one, Maison Lameloise, crowned with the hallowed triplet.
And even if you’re not aiming quite as high, Burgundy has 20 restaurants with Bib Gourmand status, a guarantee of a great meal.
Did you know? You can dine at some seriously gourmet venues on the Canal du Bourgogne from start to finish.
Want to know more about Burgundy river cruise excursions?
All our hotel barge and river cruises in Burgundy include side trips, allowing you to explore the scenic, architectural and gourmet delights in this part of France. For more information and detailed itineraries, get in touch with our team now.
