There are about 60 boutique hotel barges that cruise along the peaceful and beautiful canals and rivers of France. They vary in size, comfort level and price – and they can be found in all the most attractive regions of France. Some can be booked by cabin (room) others are chartered complete by groups and families. Whatever the details of any particular barge, they all come complete with captain and crew who look after navigation; and professional chef and hostess to care for guests.
People often say that they feel they have been treated ‘like royalty’ and this is a very unique experience. Here is just one example of what that fabulous luxury hotel barge cruise in France is like:
Hotel Barge Fleur de Lys
Belmond Fleur de Lys offers two Burgundy itineraries:
• Canal de Bourgogne, southern Burgundy Dijon to Vandenesse
• Canal de Bourgogne, River Saône and Canal du Centre, southern Burgundy
With world class hotels such as the Cipriani in Venice, the Belmond group have gained an enviable reputation for offering outstanding comfort and service and the Belmond Fleur de Lys is no exception to this. Her three spacious en-suite cabins of 260 square feet each have canopied four poster beds, there’s a saloon with a grand piano and a sun deck complete with heated plunge pool, enabling a selective group of only six guests to enjoy supreme comfort as they glide down one of the most spectacular waterways in Europe.
Cruising along the River Saône and the winding Canal du Centre, your voyage on Fleur de Lys will reveal some of the highlights of southern Burgundy. The Saône is one of the most attractive rivers in France: wide, sleepy and unhurried, it wends its way from the mountains of the Vosges to the Rhône, linking up with the Burgundy Canal, the River Doubs and the Rhône au Rhine Canal and passing through delightful countryside replete with wildlife – herons, kites and the pale Charolais cattle that come down to the waterside to drink, while the Canal du Centre passes through some of the most famous vineyards in this part of the world – Montrachet, Santaney and Rully, to name but a few.
Spend indolent mornings gliding along the green nave of the canal – you can sit on deck with a cooling drink in your hand and watch the countryside pass by, take a stroll along the towpath, or for the more adventurous you can cycle your way to the nearest achingly beautiful medieval village. After a mouth-watering three course lunch, most afternoons will offer an excursion to a local attraction – for example a guided tour of the historic Hôtel Dieu Hospice in Beaune, famous for its glittering glazed roof and its annual auction of fine wine.
Enticing Cordon Bleu cooking is on offer – all meals on board are prepared with fresh ingredients from local suppliers and are served either in the dining room or up on deck, accompanied by carefully matched wines from the region. Vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan and non-allergenic dishes can be arranged given at least 8 weeks’ notice prior to departure.
A champagne reception and gourmet dinner on board while moored in the regional capital of Dijon is the perfect start to your Burgundy adventure. After passing along the southerly reaches of the Canal de Bourgogne you will tie up at Longecourt to explore the famous vineyards along the ‘Route de Grand Crus’ and visit the 12th century château at Clos de Vougeot nearby for a wine tasting. The next day begins with a walking tour of Dijon to see the Ducal Palace and the Grey Poupon mustard shop before cruising to the famous barge town of St Jean de Losne, located at the confluence of three major waterways. While the barge moves on to Fragnes on the Canal du Centre, guests are driven to Beaune, capital of the Burgundy wine region, to visit the magnificent 15th century charity hospital Hôtel-Dieu. Day Five begins with a gentle cruise through some of the prettiest villages along the Canal du Centre and includes a visit the Château de Germolles, the only remaining residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, followed by dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant near Rully. The wine theme is picked up again on your final day with a guided tour of the magnificent buildings, cellars and vineyards of the Château de Chamirey, a family wine estate in Mercurey. This unforgettable trip is rounded off with the Captain’s Farewell Gala Dinner back on board.
These lazy days on Fleur de Lys, drifting through some of the most languidly beautiful landscapes and offset with just the right amount of cultural stimulation, will surely work their magic and leave you feeling renewed and replenished. The countryside, the culture and the cuisine really are the stuff of which dreams are made and when you surface at the end of a memorable week, you will probably find yourself wanting to dream again.
► Find out more about hotel barge Fleur de Lys
► Make an enquiry to get a firm quotation for this or any other hotel barge for the time of year that interests you.
Burgundy South ~ Saône
Famous for its red and white wines and its Grand Cru route through the vineyards, the region bursts with culinary prowess too. The Dukes of Burgundy left an historic legacy, including medieval Beaune, the modern city of Dijon and one of the most popular waterway routes from Paris, the Canal de Bourgogne, which meanders through the Côtes d’Or and into the peaceful Saône river southwards.
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Our Unique Expertise – France, Cruising the Waterways and Hotel Barging
We have explored the rivers and canals of France on our own boat since 2003, logging up over 10,000km along most waterways, in most regions, at all times of year.
Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every hotel barge, every owner-operator and fleet, published here.
