Burgundy France Tour by Hotel Barge on the Canal de Bourgogne aboard Luxury Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque. Our hotel barges gently introduce you to some of Europe’s finest scenery, fascinating history and local culture.
The 12 Passenger Hotel Barge ‘La Belle Epoque’
La Belle Epoque is a spacious, luxurious hotel barge and sister ship to L’Impressionniste. Although she originally carried logs from Burgundy to Paris, she was skilfully converted into a delightful hotel barge. She is now the perfect vessel for cruising the Upper Burgundy Canal with its towpaths that are ideal for walking and cycling.
She has been designed with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind and offers a sun deck with spa-pool, wood-panelled saloon/dining room and other luxury amenities. She is also fully air-conditioned. The spacious cabins offer a choice of twin or double beds with marble en suite facilities. The Captain leads a crew of six comprising Master Chef, Deck Hand, Tour Guide and two Housekeepers.
Burgundy – Heart of Rural France — Vineyards & Châteaux
The landscape around the Burgundy Canal is one of rolling hills eroded over the centuries and covered in forests of oak, maple and pine and where spring, summer and autumn each leave a unique signature. Medieval towns are surrounded by unspoilt countryside and the wonderful markets have stalls brimming with fresh local products cultivated on the fertile plains.
This is a region with a vast variety of cheeses, in all shapes, sizes and colours, strong in character or mild and fresh and all can be enjoyed with full-bodied red Burgundies, or perhaps with lighter white Chablis wines. Burgundy’s gastronomic tradition is certainly rich and diverse and a sedate cruise on a hotel barge along one of its delightful waterways will allow you to indulge in good food and wine, two of the real pleasures in life.
Cruise Highlights:
Visit the Abbaye de Fontenay
Wine tasting of Chablis wines in the Domaine
Billaud Simon cellars
Visit the village of Flavigny sur Ozerain,location of the film ‘Chocolat’
Visit to Château de Tanlay
Visit to Noyers-sur-Serein, one of the most beautiful villages in Burgundy
Visit to the 18th century Forges de Buffon
Optional hot air ballooning
What is hotel barging?
Despite the growing popularity of cruising, especially on large river vessels, hotel barging is still a little known niche concept. Most hotel barges started life as cargo vessels but have since been painstakingly converted to offer luxury boutique accommodation for small groups of up to 20 passengers.
This is cruising, but in a very different style to ships plying the big rivers or oceans. The pace is slow, with a 6 day cruise covering maybe just 50 miles along a rural canal. Passengers can walk or bike the towpaths as their floating hotel glides gently along. Guests enjoy an intimate atmosphere, high levels of personal service and immersion into the culture, history and gastronomy of regions of Europe such as Burgundy, the Midi, or the Italian Veneto.
Every day there is an excursion, perhaps to a chateau, a vineyard for a wine tasting, or some other ‘off the beaten track’ location. About half of European Waterways’ bookings are for whole boat charters, ideal for families. Otherwise, clients book a cabin to join other like-minded people. A ‘slow boat’ European Waterways barge cruise offers the ultimate in experiential travel. A truly unique experience!
European Waterways offer luxury hotel barge cruises on the beautiful canals and rivers of Europe, such as through Burgundy, the Midi, Alsace, the Po Valley, Holland and the Scottish Highlands.
The exclusive collection of hotel barges accommodate up to 20 passengers who may charter a whole barge with family or friends, or join a small group of like-minded travellers on an individual cabin basis. Each barge is fully crewed with a Captain, chef, hostesses, deck-hand and tour guide.
The 6-night cruises include gourmet meals, fine wines, open bar, excursions and the use of facilities such as bicycles and spa pools.
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