Overview

Accommodations

Amenities

• Gourmet cuisine typically featuring:
  • Continental breakfast with freshly baked pastries, breads, cereals, fruit, yogurt and eggs made to order
  • Light and delicious lunches
  • Dinners include an entree, main course, cheese, dessert, and coffee, followed by aperitifs and chocolates
• Regional and fine wines served with lunch and dinner
• Open bar
• Both 220v and 110v supply in each cabin
• Air conditioning and central heating
• Main lounge with piano, game table, library, and cocktail lounge
• Two spacious decks with comfortable deck chairs and tables
• Touring bicycles

Sample Itineraries

The Best of Burgundy

Cruising on the Canal de Bourgogne and Yonne River

SUNDAY: Ancy-le-Franc
Your chauffeur collects you from your Paris hotel at 2.00 pm for the drive to the "Savoir Faire", moored at Ancy-le-Franc on the Burgundy Canal. Your Captain welcomes you aboard with a Champagne Reception and an introduction to your crew and ship. Before dinner, your tour guide is at hand to introduce you to the local area and tell you about the cruise week ahead. After a well deserved aperitif on deck you are served your first of many splendid dinners aboard, prepared by your very own master chef.

MONDAY: Ancy-le-Franc to Lezinnes
Fresh ground coffee and fluffy croissants and pastries straight from the local baker - a delicious breakfast sets us up for our excursion to Fontenay, a marvelous medieval abbey with its cloisters, capitulary hall, dormitories and fish basins full of trout. There’s even a prison. Returning to the Savoir Faire for lunch we start our gentle cruise past the beautiful 16th century Renaissance palace and gardens of Chateau d'Ancy-le-Franc, towards the canal side village of Lezinnes where we moor overnight. Today, as with every day of your cruise, there's plenty of opportunity to wander or cycle ahead as the vessel descends through a series of quaint hand operated locks.

TUESDAY – Lezinnes to Tanlay
Today we have a real delight in store! Ropes away and onward past sleepy hamlets and cattle grazing by the canal banks. Our cruise today takes us to Tanlay, famous for its beautiful 16th century Renaissance-style Chateau. After lunch we take a short ride to the Chateau d’Ancy-le-Franc. This Renaissance jewel, set in the centre of a large park on the banks of the canal, houses the biggest collection of Renaissance murals in France, making Ancy-le-Franc a direct contender of Fontainebleau Palace. The immense quadrilateral, which is a classified historic monument, holds a rich decor attributed to some of the most celebrated Italian, Flemish and Burgundy artists of the 16th and 17th century.

WEDNESDAY – Tanlay to Tonnerre
After breakfast we take a short walk to the Chateau de Tanlay, nestling serenely within this picturesque village. The interior is luxuriously furnished and decorated by some astonishing frescoes. After lunch we continue your cruise along the Burgundy Canal. Our cruise this afternoon takes us to Tonnerre, one of the few places along the canal where you will find vineyards. This town is the centre of a small wine growing area of about 60 hectares producing excellent reds and roses under the name "Bourgogne Epineuil". Of particular interest is La Fosse Dionne. Situated in the centre of the old town this natural spring, the second deepest in France, has long mystified people and is well worth a visit. In 1758 it was converted into a "Lavoire". Also worthy of note is the old hospital, built in 1293 by Margueritte of Burgundy.


THURSDAY – Tonnerre to Flogny la Chapelle
A good hearty breakfast sets us up for our morning cruise. This is barging at it's best. Relaxed, gentle on the soul, every bend offering something new. Hop on, hop off - we're going nowhere fast! Feeling left out - why not help us with the locks. Great exercise and the photos will be the envy of your friends. After lunch your tour guide drives you to the world famous town of Chablis where you'll take a tour of the ancient press and cellars of Domaine Laroche, followed by a wine tasting of their various fine vintages. After seeing Chablis we drive a short distance to a beautiful secluded spot where you can enjoy a panoramic vista of the Grand Cru vineyards and the surrounding countryside. A little cheese, a glass of wine - perfect!

FRIDAY – Flogny la Chapelle to St Florentin
Our cruise this morning takes us to our final destination of St Florentin. After lunch we drive to one of the prettiest towns in France. Auxerre, the capital of lower Burgundy, is situated in the heart of a wine growing region most famous for its Chablis wine. The success of this thriving town is celebrated by architectural jewels such as the ornately painted 15th century Clock Tower, the soaring Gothic cathedrals of Saint Germain and Saint Stephen and an abundance of ornate Renaissance houses bordering tree lined squares. Every street offers a golden opportunity for the aspiring photographer.

Relax before dinner with a drink from the bar and enjoy the evening from the panoramic deck of the "Savoir Faire". Tonight your chef adorns your table with a special Farewell Dinner. Candlelit crystal and gleaming silverware add to the romantic ambiance of your celebration. Laughter, great times and the warmth of friendship contribute to those "Golden Memories" that last a lifetime.

SATURDAY – St Florentin
Finally time to say farewell to the Savoir Faire and her Captain and crew, but not before a hearty breakfast. After all, we wouldn't want you leave hungry! Bags are loaded by 9.30 am and off we drive to your designated destination in Paris.

Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending upon local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks.
  

* Please note that cruise week runs in opposite direction on alternate weeks.