French Hotel Barge L'Art de Vivre

Wine Appreciation Barge Cruise Itinerary

This wine appreciation barge cruise itinerary upgrades your experience with extra winery visits, private tastings, a wine guide, and premium wines. Barge L’Art de Vivre cruises the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy, one of France’s longest-established canals.

Map - Canal du Nivernais itinerary for French Hotel Barge L'Art de Vivre in Burgundy

Map – Canal du Nivernais, Burgundy France

Guests are met at their choice of location in Paris and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to L’Art de Vivre moored in Chevroches. Enjoy a Champagne Welcome and an introduction to the week’s wine cruise. Afterwards, you are free to explore the medieval town of Auxerre or take a bike ride or a stroll along the banks of the River Yonne. Dinner on board.

Our morning cruise takes us past vineyard-clad hillsides to Vincelles where we moor in rural bliss. After lunch, accompanied by our wine guide, we drive to St Bris with its extraordinary network of medieval passages beneath the town. After touring the 12th-century Bersan cellars, we taste unique wines from this hidden Burgundian village. Dinner on board.

This morning cruise pass gently rolling hills and vineyards interspersed with cherry orchards. Charolais cattle glance up as we glide by them grazing in the lush fields alongside the river. Cruise through lunch. At St Pallaye, our wine guide takes us over the nearby hills to the legendary vineyards surrounding the world famous town of Chablis. Experience Grand Cru vineyards followed by an exclusive tasting at Domaine Laroche or Domaine William Fèvre. Return to the barge awaiting us at Mailly la Ville. Dinner on board.

In the morning, we cruise past the prehistoric coral reefs which now form the spectacular cliffs at Mailly le Chateau and Le Saussois. This is a favorite rendezvous for rock climbers. From here we enjoy an excursion to Vézelay, one of Burgundy’s most famous treasures with the Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, craft shops and fine views of the surrounding countryside while sipping a glass of wine from the ancient monastic vineyard. Dinner on board.

An early start after breakfast for the drive to Beaune arriving late morning for a tasting in the Grand Cru vineyards at Puligny Montrachet which include Philippe Chavy or Philippe Duvernay (Chassagne). Lunch in the center of Beaune followed by a visit to the famous Hôtel Dieu Hospices de Beaune. This afternoon, the group drives north through the Côte de Nuits vineyards passing Romanée Conti and Clos Vougeot. We arrive back on board for short evening cruise to Lucy sur Yonne and a light dinner on board.

A morning cruise through beautiful countryside takes us to our final mooring at the pretty canalside village of Chevroches and again this is a perfect time for a walk or a bicycle ride. In the afternoon, we visit the elegant Château de Bazoches, built in the 12th century and whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart. The château was later remodelled by Maréchal Vauban and there are wonderful views from its elevated hillside setting. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to central Paris.

  • Wine-themed barge cruises are for private charters only. See Rates for additional supplement.
  • On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.
  • This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

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5/27/2026