Culinary Cruise Itinerary

The French Hotel Barge L’Impressionniste offers a Culinary Cruise Itinerary. Experience cooking demonstrations, tailored wine pairings, fresh Burgundian dishes, and delightful local cheese and wine presentations.

Map – Canal de Bourgogne

Sunday, Day 1 – Fleurey sur Ouche

Crew meet the guests at the meeting point in Paris and then transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the Hotel Barge l’Impressionniste. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and the opportunity to meet the captain and crew. Enjoy your first dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 – Fleurey-sur-Ouche to Sainte Marie-sur-Ouche

This morning, experience your first day’s cruise along this enchanting canal, which also promises a walk or cycle along an ever-present towpath past sleepy villages and pretty lock houses.

After lunch, we drive to Abbaye de Citeaux, where the Cistercian monks have been making cheese since the 1920s. Monks at the Abbaye make Citeaux from the milk of white Montbéliarde cows grazing in their meadows, producing only 300 cheeses every Monday and Tuesday. We then enjoy a cheese tasting. Afterwards, we visit Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin, who award a special prized label to the finest Côte d’Or vintages every year. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 – Sainte Marie-sur Ouche to La Bussière

After breakfast, we enjoy a walking tour of old Dijon, including a visit to the indoor food market to admire the wonderful local produce and buy the freshest of ingredients. Afterward, we will visit Notre-Dame and local mustard shops before returning to l’Impressionniste for our lunchtime cooking lesson.

After lunch, we leisurely cruise to La Bussière, with perhaps a walk or bicycle ride to the next lock or two en route. Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 – La Bussière to Pont d’Ouche

After a short morning cruise, we set off on a drive through the slopes of the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. Here, our expert guide will offer an insight into the production of the region’s finest Premier and Grand Cru wines. We continue to Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy wine country, for a private tour and tasting at the renowned Domaine Chanson. The tour visits the 15th-century Bastion de l’Oratoire, whose massive walls maintain the perfect temperature for ageing wine.

This is followed by a private gastronomic lunch in the domaine’s château. Afterwards, we visit the Edward Fallot Moutarderie. The Fallot family have been making mustard since the 1840s using traditional methods. Enjoy a fascinating “Sensational Experiences” tour and a private tasting of diverse mustard-based products. We return to the barge for a short evening cruise to Pont d’Ouche. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 – Pont d’Ouche to Vandenesse

This morning, we visit the Gaugry Fromagerie, a specialist maker of several flavorsome Burgundian cheeses. Gaugry is the last cheesemaker still producing raw milk Epoisses, first made by monks in the 16th century, as well as others such as Plaisir au Chablis, matured with Chablis to give it’s unique flavor. After a guided tour and, of course, a tasting of a number of delicious cheeses, we return to the barge.

Our afternoon cruise is to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, passing grazing white Charolais cattle, rolling hills and picturesque villages, crossing the only aqueduct on the Burgundy Canal. Time later perhaps to visit the medieval hilltop village of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, once an outpost of the Dukes of Burgundy and offering a fine overview of the feeder lakes, canal and surrounding countryside. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 – Vandenesse to Escommes

Our last day’s leisurely cruise takes us to the canal summit, 1250 feet above sea level, just before the Pouilly tunnel.

This afternoon we visit the moat-encircled Château de Commarin where we are lucky enough to enjoy a private tour, accompanied by none other than Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident and 26th generation of the de Vogue family to maintain continuous residence since the 13th century. Count de Vogue will offer insight into the Château’s fascinating history, after which guests can explore the regal interior, rustic stables and surrounding gardens. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 – Escommes

After breakfast, guests disembark l’Impressionniste and transfer to the designated drop off point in Paris.

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction and the pickup and drop off points are reversed.

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