France

Arrive in Paris and transfer to our hotel for leisure time before a welcome dinner and reception.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Le Marais, a historic district in Paris built in the Middle Ages. Learn about the history of the district as we walk by medieval houses and opulent mansions with courtyards and immaculate gardens. See the ruins of the medieval city wall, its Jewish quarter and the Place des Vosges, Paris’ oldest square. After lunch, the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.

Today we step into the world of French gastronomy. Stroll through the neighborhood next to the Champs-de-Mars, a park that stretches from the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Discover several of the city’s best artisan-made foods in the company of a local food expert. Enjoy lunch and the afternoon on our own before regrouping for dinner in St. Germain-des-Pres and the Latin Quarter followed by a jazz concert.

Board a high-speed train for Dijon, a charming city whose streets are lined with half-timber houses from the 15th and 16th centuries. Explore the historic town center with its stately stone mansions and its Gothic and Renaissance churches. This afternoon, board our riverboats and settle in with a welcome reception and dinner.

Spend the morning cruising and take in the beautiful scenery from the ship or opt to walk or bicycle alongside the ship. After lunch, disembark for an excursion along the famous Route des Grands Crus. Visit Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, a 16th-century Renaissance style chateau that started as a wine farm built in the 12th century by monks from the nearby Abbey of Cîteaux. See its medieval vat-house and presses, Cistercian cellar and original kitchens. Then stop at a nearby wine estate for a tour and tasting. Return to the ship in Longecourt-en-Plaine.

Spend another morning cruising with the option to walk or bike alongside the ship. This afternoon, explore Saint-Jean-de-Losne, a small town lying at the heart of the French waterways and canal system in southern Burgundy. See monuments bearing testimony to a rich and prestigious past from the 16th to 18th centuries. Sample local specialties during our visit to the Hotel de Ville, a former town hall built in the early 17th century.

Begin the morning in Beaune, known unofficially as the capital of Burgundy wines. Visit the 15th century gothic masterpiece, Hospices de Beaune, which served as a hospital until 1971, then visit the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, which was a former hospital for the needy from the 13th to the 20th century.  After lunch on our own in Beaune, travel to nearby Chalon-sur-Saône and tour its old town, filled with charming half-timbered houses. Enjoy dinner off the ship at a local restaurant.  

Spent the morning cruising towards Chagny, relaxing and enjoying the hillside scenery and rolling meadows. Arrive in Chagny and walk through the striking Cirque du Bout du Monde, a natural protected area with cliffs surrounding an 80-foot waterfall. We then drive to Mont de Sène, the Mountain of the Three Crosses, an ancient Celtic religious site overlooking the Santenay vineyards. Take in incredible panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys, including the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, the Saône Valley, Morvan, Jura and the Alps.

Cruise this morning to Santenay. This charming wine-producing town sits on the Canal du Centre and is marked by the Sorine Mill, a 19th-century windmill. Learn about the winemaking process from a local wine producer and enjoy a tasting.  Return to the ship for a relaxing afternoon as we cruise towards Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune.

Bid farewell to our river barges this morning and head out for an exploration of Beaujolais and the Mâconnais, two historic wine regions that produce some of the finest and most expensive wines in the world. Visit a winery to learn about the history and production of Burgundy wines, then enjoy a guided wine tasting followed by a Provençal lunch. Continue by road to Lyon.

Today choose between a walking or biking tour of Lyon. The walking tour begins with a trip to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a well-known pilgrimage church with an  incredible view of the city. Enjoy a drive along the banks of the Sâone then tour Lyon’s Old Town with its famous Roman theater Renaissance architecture. Those exploring Lyon by bicycle will ride along the banks of the Saone and Rhone to the Parc de la tête d'or (Golden Head Park). Hear unusual stories about Lyon, admire the views of the Old Town perched on a hilltop and stop for refreshments at a local café.  Enjoy a lunch and afternoon at leisure followed by a farewell reception and dinner.

Transfer to the Lyon airport for return flights home.