La Belle Epoque, Burgundy Cruise ex Venarey les Laumes to Tanlay

6 Night Cruise Only

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*All prices are per person twin share unless stated as solo, triple or quad share.
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Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
21 Aug 2022 Venarey les Laumes, Burgundy, France
22 Aug 2022 Montbard, Burgundy, France
23 Aug 2022 Ravieres, Burgundy, France
24 Aug 2022 Ancy le Franc, Burgundy, France
25 Aug 2022 Lezinne, Burgundy, France
26 Aug 2022 Tanlay, Burgundy, France
27 Aug 2022 Tanlay, Burgundy, France
6 Night Cruise from Venarey les Laumes to Tanlay aboard La Belle Epoque.

NOTE: On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. Please check at time of enquiry/booking.

Sunday, Day 1 Venarey-les-Laumes
A full crew Welcome Aboard with champagne and canapés. After time to settle into your cabin you will enjoy your first dinner on board and an introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.

Monday, Day 2 Venarey-les-Laumes to Montbard
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we cruise through woodlands and rolling fields with great towpath biking and walking opportunities past the tiny canalside villages of Nogent, Courcelles and Les Granges. After an early lunch, we visit the moat-encircled Château de Commarin to be treated to a private demonstration of the medieval sport of falconry***. The close-up encounter with these majestic birds against the backdrop of the castle grounds is an amazing experience and afterwards, we meet Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident and 26th generation of the de Vogue family to maintain continuous residence since the 13th century. This is followed by a private tour of the building. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 Montbard to Ravières
Morning cruise with excellent towpath walking or cycling, passing the 18th century Forges de Buffon. Then after lunch we escort you to the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Representing a distinctive example of early Cistercian architecture and virtually intact, Fontenay allows an exceptional glimpse of Cistercian life and industry with its peaceful gardens, ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium. Return to the barge and cruise to Ravières. Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 Ravières to Ancy-le-Franc
A truly unique day lies ahead. Following breakfast aboard we head to Les Riceys, the only wine growing area of the Champagne region to have 3 Appellation d’Origine Contrôlées. Here we visit Maison Taisne Riocour, viewing the vineyards and winery before tasting some of their champagnes. We then head to Château de Ricey-Bas; with its 12th century vaulted cellars and thousand’s year history it’s the ideal location to appreciate the rolling vineyards and enjoy a glimpse of family life in a rural château. Here we will be greeted for a Champagne aperitif and a gourmet lunch with the Baroness herself, which we take in either the private salon or the atmospheric vaulted 13th century kitchen. We will spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling the beautiful gardens or exploring the regal chateau interiors. We return to the barge and begin our cruise to Ancy-le-Franc, with plenty of opportunity to walk or cycle along the towpath… or sit on deck with another glass of bubbly. Dinner on board. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Ancy-le-Franc to Lezinnes
This morning we visit Château d’Ancy-le-Franc. This beautifully symmetrical, 16th century masterpiece contains France’s biggest collection of Renaissance murals and is set in magnificent gardens and parkland. In the afternoon, a gentle cruise as your hotel barge continues along the Burgundy Canal and descends through the picturesque locks to moor at Lezinnes. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Lezinnes to Tanlay
After breakfast we enjoy a leisurely cruise to our final mooring at Tanlay, with the opportunity to cycle or walk into the picturesque village of Saint Vinnemer. Following lunch, we visit the town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times, and enjoy a private wine tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche. There, we also visit the 1000-year-old Obediencerie, originally part of the monastery of St Martin, the founders of Chablis, where for centuries, the domaine’s wines have been aged. Later we return to the barge for the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Tanlay
After breakfast, disembark.

*** Weather dependent

La Belle Epoque in her first life carried logs from Burgundy to Paris, but today she is transformed into a deluxe hotel barge carrying a very different cargo along the very same canal.

She has been designed with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind and her welcoming features include a wood-panelled saloon/dining room with bespoke, hand-built seating and a spacious sun deck with spa pool. The comfortable cabin accommodation comprises two junior suites and four staterooms and a choice of twin or double beds, all with marble en suite facilities.

La Belle Epoque is the perfect vessel to take you on a gentle voyage of discovery through a region studded with traditions and history that go back centuries. As she meanders along the Burgundy Canal with its undulating countryside, you fill find that the towpath is always there for spot of walking or cycling.


Ship Profile & Stats
  • Maiden voyage: 1930
  • Refurbished: 1995
  • Length: 38.4 metres
  • Beam: 5 metres
  • Speed: 10 knots
  • Passenger capacity (dbl): 12
  • Crew nationality: British
Ship Amenities
  • Satellite Television
  • Air Conditioning
  • 220 Volt Electricity (2 Pin French Plugs)
  • Hair Dryer
Ship Facilities
  • Spa Pool
  • Exercise Room
  • Sun Deck
  • Internet Access
  • Dining Area
  • Bar
  • Saloon
We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for over 35 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.

Our fully crewed, all inclusive luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of nine European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lochs, giving you the opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective.

Our hotel barges are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those choosing a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.

On your all-inclusive cruise, your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides gently along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers. There will be guided tours to castles, chateaux, vineyards, markets and when you return to the barge, you can be sure our dedicated, professional crew will be there to look after you once more.

All Decks

Junior Suite Photo
2 Twin/Double Junior Suites (150-165 sq ft incl. en suite). Air conditioned/centrally heated. Marble en-suite facilities

Stateroom Photo
4 Twin/Double Staterooms (125-130 sq ft incl. en suite). Air-conditioned/centrally heated. Marble en-suite facilities