Your first gourmet highlight begins on the way to joining the barge in St-Jean-de-Losne. At the helm of this five-star retreat on the River Yonne, Jean-Michel Lorain conjures up dishes that are colourful, playful and surprising in their simplicity, putting quality ingredients in the spotlight. Sumptuous specialities may include Back from the Islands rosette of lobster and fresh palm nut salad, and Egg Parfait with white Alba truffles and puy green lentils.
You and your fellow guests are welcomed aboard with an effervescent champagne reception and the chance to meet the crew. To start the adventure, a cocktail cruise gives you your first taste of life on the river, followed by a delicious dinner on board.
Alight from the barge for lunch at the three-Michelin-starred Lameloise. Here, welcoming interiors of exposed stone and wooden beams honour Burgundian heritage, while the exquisite cuisine takes the best of local tradition and transforms it into mouthwatering masterpieces. Stop to visit the historic Clos de Vougeot, where Cistercian monks first began making wine in the 12th century.
Afterwards, enjoy a private wine tasting at a reputed local producer before returning to the barge for dinner on board. Disembark with your guide mid-morning for a visit to Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. Lunch is enjoyed a short walk away at the Michelin-starred Loiseau des Vignes, opened by Dominique Loiseau in The first restaurant in Europe to offer an entire wine list by the glass, its menu offers creations rich in local specialities devised by chef Mourad Haddouche.
Return to the barge for dinner on board. Relax on the barge this morning as we cruise towards Tournus. After a sumptuous lunch on board, embark on a scenic drive to the Abbaye de Cluny, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, which for centuries was the most powerful Benedictine church in the world. Founded in , it played an influential role across Europe, answering only to the Pope.
