Sunday -Tain l'Hermitage.
Depart Paris, Gare de Lyon, on the TGV train in the afternoon. On arrival at Valence station you are met by the Napoléon's guide and transferred to the barge for your cruise along the Rivers Rhône and Saône. A champagne reception gives you a chance to meet the crew. You are then taken to Mr Ferraton's winery for your first wine tasting, just steps from the boat.
Monday - Cruise to Condrieu. Visit Vienne.
Cruising the Vallée du Rhône is a delightful experience; the magnificent vineyards of the Côtes Rôtie and the Côtes du Rhône seem to descend right into the river. After lunch, visit the ancient city of Vienne with its many Roman remains including an amphitheatre and aqueduct and the outstanding temple of Augusta and Livia. Tonight we moor in this busy town.
Tuesday - Cruise to Lyon. Visit Lyon.
Enjoy the morning's cruise to Lyon. Today you have lunch in the centre of Lyon before exploring France's second city. Dominating the city is the splendidly ornate Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière. Lyon's shopping facilities are renowned for their quality, including many chic boutiques. There will be free time to enjoy the many shops, or perhaps to sit in one of the numerous pavement cafés and watch the world go by. We are moored in Lyon tonight where after dinner you may wish to walk up into Vieux Lyon, the old part of town, only a few minutes from the barge.
Wednesday - Cruise to Montmerle. Visit Château de Fléchères.
Leave the city of Lyon behind as we cross from the River Rhône onto the River Saône. A new pace develops as the Saône is a smaller and quieter river than the Rhône. After lunch we moor in Montmerle, in the heart of the famous Beaujolais wine region, then take a short drive to the beautiful Château de Fléchères built in 1630 and set in 80 acres of parkland.
Thursday - Cruise to Mâcon. Visit Cluny.
This morning we cruise to Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering the Mâconnais wine region, where we also moor for the night. After lunch, we visit the Abbey of Cluny, for centuries the largest church in the world.
Friday - Cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône. Visit Beaune.
Your final cruise takes you into Chalon-sur-Saône, a beautiful town with a fine pedestrian centre. After lunch, visit Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, for a tour of the famous Hôtel Dieu, Hospice de Beaune followed by a special wine tasting in Drouhin. The town itself has hardly changed in appearance throughout the years; it's tiny centre is a dense maze of narrow old streets with a circular boulevard running round it's former ramparts, many of which still stand. Meanwhile the Chef is busy preparing your farewell gala dinner onboard.
Saturday - Chalon-sur-Saône.
After breakfast disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.
