Sunday - Paris to Dijon.
Board the barge at Dijon's Port du Canal for your cruise through Burgundy.  A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. Later that evening, experience your first dinner on board.  
 
Monday - Cruise to Longecourt. Visit Château de Longecourt.  
This morning enjoy your first cruise on the canal.  Once moored in Longecourt visit the Chateau de Longecourt which has been owned by the same family since 1631.  It has been beautifully decorated through the centuries and is rich in history. Some 'graffiti' can be found in the stables, left behind by the American pilots who stayed there during World War II.  If the count is in residence, he will give you a personal tour of his property.
 
Tuesday - Visit Dijon. Cruise to St. Jean de Losne.  
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Dijon including a visit to the market, the Grey Poupon mustard shop and the Ducal Palace.  There will be some free time for shopping or perhaps, to sit in one of the numerous pavement cafés and simply just watch the world pass by.  Return to the boat for lunch and an afternoon cruise to St. Jean de Losne, the barging capital of France.  Take some time this evening or early tomorrow to stroll around the port and see the many working and pleasure barges.  
 
Wednesday - Visit Beaune. Cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône.  
Continue to cruise the peaceful valley of the River Saône downstream to Seurre. Today, lunch is taken at the Loiseau des Vignes in Beaune. In the afternoon, discover Beaune, the capital of the wine region of Burgundy. Enjoy a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune and a wine tasting. Later, your guide takes you on a walking tour of the pedestrian area in Chalon-sur-Saône, the last of the Burgundian style river towns.  
 
Thursday - Cruise to Rully. Visit Château de Germolles.  
The barge cruises leaves the River Saône by clearing the lock to enter the Canal du Centre. Back in the canal environment you may disembark the barge at a lock, bicycle alongside or walk and keep up with the pace of the barge. After lunch, visit the Château de Germolles, the only remaining residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Tonight it is back to a countryside mooring in Rully.  
 
Friday - Visit Couches and the Château Marguerite de Bourgogne. Cruise to St. Léger.
A leisurely cruise to St. Léger, another quaint village along the Canal du Centre which is our final destination.  Your guide takes you to the stunning 11th century Château Marguerite de Bourgogne in Couches, for a tour of the magnificent buildings, surrounded by their own vines, followed by a wine tasting in their cellar. Meanwhile the chef is busy preparing your Farewell gala dinner on board.
 
Saturday - Dijon - Paris.
After breakfast disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.

Note: The day-to-day itinerary described above is a typical cruise and is subject to change. On any one cruise, the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and the passenger preferences.

Sunday - Dijon.
A champagne reception welcomes you on board the barge moored at Dijon's Port du Canal for your cruise through Burgundy, and gives you a chance to meet the crew.  A delicious dinner is served later that evening.
 
Monday - Cruise to Fleurey-sur-Ouche. Visit Clos de Vougeot.
Leaving Dijon, the canal follows the river Ouche where small-unspoiled villages and green, forested hills provide exceptional views from the deck. Spend the morning walking, or perhaps cycling along the tow path. This afternoon's excursion is a dégustation in Vougeot and a visit to "Clos de Vougeot", a medieval château and the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d'Or vintages. The barge moors for the night in the small village of Fleury-sur-Ouche.
 
Tuesday - Cruise to Gissey.  Visit Dijon.
After a wonderful French style breakfast, your guide takes you on a walking tour of Dijon including a visit to the Ducal Palace, the market and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. Enjoy some free time for shopping at the many wonderful shops in town, or perhaps just sit in one of the numerous pavement cafés and simply watch the world go by.  Return to the boat for lunch and an afternoon's cruise to the charming village of Gissey.  This is a truly stunning part of the canal, sit back and watch the ever changing scenery glide by.
 
Wednesday - Cruise to La Bussière. Visit Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune
Mid-morning, disembark the boat for a visit to l'Abbaye de la Bussière, which was built in the 12th century under the guidance of the Cistercian monks from Citeaux. Enjoy a tour of the grounds and have lunch in the one Michelin star restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the 15th  century Château de Savigny-lès-Baunes set in its own vineyard and housing a huge collection of antique motorbikes, cars and planes.
 
Thursday - Cruise to Pont d'Ouche.  Visit Beaune.
Relax with a morning cruise through the rolling hills of the Ouche Valley to Pont d'Ouche. After lunch visit Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy and the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune. There is free time for shopping or strolling through the cobbled streets of this lovely town.  Sample some of the local wines before returning to the barge.
 
Friday - Cruise to Escommes.  Visit Châteauneuf-en-Auxois.
Our final cruise of the week takes us to the countryside mooring of Escommes, then after lunch visit Châteauneuf-en-Auxois.  This medieval village with its commanding views over the plains is a wonderful place for a visit.  Both the village and the château have a long and interesting history. This is followed by a tour of  the surrounding countryside.  Meanwhile the chef is preparing your farewell gala dinner on board.
 
Saturday - Dijon.
After breakfast disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.

Note: This day-to day-itinerary described is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and guest preferences.

During the Artistic Impressions Week aboard Fleur de Lys, the barge will cruise along the Burgundy Canal towards Dijon taking in the picturesque sites of Château de Pommard and the city of Beaune, which is the capital of the Burgundy wine region and home to its many of ‘Les Grand Crus’ vineyards; all stunning locations to create a wonderful Burgundy scene on canvas.

Sunday - Arrive in Escommes. Champagne Reception
Transfer from central Paris to Escommes to join the Fleur de Lys barge. Meet David Napp, your tutor for the week, during a convivial champagne reception on board.

Monday - Cruise to Pont d'Ouche. Visit Château de Pommard & Painting
After breakfast, enjoy your first day cruising on the magnificent Canal de Bourgogne. Small-unspoiled villages and green, forested hills provide exceptional views from the deck.  There are plenty of opportunities to walk and cycle alongside the boat on the towpath that follows the canal for the entire cruise.   After lunch visit Château de Pommard, a stunning building dating from 1726 and surrounded by its own vineyards.  On this wonderful site, you will have your first lesson in the art of creating pictures using pastels.  We find a scenic location within the vines, and facing towards the Chateau you will create your first picture.  This is such a stunning position, with the hillside behind, surrounded by these wonderful green vines with the grapes now well formed and the white stone Chateau imposing itself into the heart of countryside.

Tuesday - Cruise to La Bussière. Art morning and visit Beaune
This morning, we will find a beautiful spot on this magnificent Burgundy Canal and paint a truly original French country scene.  There are so many positions along this canal to choose from, but our tour guide will work with David to find a truly wonderful vantage point and you will spend the next few hours working with your easel to produce a fantastic memory of this morning.  Return to the barge for lunch and afterwards you will visit Beaune, capital of the Burgundy wine producing region, for a visit to the famous Hotel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune.  The town with its tiny centre has hardly changed physically down the years; a circular boulevard runs round its former ramparts, many of which still stand.  Within, there is a dense maze of narrow old streets.  Tonight's mooring is at another canal-side village, La Bussière-sur-Ouche.

Wednesday - Cruise to Gissey.  Visit l'Abbaye de La Bussière and Pastels.
Mid-morning, tour l'Abbaye de la Bussière built in the 12th century under the guidance of the Cistercian monks from Citeaux. This beautiful abbey has now been converted into a truly luxurious hotel.  After a stroll in the grounds and a tour of the property with the owner enjoy lunch in the restaurant. This afternoon, we take a comfortable position within the grounds of this magnificent Abbaye and spend the rest of the day working with pastels.  This is such a special place, and there are so many different aspects to this property, you will not know where to start!  Luckily David will be on hand to direct you and by the end of this session; you will no doubt have a fabulous picture to take back to the barge - to admire over cocktails on the deck!

Thursday - Cruise to Fleurey-sur-Ouche. Visit Clos de Vougeot and Pastels
This morning the barge cruises through the Côte d'Or planted with vines that produce some of the world's most famous wines. After lunch your guide takes you to visit 'Clos de Vougeot', a medieval chateau surrounded by vineyards.  This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Cote d'Or vintages. Vougeot is a small village located in the heart of the 'Route des Grand Crus'.  There are so many opportunities here for finding a perfect location to settle down for the afternoon to produce yet another, wonderful Burgundy scene. Perhaps the Chateau, or a hill side of vines, even the village itself with its narrow road and ornate street lights - once again David will help locate the best position and advise you on how to produce yet another, wonderful picture.  Tonight's mooring is in the pretty village of Fleurey-sur-Ouche.

Friday - Painting morning & visit Dijon
After breakfast, you will experience your final day working with David. Once again we return to this beautiful canal side and find another wonderful aspect of this waterway for you to capture with your pastels. After another wonderful lunch on board, you are transferred to Dijon for a walking tour of this famous city, passing by the Ducal Palace, the market, and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. There will be free time for shopping or perhaps simply sit in one of the numerous pavement cafes and watch the world by go. The barge moors for the night in Dijon's Port du Canal, a short distance from the town centre. The chef is busy on board preparing your Farewell gala dinner.

Saturday - Dijon.
After breakfast you will disembark the boat and continue with your onward journey.

Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.