FANDANGO, a boutique 6 passenger deluxe barge cruise, moves to Burgundy in 2009.

FANDANGO is a one-of-a-kind boutique barge lovingly restored and decorated by artistic owner and host, Hazel Young. A graduate of the French National Cooking School in Beaune, her gift is providing fresh local cuisine paired with fine regional wines. Add to that beautiful scenery, ancient villages, vineyards abounding and a friendly crew to care for you, a barge cruise on Fandango is simply great! Check out her sister ship TANGO, owned and operated by Hazel's son, Daniel, which cruises on the Canal du Midi in the south of France.

Cruise Highlights

 
Owner and chef of Fandango, Hazel Young is one of the pillars of barge cruising in Burgundy and the Canal du Midi
Hazel Young, the owner and chef of Fandango, is one of the pillars of canal barging in France.

A Typical Dinner Menu

Scallop and fresh garden herb terrine on bed of frisee salad with Roquefort dressing
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Sauce au beurre de sauge
Freshly made ravioli filled with ricotta
and spinach with a sage butter sauce
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Succulent tender beef filet steak
with seared foie gras
A pyramid of roasted eggplant, zucchini,
bellpepper, sweet garden tomato sauce
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Cheese platter
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Rich and warm moist chocolate cake
Red berry coulis with crème anglaise custard

 

 

2009
Highlights of a
Week on FANDANGO
on the Burgundy Canal

  • Winetasting at the medieval chateau of Clos de Vougeot
  • Colorful ‘les halles’ covered market of Dijon accompanied by the chef
  • Tour of historic Dijon town center
  • Abbey of La Bussière for a Michelin-star lunch
  • Route des Grands Crus and a ‘cassecroute’ lunch of regional specialties
  • Hospice of Beaune located in the town of Beaune, the wine center of the Cote d'Or
  • Hilltop castle of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois where you will enjoy a typical Burgundy ‘plat du jour’ lunch at the bistrot.
  • Exquisite village of Flavigny, site for the film 'Chocolat'
  • Opportunity to walk and bike along the towpaths as the barge cruises through the beautiful Vallee d'Ouche.

The large tiled deck of Fandango is ideal for soaking in the hot tub, lounging or dining.
Having fun on the tiled deck of Fandango

 

Itinerary

Fandango Itinerary
The Burgundy Canal
Dijon to Escommes


To celebrate Fandango’s return to France’s foremost wine and gastronomique region, we are going to take the guests to dine onshore three times during the week, inclusive. This will include a typical ‘plat du jour’ at a lockside bistrot, a ‘cassecroute’ while winetasting on the Route de Grands Crus, and the Michelin star restaurant of l’Abbaye de Buissière.

Sunday: Board in Dijon
Your tour guide will meet you at 4:00pm in Dijon at the train station, rental car office or local hotel. You’ll be escorted to Fandango at anchor in Dijon port. A Champagne welcome provides the perfect moment to meet the crew and preview the week ahead. Your evening dinner will be the start of your gourmet journey.

Monday: Cruise to Fleurey-sur-Ouche
Your morning cruise departs Dijon and introduces you to the peaceful green pastoral setting of the Ouche River Valley. The famous cream colored Charolais cows graze in their pastures, wildflowers abound and a wonderful feeling of relaxation takes over. After lunch on board, you may want to cycle on the towpath to work up a thirst for the evening winetasting at the medieval chateau of Clos de Vougeot.

Tuesday: Cruise to Gissey-sur-Ouche
This morning visit the colorful ‘les halles’ covered market of Dijon. The chef will take you on the rounds of the market stalls, selecting cheeses and fresh produce, making sure all the specialties you want to try go into the baskets! Then tour historic Dijon town center, not forgetting to shop at the famous Grey Poupon mustard shop and local boutiques.

Wednesday: Cruise to Pont d’Ouche
You will enjoy the diversity of each lock keeper’s handiwork this morning as we cruise a staircase of locks bordered by well-tended flower beds and vegetable gardens. Walk, bicycle or just read on deck, letting the scenery glide by. Today we’ll take you to the exquisitely restored Abbey of La Bussière for a Michelin-star lunch. The tranquility of your afternoon cruise to Pont d’Ouche will complete the experience to ‘savorer le moment’.

Thursday: Cruise to Fairy Rock Lock
How about an exciting day out to taste wine and tour along the Route des Grands Crus?! To accompany the wine, there is a ‘cassecroute’ lunch of regional specialties on crispy baguettes: beurre, jambon persillé, saucisson patés with special mustards and cornichons, plus a ‘plateau de fromage extraordinaire’. Then tour the famed Hospice de Beaune and return to Fandango for dinner on board.

Friday: Cruise to Escommes
You will admire the hilltop castle of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois while floating to Vandenesse. This medieval castle will then be brought to life during a historical tour. Antique shops and breathtaking views await you! Walking the cobblestoned streets will work up an appetite for your typical Burgundy ‘plat du jour’ lunch at the bistrot. Then we’ll cruise up the last flight of locks to the Escommes lake. An evening drive to the exquisite village of Flavigny, site for the film Chocolat, before your last delicious dinner on board ends your cruise in style!

Saturday: Farewell – Return to Dijon
After breakfast the tour guide will transfer you back to Dijon. You can schedule a departure train or rental car pickup after 10:00am.

* Ballooning is possible upon reservation. The itinerary will be in reverse depending on the direction of the cruise and is subject to change at any time.

Floor Plan

 Fandango is beautifully decorated with colorful Provencal tile bathrooms
Fandango offers 2 twin or king cabins and 1 small double cabin.

For an intimate, fun and entertaining barge cruise, Fandango is the one!