LIBELLULE, an affordable 20 passenger first class barge, cruises on the River Saone between Dijon and Lyon.

The 20-passenger barge, LIBELLULE, cruises on the Saone River between Dijon and Lyon giving you a taste of clipping along with the river current. A mix of lively river towns and quiet villages make this a diverse cruise with excursions to the famous Burgundy and Beaujolais Wine Regions.

Cruise Highlights


Dining on Luciole is a treat with delectable surprises every day!

French Cuisine - Ooh la la!

The evening starts with an aperitif in the company of your fellow passengers gathered to recount the day's activities. Then the tastes begin with tantalizing hors d'oeuvres perhaps followed by a delicate soup. Here follows the exquisitely prepared main course paired with a regional wine chosen to compliment the food. Every French meal moves on to a cheese course complete with the telling of origins that surround nearly all French cheeses. Finish off with a dessert that is as delicious as it is lovely to look at and perhaps a cognac on deck to aid "le digestion."

 

 

Highlights of a
Week on the LIBELLULE
in Burgundy and Beaujolais

  • Walking tour of historic Lyon, settled 1000 years ago by the Romans
  • Visit to a Beaujolais winegrower near Macon for a private tasting
  • The gilded Chateau du Cormatin with its beautifully landscaped park
  • Cluny and remains of Benedictine monastery
  • Chalon-sur-Saone, birthplace of photography, to visit museum of invention of photography
  • 15th century Hospice of Beaune
  • Dijon, Capital of Burgundy, with its Ducal Palace and vibrant shopping streets

An upper deck double cabin on Libellule has a large window

 

Itinerary

Cruising on LIBELLULE
Saone River from Lyon to St-Jean-de-Losne
Beaujolais and Burgundy Regions

SATURDAY
Meet fellow travellers at Hotel Régina in Paris at 1:00 pm to transfer to Gare de Lyon rail station and board the TGV high-speed train to Lyon. On arrival, transfer to 'Libellule,' moored in the heart of the city, for a welcome apéritif with time to relax before dinner.

SUNDAY
After breakfast, a walking tour of historic Lyon includes a visit to the oldest Renaissance district in France. After free time to explore as you choose, return to the barge for lunch and an afternoon cruise on the River Saône to the delightful riverside town of Trévoux.

MONDAY
A morning cruise takes you to Mâcon in the heart of the Beaujolais wine country. After lunch, visit a winegrower for a private tasting.

TUESDAY
Cruise to Tournus, once the seat of a large monastery and an important port on the River Saône. After lunch, visit Château du Cormatin, with its gilded interior and beautifully landscaped park, before returning to the barge.

WEDNESDAY
Today 'Libellule' cruises to Chalon-sur-Saône, a busy market town in the heart of Burgundy, where you visit the photography museum, a tribute to Nicéphore Niepce, who is credited with the invention of photography in the early 19th century. Then, drive to Beaune, capital of the Burgundy wine area, to visit the magnificent 15th-century charity hospital, Hôtel Dieu.

THURSDAY
After a morning cruise, visit Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, for a guided tour that shows you some of the city's fine medieval architecture, including the Ducal Palace built in 1682. There is free time (perhaps to visit the Grey Poupon mustard shop?) before you rejoin your barge in St-Jean-de-Losne for a farewell dinner on board.

FRIDAY
After breakfast, transfer to the rail station in Dijon to board the train for Paris, where your tour ends on arrival at Gare de Lyon rail station.

This route is run in reverse on alternate weeks and is subject to change at any time.

Floor Plan

 Libellule has double and twin cabins on two decks
Libellule has 1 double & 2 twins on the upper deck, 1 double & 6 twins on the lower deck.

Love to taste wine? Libellule offers wine departures throughout the season.