Papillon
Bike & Barge Cruise in Burgundy

Passengers: 4 - 6	English Speaking Crew of: 4
Size: 100 feet long	Bicycles: 6
Last Visited: 2011	Air Conditioned: Yes
Rating: Deluxe

2013 Rates For a Six Night Bike & Barge cruise

Whole Boat Charter of 4: $26,600

Papillon

Bike & Barge Burgundy Cruise Itinerary

Pont de Panay to Marigny le Cahouet
All of the bike rides will be in the Côte dʼOr department of Burgundy to the west of Dijon and north of Beaune. During the tour, your hotel-barge ʻPapillonʼ will cruise from Pont de Pany near Dijon to Marigny-le-Cahouet near Montbard. This really is a rare opportunity to combine a serious bike tour with a great barge cruise in the lap of luxury. Each day, when the pedaling is over, what better way to relax than with a book,on deck, sipping a glass of Burgundy or having a massage as you cruise the wonderful waterways of France?

Sunday: Paris to Pont de Panay

Extra Excursion to Chateau-Vaux-le-Vicomte

You will be met at your hotel in Paris at 1 pm for the 3 hour drive to Burgundy. On the way we will visit the fabulous Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte - a mini rival to Versailles. Board ʻPapillonʼ at about 6 pm for a Champagne welcome and introduction to her crew - time to settle in before dinner.

Monday: Pont de Panay to Gissey-sur-Ouche

1st Bike Day: 22 miles with one category 3 climb (2.5 miles)

After breakfast Papillon will start cruising along the Canal de Bourgogne. Tim will join us this morning for a chat about our biking program. Lunch will be on the early side, so that we can be in Beaune when shops re-open to get fitted out with our bikes. Pedaling out of town we will head straight into the vineyards of Savigny-les-Beaune before steadily climbing up the delightful valley of the river Rhoin with its dramatic limestone cliffs, and on to the quiet village of Bouilland. Maybe take a drink in the café prior to attacking our main climb of the day, the meandering ʻCombe de Naltʼ. Having conquered this hill, we can relax as the countryside opens out and treats us to some magnificent views; passing through St Jean de Boeuf we will then head down into the Ouche valley before rejoining Papillon moored near the village of Gissey-sur-Ouche.

Tuesday: Gissey-sur-Ouche to Veuvey-sur-Ouche

2nd Bike Day: 27 miles with one category 5 climb (1 mile) & one category 3 climb (2.5 miles)

An early morning cruise before we step ashore at one of the locks and bike along the canal towing path to the village of La Bussière. We now part company with the canal and climb towards the village of Commarin, where we can refuel with the locals in the bar beside the château. Our next stop is the lake at Panthier, one of several reservoirs completed in the early 1840ʼs to supply the canal with sufficient water for the then heavy commercial barge traffic; today it is an oasis for sailing and anglers. Time now to pull out all the stops and tackle our most challenging climb of the day up to the imposing hilltop village of Châteauneuf, rated as one of the most attractive villages in France. From here the views of the Auxois are splendid and there is the perfect spot to enjoy a gourmet picnic driven and delivered from the Papillon by Ollie. Having descended to yet another château, St.Sabine, we continue through several villages before rejoining the barge for a stretch of very beautiful and relaxing cruising. Cocktails and dinner on deck whilst the white Charollais munch their way across the adjacent green slopes.

Wednesday: Lussigny-sur-Ouche to Pont d'Ouche

3rd bike day: AM - 29 miles with three category 5 climbs (each about 1 mile) PM - 33 miles with one category 4 climb (3 miles) & two category 5 climbs (each 1 mile)

Today we offer ʻle Crunchʼ, a 100 kilometre monster! Itʼs your chance to cycle through virtually the entire wine cellar of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits with all the famous names along the way. There is the option of biking just in the morning or the afternoon, or not at all if you prefer to use this middle day as a rest day since Papillon will be covering some interesting ground, climbing to the summit level of the canal and then passing through a 2 mile tunnel! This morningʼs ride starts in the charming little riverside village of Lussigny sur Ouche. We follow the route taken by the 2007 tour de France (Wiggins break away) to Ivry en Montagne, then onto Nolay and the fabulous views from the ʻmontain des trois croixʼ before dropping down through the Maranges appelation vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. The rest of this ride reads like the wine list from one of the finest cellars in the world....Santenay, Chassagne Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Auxey Duresses, Monthelie, Volnay; and in case thatʼs not enough to wet the appetite, we have a bistro lunch waiting for us in Pommard. After lunch we circumvent Beaune by biking a lovely scenic route through Bouze les Beaune in the Haute Côte. There are two significant hills to negotiate; after the first one, we drop down through Ladoix Serrigny and then to Pernand Vergelesses before approaching the gentle four mile category 5 climb up to Echevrone and Meuilly. The following descent to Nuits St Georges will put us en route for the very best of the Côtes de Nuits vineyards: Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-St-Denis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Fixin and Marsannay. Weʼll complete our ride on the outskirts of Dijon, and with a suitable beverage or two, celebrate what is a magnificent achievement to be remembered! The minibus will transport us back to Papillon and civilized living.

Thursday: Pont d'Ouche to Pouilly-en-Auxois

4th Bike Day: 28 miles with one category 4 climb (2 miles)

This morning you can either take it easy and enjoy the cruising along the canal, or head out in the minibus to visit the inside of the château at Châteauneuf or Commarin or play a round of golf at the 18 hole course at the Château de Chailly. After lunch onboard and following the heroic exploits of yesterday, we embark on a gentle ride towards the Morvan National Park. We start with some delightful villages, Chailly-sur-Armançon, Mont St Jean and La Motte Ternant before the landscape changes to the extensive conifer forests so typical of the Morvan; this is a slightly wild agricultural area which during the last couple of centuries has also provided Paris with all of its firewood and a convenient supply of wet nurses! As we head back to Papillon weʼll pass through Thorey-sous-Charny where a small but vivid revival of traditional wine making is underway. There are currently only 3 vineyards in the Auxois, and whilst the one at Thorey is the smallest, itʼs also the best - and not many people know about it! Weʼll walk amongst the vines, help with the picking if itʼs harvest time and then enjoy a sample back in the village amongst the barrels. Papillon is nearby and dinner is in the oven.


Friday: Pont Royal to Marigny-le-Cahouet

5th Bike Day: 35 miles with two category 5 climbs (each 1¼ miles), one category 4 climb (2 miles) and one category 3 climb (2 miles)

Soon after breakfast Papillon will approach Pont Royal where we will take off for our final ride. Our first hill takes us to the picturesque village of Ste.Colombe before we descend to Marigny-le-Cahouet. Time now to skip valleys from the Armancon to the Brenne and then on up to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, another one of ʻles plus beaux villages de Franceʼ. ʻChocolatʼ was filmed here and the village still produces the little oval tins of ʻAnis de Flavignyʼ now found the world over. One shouldnʼt leave without visiting the 8th century crypt, and if weʼre lucky we might catch a glimpse of the current monks in their black cassocks playing football! Weʼll pedal on to our picnic spot below the statue of the leader of the Gauls, Vercingetorix, defeated here in 52 BC by Caesar. After lunch and another climb, time to pause and visit the ʻpotagerʼ/vegetable garden at the château of Lantilly. And then a wonderful ride down to an undiscovered gem - the walled medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois - experience the cobbled streets as did the French road cycling championships in 2008. Weʼll leave town in style riding the same route that the horses take each year for the ʻFête de la Bagueʼ, the second oldest horse race in Europe! The last few kilometres are along the canal towing path - just far enough to find Papillon and Celebrate!

Saturday: Return to Paris

A Sad Farewell

After breakfast, transfer by minibus to Paris to your hotel, train station or airport arriving during the traditional French lunch hour of 12 to 2 pm.

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Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks. Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Barging in Burgundy on the canals and waterways of France Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Papillon Guest Book

"We boarded Papillon in the afternoon taking a minute to admire the beautifully flowered deck before heading inside. As we stepped into the salon we were enveloped by the French country charm that oozes throughout Papillon. The attention to detail in the décor is apparent and second only to the attention to detail provided by Papillon’s wonderful crew. Captain Cedric, Host Emma and Chef Sarah truly went out of their way to pamper us! It is no wonder they are regarded as some of the top crew in barging.

We headed back to our cabins which were cozy, light and adorned with beautiful fabrics and wallpaper. The bathrooms are spacious and boast gorgeous tiling. I especially liked the convenience of having sink separate from the bathroom.

After getting settled, we sauntered up to the deck for an afternoon cruise to find afternoon tea and cookies awaiting us! I don’t think there is anything quite as relaxing as enjoying a cup of tea watching the beautiful Burgundy countryside float by. After tea we jumped off at a lock for a bicycle ride and a little exploring.

Chef Sarah wowed us at every meal. The duck breast with balsamic sauce she served as our main the first night melted in my mouth - it was impeccable! Our second night Sarah prepared an amazing pumpkin soup using pumpkins she had purchased on our trip to the Montbard market that morning. I don't think there was ever a spot of food left on either of our plates.

After we visited the Montbard market, Emma took us to the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois, where she gave us a walking tour and an opportunity to shop in some of the cute stores. (I picked up some black truffle seasoning salt and a fantastic almond apricot jam which is sadly already gone) When we returned Sarah had a delicious lunch of fresh salads, charcuterie, terrines and pates ready for us. After lunch Cedric took us to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontaney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the adorable village of Flavigny where the movie Chocolat was filmed. Even though we were only had two nights on Papillon, Sarah, Emma and Cedric made sure that we got the most out of those days. We felt like personal friends that had come to visit. We were very sad to leave come Saturday morning, but happy to have made new friends and wonderful memories aboard Papillon! "
- Barge Lady Creative Director Kelly Weiss and her mother Terri Snyder, August, 2011

"We had a wonderful time! The food, wine and cheese were all superb. The excursions hit all the high spots while being flexible on schedule. The crew went out of their way to take care of our every need. We felt like we had made four new friends by the end of the trip!"
- Nelson and Jane Schwab, cruised June, 2011

"The crew was terrific! The chef Sarah was outstanding. Our group had a great time and we would absolutely do it again"
- Dudley and Tina Taft, cruised June, 2011

"Thank you for booking such a great and unique trip for us. We truly had the best time. I would not have changed a thing. The crew was absolutely fantastic."
- Amerigo and Melissa Falciani, cruised May, 2011

"Unforgettable!!! I loved being up close and personable with the BEAUTIFUL countryside. I have raved to everyone about the crew, and all the beauty of my trip. It is just beyond words. I must add that the staff was delightful."
- Darla Ferronato, 2010

"We rate our cruise A+++! The crew was exceptional. Our guide Michael's knowledge brought life and perspective to the region's history. Chef Sarah's food was beautiful and delicious. Captain Cedric was delightful. This was an exceptional experience, never to be duplicated!"
-Susan Simper, 2010

Papillon Floor Plan

100 Feet long
One Double-bedded cabin - 107 sq ft
-107 sq feet
-Gorgeous spacious tiled bath
Two Twin-bedded cabins
-180 sq feet and 93 sq ft
-Gorgeous spacious tiled baths
In the Public Areas
-Salon/bar and
-Lovely separate dining room.
-French country ambiance.
-Re-decorated for the 2012 season
6 Bicycles
Light weight (25 lbs) hybrid bikes with an aluminum frame and a 27 speed Shimano Deore LX equipped groupset - ideal for road riding with the flexibility to cycle through vineyards and short sections off road on gravel paths.