All guests meet in the capital city of the historical Burgundy region in eastern France, Dijon, and are transferred to Finesse by an air-conditioned minibus. The crew welcomes you with chilled champagne. You have enough time to wander along the towpath and admire the classic Burgundy scenery before having your first dinner on board. 

Finesse begins its voyage through Southern Burgundy, passing Canal du Centre through heaving countryside to moor at St-Leger-sur-Dheune. There are plenty of villages to explore, which is why you go down a series of locks to disembark so you can start your excursion. Some of the points of interests in St-Leger-sur-Dheune are Domaine de la Monette, Bernard Regnaudot, Chofflet Valdenaire Denis, and Jean-Claude Regnaudot et Fils. After an appetizing lunch on board, visit the 14th-century Château de Germolles, the best preserved of the residences of the Dukes of Burgundy, with its ducal chapel, medieval wall paintings, and romantic gardens.
 

Finesse heads to Autun, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. This is also a town of ancient origins with Roman gates and a 17,000 seat amphitheater. Autun was established to be a market town for livestock farmers of the Morvan. Visit the cathedral built in the 12th century that is renowned for its architecture and position on the pilgrims’ route from Vezelay to Santiago de Compestela in Spain. By noon, return to the hotel barge to have your lunch before cruising to Remigny and passing along the famous wine-producing village of Santenay. 

Breakfast is served on board before the excursion starts with a drive through the Côte de Beaune vineyards to Beaune, a walled town at the center of the Burgundy winemaking region in France. A former charitable almshouse founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin in Beaune, France, is also visited as part of the Buaune's tour. You can stop by the old-fashioned and unique shops of the town before heading to Michelin-starred restaurant Le Montrachet to have a fantastic lunch. You then return to the barge for another cruise that will pass through the charming little town of Chagny near the village of Rully. 

The journey continues cruising along Canal du Centre at a relaxed pace to moore at the village of Fragnes, a former commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. This is the perfect time for you to walk or cycle along the towpath. Be escorted on a winery tour and tasting at the 17th century Château de Chamirey in Mercurey, which the Devillard family has owned for five generations.

This morning, make the final cruise of the week, passing through the last lock on the canal which lowers us an impressive 35 feet. Then head out onto the peaceful River Saône and turn downstream to your mooring at Chalon-sur-Saône with its elegant waterfront, imposing cathedral and opportunities for some last shopping.  After lunch on board, visit Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin (translates as “Fraternity of Knights of the Wine-Tasting Cup”), who award a special prized label to the finest Côte d‘Or vintages every year. Continue along the Route des Grands Cru through the Côte de Nuits, before returning to Finesse. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Dijon.