Cruise Description

6 Night Cruise sailing from St Jean-De-Losne to Lyon aboard Belmond Napolean Barge.

Discover the beautiful chateaux and picture-perfect villages along the River Saône as you journey to Lyon, France’s second city.

Treat your palate to some of the most celebrated cuisine in France as you cruise through glorious Burgundy landscapes, alighting for fascinating tours and private tastings.

Highlights of this cruise:

St Jean de Losne
St Jean de Losne is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France. It is about 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Dijon. It is located at the beginning of the Burgundy canal and is considered to be one of the capitals of the barging world.

In St Jean de Losne barges are always being built, rebuilt, repaired, sold or converted. It is a very busy place, however usually barges remain here if there is something wrong.

Macon
Macon is a small city (commune) in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. The city lies on the western bank of the Saône river, between Bresse in the East and the Beaujolais hills in the South. Mâcon is the southernmost city in the region of Burgundy. It is located 65 kilometres north of Lyon and 400 kilometres from Paris.

The center is the town’s shopping area. Most shops are located near the Town Hall (rue Carnot, rue Dufour, rue Sigorgne, rue Philibert-Laguiche, rue Dombert, rue Franche, the quay Lamartine, the esplanade Lamartine and rue de la Barre). It is also the historical center of the town. Most monuments are located in that area (Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, Church Saint Pierre...), as are the town’s two museums. The town centre consists of several districts which are all rather different from each other. With its Place aux Herbes, the Saint-Antoine district is the historic heart of Mâcon.

Lyon
Lyon is the third largest city in France and centre of the second largest metropolitan area in the country. It is the capital of the Rhone-Alpes region and the Rhône département. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France.

Lyon is shaped by its two rivers, the Rhône (to the East) and the Saône (to the West), which both run North-South. The main areas of interest are Fourvière hill, Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), Presqu'île, Croix-Rousse, Confluence, Part-Dieu, Brotteaux, Guillotière, Etats-Unis and Vaise.

There are many sights of interest in Lyon including the Roman ruins on the hillside near the Fourviere Basilica with the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, the Odeon of Lyon and the accompanying Gallo-Roman Museum, the Amphitheatre of the Three Gaul and the roman ruins of an amphiteatre. There are many churches dating back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance and buildings built in the 17th and 18th century.