Springtime Barge Cruises: Burgundy in Bloom

Spring is an ideal time to visit Burgundy. Perfect for a barge cruise! Warming temperatures create perfect conditions for sightseeing and cycling alongside the canals. The hillsides are in bloom with colorful flowers, market squares return to life as town folks set up their open-air shops again, and the canal towpaths reward travelers with the pleasant sound of birdsong.

Burgundy in the springtime is a paradise for nature lovers. It is warm enough to sit topside and enjoy the sunshine, but cool enough that you’ll be able to take a comfortable stroll or bike ride. Birdsong really does fill the air. Perhaps you’ll spot a European green woodpecker or the elusive moorhen.

Above the water, mayflies and dragonflies will be making the most of their short lives, displaying and breeding while on the surface. The aptly named Water Boatmen use their long oar-like hind legs to row themselves across the water. Rushes will be home to bullfrogs while the bankside flowers attract numerous colorful butterflies such as the Peacock and Red Admiral.

Spring also brings blackthorn and wild cherries bursting into bloom along the banks, along with the verdant green willows and alders producing their furry catkins. Lines of chestnuts, poplars and plane trees will also be seen, often planted to provide shade. On the towpaths, flowers such as wild orchids, lilies, and yellow irises create a palette of colors.

What makes Burgundy such an attractive destination is this enchanting overlap of nature and the manmade world. You will find buildings that are centuries’ years old and ensconced in ivy, tiny quaint villages, and wild horses cavorting freely in the fields beyond the vineyards.

It’s a serene escape, and a chance to recharge, far from the madding crowds and tourist traps.

Our Burgundy barge cruises may vary in location but have many aspects in common such as daily excursions that include wine tastings, cultural tours, and gourmet meals prepared by on-board master chefs who love to showcase the gastronomic traditions of their region.

Among the barges having special offers & discounts this spring are:

• Barge La Belle Epoque in Northern Burgundy, cruising between Tanlay and Venarey-les-Laumes on the Canal de Bourgogne (up to 12 guests)
• Barge L’Art de Vivre in Northern Burgundy, cruising the Canal du Nivernais and River Yonne between Auxerre and Chevroches (up to 8 guests)
• Barge L’Impressionniste in Southern Burgundy, cruising between Fleurey-sur-Ouche and Escommes on the Canal de Bourgogne (up to 12 guests)
• Barge Finesse in Southern Burgundy, cruising between St-Julien-sur-Dheune and St-Jean-de-Losne (8 guests)
• Barge Renaissance in the Upper Loire and Western Burgundy, cruising between Châtillon-sur-Loire and Montargis (up to 8 guests)

• Destination: Burgundy
• Destination: Canal de Bourgogne
• Destination: Canal du Centre
• Destination: Canal du Nivernais
• Destination: Upper Loire & Western Burgundy

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