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CONTACT Bourgogne Tourisme Tel: +33 3 80 28 02 80 Fax: +33 3 80 28 03 00 www.burgundy-tourism.com

Bateau Who Knows

Tel: + 33 611 853 249 /

+44 (0)7766 455 933

Email: contact@charterbarge.com www.charterbarge.com

Once you allow yourself to become accustomed to travelling at a snail’s pace, it is a liberating experience, which is why journeying by barge is unbeatably genteel, especially when you’re spared all the chores. This is the case aboard the Bateau Who Knows: a captained vessel that travels the narrow canals and rivers of Burgundy (Bourgogne) at a sedate 5 kph (3 mph). The Who Knows’ name is a literal translation of the Dutch ‘Wie Zalt Weten’, giving a clue as to the past life of this 1930’s Dutch-built grain ferry. Now English-owned, the nomadic Who Knows is content to meander along Burgundy’s centuries-old waterways, her distinctive dark wood panelling and sleek, curvaceous shape ensuring she is one of the finest classic cruisers in France. Pretty stone villages, medieval châteaux, ancient market towns and lily-topped reservoirs are just a few of the canalside attractions. Raise a glass to the upcoming vintage as you pass wine terraces at a leisurely pace. Time is a plentiful luxury on this unhurried, almost trance-like voyage in a region where impeccable wines and a grandiose history combine to much aplomb.

Routes meander around the waterways of the Ouche Valley past a land of Roman-era bridges, half-timbered houses, Cistercian monasteries and romantic fortified castles perched high above the canal. Numerous lock transits allow ample opportunities to disembark for a stroll along the tow path – on foot or on two wheels. Watching the world glide by is a much-underrated pursuit, but one that is fully enjoyed amid steep-sided riverbanks and thick deciduous forest where wild boar and deer roam. Visit the 15th-century wine presses of Clos du Vougeot and the producers of Nuits Saint Georges before marvelling at cellars at Patriarche Pere et Fils – home to 4 million bottles.

The Who Knows’ three air-conditioned double cabins are equipped with en-suite shower rooms, with a comfortable lounge, library and music room on board. A 30 sq m (323 sq ft) contemporary stainless steel canopy complements an adjoining suntrap. Dine on dishes from France’s gastronomic hinterland, cooked using fresh local produce, sample fine wines and enjoy traditional recipes with baskets of fresh crusty bread delivered each day. Highlights include Burgundian oeufs en meurette (eggs poached in red wine with bacon), washed down with a fine Côte de Beaune, Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Pouilly Fuissé or Mâcon and accompanied by a side order of ever-changing views.

Create your own tales from the riverbank; indulge in a little romance as you glide lazily past an ever-changing vista.