Ultra-luxury barge cruise line Belmond has launched a gastronomic six-night French voyage that will take guests to six different Michelin-starred restaurants, one for every night.

The ‘Epicurean Burgundy’ itinerary sails on the exclusive Belmond Napoleon from St- Jean-de-Losne to Lyon. The ship is Belmond’s largest in their fleet and has only six cabins carrying up to 12 passengers.

And the foodies are here for the real stars of the voyage, the Michelin-starred restaurants. The six different restaurants boast a cumulative 12 stars, including two three-Michelin-starred restaurants.

Three Michelin stars is the highest honour a restaurant can receive, awarding “exceptional cuisine” that is “worth a special journey”.

The first stop is two Michelin-starred lunch at La Côte Saint-Jacques, just outside of Auxerre. The restaurant is nestled within a five-star retreat on the River Yonne and Chef Jean-Michel Lorain conjures up dishes that are colourful, playful and surprising in their simplicity, putting quality ingredients in the spotlight. His specialities include Back from the Islands rosette of lobster and fresh palm nut salad, and egg parfait with white Alba truffles and puy green lentils.

As you continue cruising along the River Saone to Seurre, you then arrive at your first three Michelin-starred restaurant, Maison Lameloise in Chagny. Lunch features the best of local tradition such as the Burgundy snail tart, among the stone and wooden beams that honour Burgundian heritage.

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On day three, lunch at one-star Le Jardin des Remparts which serves modern dishes that feature seasonal and locally-sourced produce, after a morning exploration of Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy.

At Tournus, guests will be enjoying dinner at Aux Terrasses. Taste chef Jean-Michel Carrete’s bold dishes like charcoal-grilled octopus and hay-smoked pigeon at the restaurant that is set in a contemporary boutique hotel the centre of Tournus.

Guests can then look forward to the second three-starred restaurant of the itinerary, the world-famous Restaurant Georges Blanc in Vonnas. The restaurant has kept its three Michelin stars since 1981, and it has also built up a reputation for revisiting classics in impeccable style. Think Bresse chicken reimagined or a reworking of the Vonnas pancakes Blanc’s grandmother used to make.

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The final restaurant is Restaurant Paul Bocuse in Lyon, holder of two Michelin stars. Highlights include black truffle soup – created for French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1975; sea bass in a puff pastry shell, and turbot with champagne sauce and more.

The itinerary departs August 9, 2020 and you can sail on this superstar culinary journey from $11,955pp.