In this new episode of Rick Steves' Europe, we set a course on a tranquil cruise of the rivers and canals of France's Burgundy region. Aboard a century-old barge-turned-hotel, we're treated to a relaxing pace and natural beauty — plus plenty of gourmet meals and fine wine. Stops for a hike or bike ride help us work up our next appetite, and a château lord welcomes us to taste the vintages of the famed Côte d'Or. Check your local public television station for airdates and times, stream with PBS P

This week on the Travel with Rick Steves radio show: It's a bane to most visitors, but once a week the Louvre takes a day to maintain its magical grandeur. A Paris-based journalist lets us in on what happens behind closed doors at the city's grandest museum when it shuts to the public each Tuesday. And the last apprentice to be trained in the medieval techniques of masonry in Tuscany reveals guild secrets and how to enjoy stonework that’s often all around and underneath you. Find your local stat

We’re celebrating our new season of Rick Steves’ Europe — 12 new travel shows airing on public television all over the USA — by giving away the store. Each week, we’re awarding a $200 gift card to one Facebook friend. The winner can use the card at www.ricksteves.com/shop to stock up on guidebooks, travel gear, and luggage for their next adventure. In this episode, we do a lot of eating and drinking. Franklin is full of cultural insights via cuisine. The drunks at Oreste’s bar can't stop singing