Just an hour south of Paris, you are in the land of canals, vineyards, and vast forests.
Burgundy is traversed by several watersheds. Its rivers flow either into the Mediterranean via the Saône and then the Rhône, into the Atlantic via the Loire, or into the English Channel via the Seine.
You can navigate small rivers like the Yonne or the Loire and Seine rivers, as well as numerous lateral or connecting canals.
The spiritual center of the world with Cluny and Taizé; the center of the wine world with Chardonnay, Gamay, Pommard, Beaune; the center of the gastronomic world with Bocuse, Bernard Loiseau, Troisgros restaurants, Bresse chickens, Charolais beef, Burgundy is practically the geographic center of the world. Very close to the Mediterranean, a few hours from Germany or Switzerland, the suburbs of Paris, this transit region will be very accessible for you whether by car, train, plane, or boat.
Wild small rivers, majestic and calm large rivers, lateral canals, connecting canals, canal bridges, trenches, tunnels, lock stairs, in Burgundy, a complete representation of everything human ingenuity has been able to invent and build over the centuries to control waterways and allow river transport by connecting different basins. You will stroll in the rich valleys or climb the hillsides bordered by vineyards.
Discover our explanations to understand the differences between river and canal navigation.
The Burgundy Canals are part of the Burgundy Franche-Comté destination that we offer for your next river cruise.
The Burgundy Canals all provide access to the Saône Valley and Franche Comté, two regions also fully open to river tourism where we also offer a wide range of license-free houseboat rentals, barges, and Pénichette® of all types.
Must-see places on the Burgundy Canals by boat
- With Bresse chickens, Charolais beef, Franche-Comté cheeses, Dijon mustard, pike, zander, crayfish, and other products from its many rivers, all paired with the most prestigious wines in the world, Burgundy has become the capital of gastronomy. Large and small restaurants await you, you will have no shortage of choices.
- Burgundy, far from major industrial centers but open to the outside world thanks to its numerous communication routes, has remained rural and preserved its many villages and small towns while evolving and equipping itself with the most modern facilities. You will be warmly welcomed and will lack for nothing.
- Not being enclosed by natural borders, Burgundy has always been open to the outside world, which has certainly been the source of its great wealth.
Material wealth but also spiritual wealth since the monks of Cluny built in 910 what became the most powerful Benedictine abbey in the West.
In 1940, Brother Roger founded an ecumenical community in Taizé that radiates worldwide. More recently, in 1987, the Dakchan Kagyu Ling congregation founded the largest Buddhist center in Europe in Burgundy.
- Populated since the dawn of time, you will find traces of all the civilizations that built Burgundy: Azé and Solutré for the earliest settlements, Alésia and Bibracte for the Gauls; Cluny, Cîteaux, and Vézelay, one of the starting points of the mythical Way of Saint James classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The famous castles have housed great figures like Vauban, Colette, Lamartine, Mme de Sévigné who have left their mark on Burgundian culture.
On the Burgundy canals, all accessible without a license, you won't run out of activities during your cruise.
Some stops on your cruise on the Burgundy Canals
Burgundy Canal
Connecting the Yonne Valley to the Saône Valley, the Burgundy Canal (242 km and 189 mechanized locks) follows the Armançon Valley before tackling the "Burgundy threshold" which it crosses at Pouilly-en-Auxois through a 3300-meter-long tunnel. Along this route, the Burgundy Canal crosses several regions: the Tonnerrois and its princely castles of Tanlay and Ancy-le-Franc, the Auxois, its exceptional Cistercian abbey of Fontenay, the site of Alésia, and the medieval city of Châteauneuf, Dijon, and the Saône plain.
Migennes. The city in the countryside, intersection between the Yonne River and the Burgundy Canal, you will navigate through rich cultivated valleys, hillside vineyards, and gastronomy.
Saint-Pancrace Church (13th century), Christ-Roi Church 1930 (characteristic bell tower), Romanesque Church of Laroche-Saint-Cydroine (former Cluny priory) 3 km away, Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny 20 km away.
Brienon-Sur-Armancon. Beautiful monuments have survived the serious fires that ravaged the city in the 17th and 18th centuries, notably the large oval washhouse from 1792 located in the upper town.
The large port is well-equipped, you will find a pétanque field, a barbecue, and a small supermarket and wine cellar a few meters away.
Tonnerre. Built on Montbellant and combining historical heritage and vineyards, the heart of the city has preserved monuments from the Middle Ages and introduces you to historical, political, or artistic figures.
This city is at the center of a small wine region that produces excellent red and rosé wines under the "Bourgogne Epineuil" appellation.
Not to be missed in this discreetly charming city are the old Hospices created by Marguerite of Burgundy in 1293 (titled by marriage, Queen of Navarre then Queen of France).
Tanlay. Located a few kilometers from Tonnerre, Tanlay is dominated by its Renaissance-style castle surrounded by moats and is famous for its trompe-l'œil gallery.
Ancy le Franc. This canton is strongly marked by the presence of stone extracted from the quarries of Cry sur Armançon or Ravières. This limestone was used to build the Renaissance castles of Ancy le Franc and Nuits sur Armançon, but also to construct the numerous washhouses now perfectly restored.
Its heritage is rich and varied: castles, washhouses, churches, ...
Montbard. This metallurgical city was the birthplace of the famous naturalist Buffon, and many sites in the city are dedicated to him. The Buffon Park, the Buffon Chapel, the Buffon Hotel.
Venarey Les Laumes. This village of 3000 inhabitants is located 15 km southeast of Montbard and 65 km northwest of Dijon.
Alise Ste Reine: Considered the presumed site of the Battle of Alésia which opposed Caesar's Roman troops to those of Vercingetorix in 52 BC, Alise Ste Reine has retained great historical wealth and is a tourist stop not to be missed.
The site of Alésia: oppidum, remains of a Gallo-Roman town, the monumental statue of Vercingetorix, commissioned by Napoleon III in 1865.
Pouilly En-Auxois. Located at the high point of the canal, at the watershed that feeds the English Channel, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean via rivers and streams.
The Pouilly Tunnel. 3300 meters long, it was created in 1826 and connects the Seine to the Saône.
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois. You can park at the foot of the village and strolling through the town is a real pleasure despite the slope to access it.
The 12th-century castle and the houses of the same era surrounding it.
Fleurey-sur-Ouche. This village, located near (west of) Dijon, is traversed, as its name suggests, by the Ouche River and the Burgundy Canal.
Dijon. Prefecture of the Burgundy region and the Côte-d'Or department, Dijon is renowned for its mustard and crème de Cassis. One of its mayors gave his name to an aperitif, the Kir, composed of aligoté white wine and crème de cassis.
The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, the Fine Arts Museum, the Ste Bénigne Cathedral, and its Romanesque crypt.
St Jean De Losne. Located at the intersection of the Burgundy Canal and the Saône, this place was once used for storing floating wood.
The port now houses a significant fleet of pleasure boats.
Nivernais Canal
174 km - 108 locks. This canal connects the Loire Valley to the Seine Valley.
Auxerre. Main town of the Yonne department, Auxerre is located 160 km from Paris, 155 km from Dijon and Orléans. 3rd city in Burgundy after Dijon and Chalon sur Saône, it has been classified as a City of Art and History since 1995.
The city is globally known for its wines, particularly the Chablis vineyards located a few kilometers away.
River activity has always played an important role due to the traffic of wood from Morvan to Paris. Today exclusively touristy, the Nivernais Canal is part of the city's heritage.
Saint-Etienne Cathedral; half-timbered houses; the Saint-Germain Museum, the Natural History Museum, or the Leblanc-Duvernoy Museum, the Clock Quarter.
Vincelles. Small quiet and green village, Vincelles has retained its rural aspect.
Vermenton. To reach this village, don't forget to turn at the junction and continue your cruise for 4 km. Notre Dame Church; Washhouse; Meridian Tower.
Châtel Censoir. Fairy Grotto. This village will delight walking enthusiasts with many walks. Saint-Potentien Church; remains of the castle; Rock called "the Turning Stone," at the entrance to the Ausson Valley.
Coulanges Sur Yonne. Small green village located between the Frétoy Forest and the Chapornot Forest.
Clamecy-Chevroches. Clamecy is a magnificent little town. Romain Rolland Art and History Museum, Church. Guédelon Castle: construction of a medieval castle in progress using medieval techniques.
Tannay. Village where you discover white wine thanks to a good exposure of the hillsides. The Vine House; Saint-Léger Collegiate Church.
Chitry Les Mines - Corbigny. Commune where it is good to moor for a small walk. Chitry Castle. In Corbigny, 3 km from the base: Former Echevins Hotel; Saint-Léonard Abbey, Four Winds Tower, ...
Châtillon en Bazois. Village where you will find a very pleasant river stop. Châtillon en Bazois Castle: visits to parks and gardens by appointment.
Cercy La Tour. Village with a remarkable view of the valley. Tower of the old Castle, Coddes Castle, Saint-Pierre Fountain, Romanesque church.
Decize. Charming small town located at the crossroads of the Nivernais Canal and the Lateral Canal to the Loire. Saint-Aré Church and its crypt, the ramparts, the Marquis d'Ancre gate and tower, the Halles promenade, the ruins of the old castle.
Lateral Canal to the Loire
The lateral canal to the Loire, opened in 1838, is a hydraulic work that goes from Digoin to Briare. 196 km long, it starts in Burgundy in the Saône-et-Loire department, crosses the Nièvre, penetrates the Centre region, and joins the Briare Canal southeast of Loiret.
Briare. This small town with a river past is rich in discoveries. You can discover many historical monuments such as the 1896 Canal Bridge, the 18th-century Lords' Castle, Saint-Etienne Church...
Châtillon-Sur-Loire. The city of Châtillon sur Loire has a rather eventful past. You can see this by strolling and discovering the ruins of a castle, a large cemetery, a Protestant temple. You will also find merchants who will be happy to introduce you to the specialties of the region.
Beaulieu. Small village in the Loire Valley where you will discover Giennois hillside wines, goat cheeses, and pâté aux truches, a regional specialty.
Belleville Sur Loire. The Loire House, an exhibition on the fauna and flora of the Loire Valley and the trades practiced by the river population.
Cosne Cours Sur Loire. 2.5 km from the river stop, you can do your market on Sunday morning.
Sancerre. This city at the center of a renowned vineyard overlooks the splendid panorama of the Loire Valley from its rocky peak at 312 meters altitude.
Ménétréol sous Sancerre.. Several cellars are located in this small village.
La Charite-Sur-Loire. This city is 2.5 km from the Loire. You can, for example, go there by bike or on foot. You will discover a magnificent stone bridge dating from the 16th century. La Charité-sur-Loire developed around a Cluniac priory and two churches erected by monks in 1059, all protected by ramparts. The Church of Notre-Dame, the largest in Europe after the Cluny Abbey, was built from the 11th century.
Marseilles-Lès-Aubigny. The lateral canal that digs its trench opens Marseilles-lès-Aubigny from south to north. All kinds of birds, migratory or sedentary, beavers at work, patient waders, playful gulls, a whole fauna is active along the watercourse.
Calm, Marseilles-lès-Aubigny certainly is. This small village lives without horns or sterile agitation, a simple and pleasant life. The town center offers its shops and services, complete and useful. The outskirts host charming houses, always flowery and well-kept.
Nevers-Plagny. Plagny is located not far from the famous Magny-Cours circuit. You will find a go-kart track open to the public.
Nevers is classified as a city of art and history. The city of Nevers or the city of the Dukes belongs to the Federation of Cluniac Sites, a crossroads of an important religious and monastic movement, the Shrine of Saint Bernadette (of Bernadette Soubirous) is one of its most remarkable testimonies.
Decize. Decize is a pretty little town built on an island in the Loire. You will find a well-equipped small port, as well as shops and supermarkets that will offer you everything you need, even on Sunday mornings.
Dompierre Sur Besbre. At the end of this branch, you can moor there and then, 8 km away, spend an unforgettable day at the amusement park: Le Pal.
Digoin. The main activity of the town is the creation of ceramic articles. You will find several shops offering locally made products as well as the Ceramics Museum. The Observaloire, Loire Museum, the canal bridge.
Roanne to Digoin Canal
The Roanne to Digoin Canal extends the Lateral Canal to the Loire towards its terminus in the town of Roanne.
With a total length of 55 km, the canal has several interesting structures, eleven manual locks compensate for a total height of 37.27 m.
The navigation is peaceful and the landscapes pleasant, you will never be far from the Loire as the canal is always nearby.
Digoin. The main activity of the town is the creation of ceramic articles. You will find several shops offering locally made products as well as the Ceramics Museum.
Don't miss the Observaloire, a real Loire museum at the end of the canal bridge on the right bank.
Indulge in the famous Charolais meat or the "Canalou plate," a mix of pike, zander, salmon, and eel with a red wine sauce.
Marcigny. 2.5 km from the canal, the center of this pretty little town is made up of half-timbered houses from the 11th century and 18th-century mansions.
Melay. You can visit an impressive 1683 press: this building also hosts temporary exhibitions on various subjects.
Iguerande. In his artisanal oil mill, Mr. Leblanc presses delicious table oils the old-fashioned way from walnuts, almonds, peanuts... Not to be missed!
Briennon. You can dock in the very pretty port of this small village. The place is pleasant, and you will find all services there.
Malby. Very close to the nautical stop, is the Maya Museum dedicated to beekeeping.
Roanne. An important center for boating, Roanne marks the upstream limit of the navigable Loire. The port is fully equipped for pleasure boating. Docking is paid, but the prices are very reasonable.
This is where you will find one of the best restaurants in France, the famous Maison Troisgros, proudly displaying its three Michelin stars.
Canal du Centre
112 km - 61 mainly automatic locks and still some manual ones from Chalon sur Saône to Digoin.
The work was carried out between 1783 and 1793 and this canal was called the Charolais Canal and even "longpendu," named after the pond chosen to supply it with water.
Digoin. The hub of river navigation, located in the heart of Charolais with its famous white cattle, but also at the confluence of 3 canals.
To the south, the Roanne to Digoin Canal, also called the "quiet canal," a shaded route in the Brionnais grazing lands, along the Loire which invites wild mooring. To the east, the Canal du Centre, which, passing from the Loire to the Saône, follows the valley of ceramics, crossing Paray le Monial, a high place of Burgundian Romanesque art to reach the vineyards.
To the northwest, the Lateral Canal to the Loire leads through Bourbonnais to the towns of art and history such as Decize or Nevers.
The canal bridge, the Ceramics Museum, the Costume Museum through the ages, and the tools of yesteryear museum, the observatory.
Paray le Monial. Two well-equipped and shaded docks provide access to the center of Paray and its beautiful monuments. Romanesque Basilica from the 11th and 12th centuries. The Romay Chapel, the Colombière Chapel, the Paul-Charnoz Ceramics Museum, the St. Nicolas Tower, the Jayet House facade.
Palinges. The Château de Digoine (18th century), the House of Arts and Popular Traditions houses a collection of ornamental pottery.
Montceau les Mines. This mining town developed in the 19th century when coal was extracted in enormous quantities from the Blanzy vein. Despite this past, the town is pleasant and well worth a stop.
Temple of a Thousand Buddhas: 1st Buddhist temple in Europe (near Toulon sur Arroux: 22 km from Montceau les Mines).
Fossil Museum, School House Museum, War Memorial (Place de l'Eglise): last work of Antoine Bourdelle (disciple of Rodin).
Montchanin. Set in a green setting, a small town of 770 hectares, is a great place to welcome. Between 1858 and 1967, the Great Tile Factory of Burgundy produced in Montchanin the famous diamond-shaped tiles so typical of Burgundy as well as other decorative roofing and facade elements.
Ecuisses. At the entrances to the village, you will find on one side the Tourist House where the life of lock keepers is staged.
The canal museum, possibility to visit the barge "Armançon," the Villa Perrusson, a bourgeois house of style, a true catalog of the know-how of the time. Visits to the ground floor of the Villa and its exteriors are organized during the summer.
St Léger sur Dheune. This small town has a very well-located and equipped marina, as well as numerous shops. Start of the greenway to Chalon sur Saône.
The Château de Couches (former abbey transformed into a fortress in the 13th century) 6.5 km from St Léger du Dheune.
Santenay. This small wine village is a 15-minute walk from the canal. Its slopes produce high-quality wines that you must absolutely taste.
The Château de Philippe le Hardi with its powerful keep, the St. Jean de Narosse Church, Sorine Windmill.
Remigny. A small stop for this winemaking village known for both its white and red wines.
Chagny. Green holiday resort and famous gastronomic stop, located between the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise. In addition to its good wines, this small town is very well known for its restaurants, especially the famous Lameloise (3 Michelin stars), one of the best restaurants in France.
Rully. A small wine village before your arrival in Chalon sur Saône. For over 4 centuries, the winemakers of Rully have been producing a variety of great wines. In its cellars, you can taste excellent red wine made from Pinot Noir or Rully Blanc, which perfectly accompanies typical Burgundian dishes such as frog legs or snails. Rully is best known for its Crémant de Bourgogne, a sparkling white wine made from a blend of grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Aligoté. This wine is drunk as an aperitif, or with dessert or throughout the evening.
Châlon sur Saône. You will pass by the entrance of the old canal that used to cross the center of Chalon before taking the new section north of the city. The port is just behind Saint Laurent Island.
A city of art and history famous for its way of life and age-old traditions. Châlon sur Saône is an ideal destination for gourmet, wine lovers, and enthusiasts of art and historical heritage: visit Saint Laurent Island, Denon Museum (artworks), Nicéphore Niepce Museum (inventor of photography), Saint Vincent Cathedral, Saint Laurent Hospital and the old town.
Photos: Nicols, Locaboat, Les Canalous.