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Our waterway cruises Burgundy

Hire a licence free boat in Burgundy

With no less than 1,200 km of nav­i­ga­ble water­ways, Bur­gundy is undoubt­ed­ly the region of choice for riv­er tourism enthusiasts.

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Our favourite boats in Burgundy

Discover Burgundy by boat

Sud Nivernais — Loire Valley

Châtillon-en-Bazois is situated at the transition point between the Nivernais and the Morvan in a green setting that’s well worth discovering. The Nivernais canal flows through villages, châteaux, valleys, plains and hills, forests and rivers. Decize is situated at the junction of the Nivernais canal and canal Latéral à la Loire, where various waterways come together. Romantic walks, gourmet stopping points and historical walks await as you travel up the Loire towards Nevers and then the vineyards of Sancerre.
 

South Burgundy

Digoin is a waterway navigation hub, located at the heart of Charolais with its famous white cattle, as well as at the confluence of 3 canals. To the south, the Roanne-Digoin Canal, also called "the quiet canal", offers a shaded circuit, inviting you to moor up in the wild natural setting of Brionnais, by the Loire, where the cattle are fattened. To the east, the Canal du Centre flows from Loire en Saône, cutting through the valley of ceramics as it crosses Paray-le-Monial, a fine example of Burgundian Romanesque art. It then takes you through the Maranges and Côtes Châlonnaises winegrowing areas. Towards the North West, the Canal Latéral à la Loire goes through Bourbonnais towards towns of art and history such as Decize and Nevers.
 

Nivernais Morvan

Coulanges-sur-Yonne: your dream destination at the gateway to the Morvan Regional Nature Park. Take to the waters of the Nivernais Canal, probably the most beautiful canal in France. It connects the Loire basin to that of the Seine, running through protected areas where the natural environment is of incredible quality. Steeped in history and tradition, this canal, dating back to the late 18th century, will share with you its history as a key wood transportation route from Morvan to the capital.

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Must-see places for a successful stay

Frequently asked questions

As its name suggests, the Burgundy canal is located in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. It begins at Migennes in the Yonne department (89), where it meets the Yonne river, and ends at Saint-Jean-de-Losne in the Côte-d'Or department (21), where it meets the Saône river. It passes through Dijon, the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy.
The Canal de Bourgogne is often used to refer to the many and varied canals of Burgundy: The Canal Latéral à la Loire, the Canal du Nivernais, the Canal du Centre, the Canal de Roanne à Digoin and the Canal de Bourgogne.
The Burgundy canal is a very popular choice for a holiday on a licence free houseboat. Burgundy's gastronomy and vineyards make it a favourite destination for gourmets and food lovers from France and abroad. The Burgundy Canal winds its way through the heart of the Burgundy countryside, where nature takes centre stage. Every kilometre and every village crossed is a marvel. Around Dijon, the landscape is more urbanised, but a stop at the Port du Canal in Dijon is a must if you want to discover the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy.
Les Canalous offers you different models of licence free houseboat to cruise on the Burgundy canal, for a weekend, a mini week, a week or more, with, for example, a 5-week tour of Burgundy by boat.
The nearest licence-free houseboat hire base to the Burgundy canal is in Pontailler-sur-Saône, in the Côte-d'Or department. A day's sailing will take you to Saint-Jean-de-Losne on the River Saône, where you can take the Canal de Bourgogne.
You can hire a licence free houseboat from Les Canalous with any experience. On the day of your arrival, we'll give you a course on how to steer and handle the boat, so you can enjoy your holiday with family or friends on the water.
The Canal du Nivernais is located in Burgundy, straddling the departments of Nièvre (58) and Yonne (89). It links the Loire at Decize to the Yonne at Auxerre.
The Canal du Nivernais has been dubbed ‘the most beautiful canal in Europe’. It passes through landscapes each more bucolic than the last, and is a paradise for nature lovers.
One of the must-sees on the Canal du Nivernais is certainly the Collancelle vaults, a navigable part of the Canal du Nivernais that is only accessible by boat.
The Canal du Nivernais has a rich history, which includes the floating of timber, cut from the forests of the Morvan and transported to the Paris region by water. Clamecy tells the story.
Les Canalous offers you a week's one-way trip between the boat hire base at Chatillon-en-Bazois and the base at Mailly-le-Château. This stretch of the Canal du Nivernais is not to be missed.
The Canal du Centre is located in Burgundy, in the department of Saône-et-Loire (71). It links the Saône at Chalon-sur-Saône to the Loire at Digoin. Its route crosses part of the Côte Chalonnaise, then the Charolais region, a breeding area par excellence.
The Briare canal crosses the departments of Loiret (45), in the Centre region, and Yonne (89) in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. It links the Loire at Briare to the Seine at Loing. It is one of the oldest canals in France, and the 1st to have been built with a shared reach.
The Briare canal bridge allows boats to cross the Loire on the Canal Latéral à la Loire. The Briare canal bridge was built between 1890 and 1896, notably by Gustave Eiffel's workshops for the masonry piers. Listed as a historic monument since 1976, the Briare canal bridge is the longest bridge-canal in France, and for a long time was the longest bridge-canal in the world, at 662 linear metres.
The Seille is a river that flows through the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, in the departments of Saône-et-Loire, Jura and Ain. Only a small part of the Seille is navigable in the Bresse bourguignonne region of Saône-et-Loire, between the communes of Truchère, near Tournus, and Louhans.

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