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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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Discover Burgundy by boat

Burgundy

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.
 

Not to be missed

The highlights of Burgundy

So many good reasons to moor up and set off to explore.

Digoin Canal Bridge

Digoin Canal Bridge

The Digoin canal bridge allows the Canal Latéral à la Loire to cross the Loire river, allowing it to connect with the Canal du Centre a little further on, at Campionnet port in Digoin. It ends in a lock, from which it’s separated by a short crossing basin. It can only be accessed by boats or pedestrians, took 4 years to build and was completed in 1838.
Briare canal bridge

Briare canal bridge

Crossing the canal bridge: this superb metal structure, built in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel, spans the Loire over a length of 662 meters, making it one of the largest in the world. Whether you choose to sail south or north, this crossing is a must on your river cruise To-Do-List!
Auxerre and St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Auxerre and St. Stephen’s Cathedral

This cathedral is a model of elegance in the Gothic style with some remarkable bas-reliefs on its portals. The stained-glass windows in the choir and transept give the interior spaces a particular tone and constitute one of the most beautiful series of preserved stained-glass windows in France. It has been a protected historical monument since 1840 and is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
The castle of Châtillon en Bazois

The castle of Châtillon en Bazois

Get your cameras ready! You can't leave without taking a photo of your boat and its crew passing in front of the magnificent Château de Châtillon en Bazois. Take the time to enjoy a guided tour; the parks and gardens are remarkable.
The vaults of the Colancelle

The vaults of the Colancelle

In the heart of dense, lush vegetation, the Collancelle vaults appear out of nowhere. These three tunnels, measuring 758 m, 268 m and 212 m respectively, were dug by man to allow the canal to pass through. Built from cut stone, these arches are undoubtedly the most remarkable feat of engineering on the Canal du Nivernais. Here, you are cut off from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, in perfect harmony with nature, in a place sometimes nicknamed ‘Little Amazonia’...
Dijon

Dijon

A great place to start exploring the capital of Burgundy. Follow the owl trail and lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old town, sample regional specialities at one of Dijon's fine restaurants, then treat yourself to a visit to the newly renovated Museum of Fine Arts, or an opera, concert or ballet at the old theatre or auditorium!
The citadel of Besançon

The citadel of Besançon

At the exit of the Thoraise tunnel, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the citadel of Besançon. Continue your journey and take the tunnel dug under this Vauban fortress before stopping off for a visit. With its ramparts, noctarium, animal park, Comtois museum and resistance museum, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has many secrets waiting to be discovered!
Cuisery, village of books

Cuisery, village of books

To bargain hunters and readers of all stripes: Cuisery is THE village for books. Whether you are looking for a recent or older book, for children or adults, a novel or a documentary, there is bound to be something for you on the street of booksellers... and perhaps even something you weren't expecting!
Chalon sur Saône

Chalon sur Saône

The capital of photography, a city of art and history, a mecca for wine tourism... In short: an essential stopover on your river cruise!
Canal du Nivernais

Canal du Nivernais

The Canal du Nivernais is nature as far as the eye can see. Considered to be the most beautiful canal in Europe, the Canal du Nivernais was created to transport wood from the forests of Burgundy to Paris. As well as this rich history, which is recounted along the canal, it's a real bowl of nature that awaits you on a river cruise on the Nivernais.

Our favourite boats in Burgundy

Where to hire your boat And discover the treasures of the region

Montceau-les-Mines Gien Saint-Amand-Montrond Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire Paray-le-Monial Auxonne Digoin Gueugnon Louhans-Châteaurenaud Blanzy Tournus Gray Chagny Decize Briare Montchanin Montbard La Charité-sur-Loire Dijon Chalon-sur-Saône Auxerre Mâcon Montluçon Nevers Dole Le Creusot

All our bases

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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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