Locaboat - Burgundy Nivernais Loire France Region Information
Base Location:Briare - Dompierre - Joigny - Montbard
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Burgundy is a highlight for boating holidays in France. With your Pénichette, you can navigate on the Canal de Bourgogne, the Canal du Nivernais, the Canal latéral à la Loire, the Canal du Centre or the Canal de Roanne à Digoin. Your boat trip leads you to cities like Joigny, Auxerre, Clamecy, Tanlay, Ancy le Franc and Roanne, that are full of history. With your Pénichette you can also pass over the canal bridges of Digoin and Briare, veritable masterpieces of construction. Of course, there is also a rich gastronomy to discover, e.g. in the restaurants "Côte St Jacques" at Joigny, "l’Espérance" at Vézelay or "les Trois gros" at Roanne.

THE HERITAGE
Auxerre - The romanesque crypt of the cathedral, the clock tower, the old half-timbered houses all spell out the charm of this town.The chateaux of Tanlay and Ancy le Franc. Standing close to the canal, these two superb Renaissance chateaux conceal behind severe and massive exteriors graceful courtyards and sumptuously decorated suites of rooms.

Vezelay - Its main street edged with medieval houses, was a major pilgrimage site. The village has seen gather on the square in front of the basilique Sainte Madeleine crusaders on their way to Jerusalem as well as pilgrims en route to Compostela. This marvellous church, a jewel of Burgundian romanesque, appears on the UNESCO World Heritage site listings.

The Colancelle - Three great rock-hewn tunnels in quick succession and shortly afterwards a staircase of 16 locks allow the canal to overcome the major change in levels between Sardy-les-Epiry and Baye, where the canal runs alongside a lake.

Famous vineyards - The vineyards of Chablis and the wines of Irancy, a splendid village of gothic and renaissance buildings, both add lustre to Burgundy's reputation.

Linking the Yonne to the Saone, the Canal de Bourgogne, started in 1775 and finished in 1834, takes you by ways sometimes secret, sometimes spectacular, to the heart of the Renaissance. At that period the Duchy of Burgundy vied in magnificence with the Kingdom of France. Here, with ancient poplar trees, their leaves shimmering and atremble, and buildings ranging from abbeys to fortified farmhouses, the works of man and nature celebrate their triumphant union. Tie up close to the superb aqueduct at St Florentin and climb up to its church to admire the magnificent stained glass.

At Tonnerre, the Fosse Dionne pool surrounded by ancient houses, still provides a water supply to the town. Magnificent and splendidlyfurnished Renaissance chateaux such as Tanlay and Ancy-le-Franc punctuate your cruise. The marvellous high-vaulted Abbey of Fontenay, tucked away in a secluded valley, is a short bike ride away. Near Venarey-les- Laumes at the village of Alise-Sainte-Reine you'll want to visit the site of the Gaulish fortress of Alesia where Vercingetorix surrendered to Caesar after a two month siege. Nestling under the vineyards of the Cote St Jacques, Joigny is proud of its many fine churches, houses with carved wood decoration, and above all its gastronomy.

Originally conceived by Henri IV, the Canal du Nivernais was finally built between 1783 and 1842, and boasts some of the most glorious scenery on the French waterways. Connecting the Seine to the Loire, the two sides of the summit are very different. From Corbigny south to Decize on its hill between two arms of the Loire, its old centre still ringed with walls, the descent to the Loire winds through rich meadows grazed by the famous white Nivernais cattle. The three successive tunnels at La Colancelle lead to a set of 16 closely spaced locks in a rural setting.

The Etang de Baye with its watersports centre lies right alongside the canal, while the lofty silhouette of the Chateau of Châtillon-en-Bazois soon looms into view. From Corbigny north to Auxerre and its churches dominating the waterfront, the descent towards the Seine follows the valley of the Yonne, and sometimes uses its bed, through woods and forests small and large. The prosperous little wine-producing village of Tannay boasts panoramic views over the Morvan hills.