
Central Canal
Vineyards, fine dining and market towns
Cruise destinations on the Canal du Centre
Home to the Chalonais vineyards, wine connoisseurs, and cyclists alike will enjoy this beautiful route.
Map of the canals and rivers

Hotel barges
2 hotel barge cruises

C'est La Vie
Champagne LoireHalf-board barges
Self-drive boats in this region
Locaboat
Locaboat have 12 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.












Locaboat
Locaboat have 14 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.














France Passion Plaisance
France Passion Plaisance have 6 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.






Le Boat
Le Boat have 13 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.











Central Canal information

The Central Burgundy Canal, or Canal du Centre, links the River Saône to the Canal Lateral à la Loire, then the Canal de Briare, the Canal de Loing and eventually the River Seine. It also connects to the Canal du Nivernais.
Opened in 1792, it enabled boat traffic to travel from the north of France to the south and basically opened Paris to the Mediterranean sea for the first time.
Cruise this idyllic and peaceful waterway past vineyards and pastures dotted with white Charolais cattle, the hallmark of Burgundy.
What to do and what to see whilst you're in the region
Places to visit
- Whilst in Chalon-sur-Saône
- Cathedral Saint-Vincent in Chalon-sur-Saône
- Tour du Doyenné
- Museum Nicéphore-Niépce
- The market square and streets of Saint-Vincent quarter
- The isle of Saint-Laurent
- Château de la Rochepot near Chagny
- Mont de Sène near Nolay
- The vineyards of Santennay, Montrachet and Meursault
- The vineyards of the "la côte chalonnaise" with Rully and Mercurey
- Château de Couches near Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune
- Museum de la Mine at Blanzy
- Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial
- Townhall of Paray-le-Monial
- The Pont-canal of Digoin
- Apremont-sur-Allier
- Triptyques in the curch of Ternant
- Double lock and canal bridge at Gétin
- Cathedrale Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte in Nevers
- The Palace of the Dukes in Nevers
Restaurants to experience
- Troisgros at Ouches near Roanne *** Michelin
- Maison Lameloise at Chagny *** Michelin
- Pierre et Jean at Chagny
- Ed.Em (Édouard et Émilie) at Chassagne-Montrachet * Michelin
- L'Empreinte at Buxy * Michelin
- Jérôme Brochot à Montceau-les-Mines
- L'Aposttrophe at Paray-Le-Monial
- Frédéric Doucet and the Le Bistrot du Quai at Charolles
- Auberge de Vigny near Digoin
- Auberge du Pont Canal at Guétin
Technical and construction information for the waterways in this region
The Briare Canal The Centre Canal The Loing Canal The Roanne-Digoin Canal The Orleans Canal The Loire Lateral Canal