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.

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Map of the waterways

Canal and river map for Central Canal

Luxury hotel barges

2 hotel barge cruises

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Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★

Half-board barges

La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★

Self-drive boats in the Central Canal region

Locaboat

They have cruise routes for the Canal du Centre Rivers Saône & Doubs

Locaboat operate 14 different types of self-drive boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

P1165 FB rental boat

P1165 FB

7 guests
2 adults
3 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1750€/week
Europa 400 rental boat

Europa 400

4 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2205€/week
Linssen 34.9  GS rental boat

Linssen 34.9 GS

6 guests
4 adults
2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2094€/week
P1260R rental boat

P1260R

10 guests
6 adults
2 children
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1785€/week

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance operate 6 different types of self-drive boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Tarpon 42 TP rental boat

Tarpon 42 TP

8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1400€/week
Tarpon 37 DP rental boat

Tarpon 37 DP

6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1250€/week
Tarpon 42 rental boat

Tarpon 42

12 guests
4 adults
2 children
7 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1780€/week
La Peniche F rental boat

La Peniche F

12 guests
12 adults
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2405€/week

Le Boat

Le Boat operate 13 different types of self-drive boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

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Magnifique rental boat

Magnifique

10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
From 1639€/week
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Caprice rental boat

Caprice

6 guests
2 adults
2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
From 1019€/week
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Crusader rental boat

Crusader

6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
From 1139€/week
Save 5%
Royal Mystique A rental boat

Royal Mystique A

6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
From 1599€/week

Central Canal information

Central Canal

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

Information, history and details of the waterways in this region

The Centre Canal   The Saône   The Roanne-Digoin Canal   The Nivernais Canal   The Loire Lateral Canal