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

Canal and river map for  Central Canal

Hotel barges

2 hotel barge cruises

C'est La Vie barge cruise

C'est La Vie

Champagne Loire
8 guests
★★★★★
Last dates!
Save 10%
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★

Half-board barges

Save 25%!
La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★

Self-drive boats in this region

Locaboat

Locaboat have 12 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

Linssen 34.9  GS self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1020 FB self-drive
5 guests
4 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1106 FB self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
P1107W self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
P1120R self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1165 FB self-drive
7 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1180 FB self-drive
7 guests
6 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
P1260R self-drive
10 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1400 FB self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
P1500 FB self-drive
12 guests
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
P935W self-drive
5 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
Penichette Evolution self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★

Locaboat

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

Europa 400 self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
Europa 600 self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
Linssen 34.9  GS self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1020 FB self-drive
5 guests
4 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1106 FB self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
P1107W self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
P1120R self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1165 FB self-drive
7 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1180 FB self-drive
7 guests
6 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
P1260R self-drive
10 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1400 FB self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
P1500 FB self-drive
12 guests
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
P935W self-drive
5 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
Penichette Evolution self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★

France Passion Plaisance

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

La Peniche F self-drive
12 guests
12 adults, child
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
Tarpon 32 self-drive
8 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 37 DP self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
Tarpon 42 self-drive
12 guests
6 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 42 TP self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
Tarpon 49 QP self-drive
12 guests
8 adults, 2 children
5 cabins
5 bathrooms
★★★★★

Le Boat

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

7 nights for 5!
Caprice self-drive
6 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Clipper self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Continentale self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
7 nights for 5!
Crusader self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
Elegance self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Horizon 1 self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
Premium rating
Horizon 2S self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Premium rating
Horizon 4 self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating
Magnifique self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Mystique self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Mystique A self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Mystique B self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Vision 4 self-drive
9 guests
8 adults, child
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating

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

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