Loire Valley

UNESCO declared the Loire Valley a World Heritage Site in 2000. It is characterised by the pomp and splendour of its extravagant châteaux and its gentle, rolling landscape. Referred to as the "garden of France," this fertile region boasts abundant fruit and vegetables and the vineyards for which it is so well known.

Starting on the River Seine at Saint-Mammès, the canals Loing, Briare, and the Lateral to the Loire connect to the Canal du Centre and then the River Saône. At Décize, you can cruise onto the Canal du Nivernais and head to Auxerre.

You'll cross the spectacular "canal bridge" at Briare as you cruise southward. At 662 metres long and 11 metres wide, it spans the River Loire and was an incredible construction by Eiffel in 1896. 

The Canal Latéral à la Loire, which follows the course of the river Loire, offers views of vineyards atop hills. Pretty waterside villages with magnificent chateaux and ancient churches line the route, while delightful towns such as La Charité-sur-Loire and Sancerre offer wine-tasting opportunities.

Suggested cruise routes

Briare out and back

• Briare to Rogny 18 km 13 locks
  Rogny to Briare 18km 13 locks
  Briare to Sancerre 40 km 5 locks
  Sancerre to Briare 40 km 5 locks
  Total 116 kms 36 locks
• Briare to Marseilles les Aubigny 73 km 12 locks
  Marseilles to Briare les Aubigny 73 km 12 locks
  Total 146 kms 24 locks
• Briare to Montargis 52 km 31 locks
  Montargis to Briare 52 km 31 locks
  Total 104 kms 62 locks

What to see and do whilst you're here

Monuments to visit

• Castles nearby
  • Château d'Apremont
  • Château Blois
  • Château de la Bussière
  • Château Chambord
  • Château Fontainebleau
  • Château de Guedelon
  • Château Sully-sur-Loire
  • Château Saint-Fargeau
  • Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte at Maincy

Places to go

• Visit the town of Gien
• Visit the city of Orleans
• Visit the town of Château Landon

Along the canals

• Moret-sur-Loing and the inspirations for Alfred Sisley
• Château-Musée de Nemours
• Discover the streets Rue Raymond, Laforge of Montargis
• View the old flight of 7 locks at Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses and cruise on the new flight of locks!
• Discover the magnificent Pont-du-Canal Briare by Monsieur Eiffel
• Walk around the quaint village of Châtillon-sur-Loire
• Visit Sancerre and discover the red and white wines
• Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire
• The town of Nevers
  • Port du Croux
  • Duke Palace
  • Church Sainte-Bernadette-du-Banlay
  • Sanctuary of Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Nevers and Bernadette’s Shrine
• The double lock and Pont-du-Canal of Guétin

To taste and eat

• Wine tasting in Sancerre
• Wines of Pouilly-sur-Loire and Pouilly Fumé
• Taste the Crottin de Chavignol goat's cheese near Sancerre