The Loire and Briare Canals with Locaboat

Base at Dompierre-sur-Besbre

From our base at Dompierre-sur-Besbre, you can explore the Canal lateral à la Loire, the Nivernais Canal, the Canal de Ronne à Digoin, and the Canal du Centre with one of the Locaboats.
Along the way, the banks are dotted with chateaux, abbeys and other ancient buildings in villages dating back to Medieval times.

Take your Locaboat across the Digoin Canal bridge, built in the 18th century to reach the Canal du Centre, where you can visit a Romanesque Basilica at Paray-le-Monial, listed as a historic monument since 1846.

Further south, the Canal de Roanne à Digoin takes you to the centre of French gastronomy, well known for its earthenware and ceramics.  
Magnificent scenery awaits!

Alternatively, head north to discover Nevers and the 'city of books' La Charité sur Loire'.  A short journey further takes you to the vineyards of Sancerre.
Further north, the Canal du Briare is the oldest canal in the world. The spectacular locks at Rogny Les Sept Ecluses are no longer used but well worth visiting.

The area prides itself on its famous produce, such as the white wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, which you savour with a bit of goat cheese, 'bouchon' or 'Crottin de Chevre'.

One-week cruises from Dompierre-sur-Besbre

• Dompierre, Digoin, Paray-le-Monial, Roanne, Dompierre
  Cruise distance 189km (117.44 miles), 38 locks, 29 hours of cruising

• Dompierre, Decize, Cercy, Chatilon en Bazois, Dompierre
  Cruise distance 170km (105.63 miles), 58 locks, 30 hours of cruising

Two-week cruises from Dompierre

• Dompierre, Decize, Nevers, Sancerre, Briare, Dompierre
  Cruise distance 356km (221.21 miles), 70 locks, 60 hours of cruising

• Dompierre, Decize, Chatillon-en-Bazois, La Collancelle, Clamecy, Auxerre, Joigny
  Cruise distance 260km (161.56 miles), 129 locks, 54 hours of cruising

• Dompierre, Decize, Nevers, Sancerre, Briare, Rogny, Montargis, Chateau Landon, Nemours, Moret-sur-Loing, Sens, Joigny
  Cruise distance 359km (223.07 miles), 99 locks, 50 hours of cruising