Barge Cruising on the Canal de Bourgogne
French Hotel Barge l'Impressionniste
The Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy with its beautiful scenery that features charming French houses and colorful greenery is revered as one of the nicest canals to navigate in France. There are many sites to visit along the way including renowned vineyards, medieval towns, elegant châteaux, magnificent cathedrals, picturesque villages, and charming delightful local markets.
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The Long and Winding Road
Completed in 1832, this 242-kilometer waterway connects Burgundy to Paris, wending its way through the heartland of France. If you want to explore the Canal de Bourgogne on a French hotel barge cruise, we’d recommend a journey on L’Impressionniste’s route between Fleurey-sur-Ouche and Escommes or La Belle Epoque’s gorgeous stretch of Northern Burgundian countryside between Tanlay and Venarey-les-Laumes.
Attractions en Route
The great thing about barging in this region of France is that the canal roams its way through a number of beautiful French cities, giving you time to explore their history and soak in a little local culture. Cruising along the Canal de Bourgogne allows you to explore the Northern and Southern areas of this renowned region.
Abbaye de Fontenay
In the north, be sure to visit the Abbaye de Fontenay. Founded in the early 1100s, its structure has been incredibly well maintained with its cloisters, scriptorium, and dormitories still intact. It’s a breathtaking piece of architecture. Now that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, even its gardens and ponds retain their original glory.
Notre-Dame de Dijon
By Welleschik - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
As you travel further south, you’ll want to visit the monumental Notre-Dame de Dijon. It’s a Gothic-style church with an ornamented façade that boasts stunning columns and archways, as well as the typical gargoyles. Inside, you’ll find lovely colorful stain-glass paintings. Both edifices are a compelling time capsule, the first providing unrivaled insight into Cistercian life and industry, while the second lets you revisit French Catholic practices.
If you have time, you should also stroll through Dijon’s market. It wouldn’t be a vacation in France without sampling French wines, local cheeses, and artisanal bread. There are also pâté and terrine stalls that are worth a visit, as well as local delicacies like snails on offer. Make sure to try Dijon’s famous mustard and take some back with you as a souvenir. It’s a real treat for the tastebuds!
History and Feats of Engineering
Entering a Lock
Conceptualised in the seventeenth century, the Canal de Bourgogne is an incredibly well thought-out masterpiece of engineering, perfect for your barge trip in France. The waterway opened in 1832 and took over 50 years to build. It features 127 locks, the most impressive of which is at Pouilly-en-Auxois. This lock is continuously filled by an underground reservoir via a tunnel system. It serves as a watershed from which the water flows both towards Dijon in the south and towards Migennes in the north.
The canal boasts many ingenious features. Its best one though, is the tunnel which links the Pouilly-en-Auxois lock with the small port of Escommes. It is a very narrow 2.5 mile underground passageway that was dug out from the rock in the early nineteenth century. Even today, it remains an essential connection between the north and south of France.
Discover Burgundy
French Hotel Barges Cruising the Canal de Bourgogne
La Belle Epoque
- Route: Canal de Bourgogne between Tanlay and Venarey-les-Laumes
- Accommodations: up to 8 guests in 4 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters and Cabin cruises
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
L'Impressionniste
- Route: Canal de Bourgogne between Escommes and Fleurey-sur-Ouche
- Accommodations: up to 12 guests in 8 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters and Cabin cruises
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
Grand Cru
- Route: Canal du Rhone au Rhin and the Canal du Centre between Pontailler-sur-Saone and St Léger-Sur-Dhune
- Accommodations: up to 8 guests in 4 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
Prosperite
- Route: Canal de Bourgogne between Plombieres-les-Dijon and Vandenesse-en-Auxois
- Accommodations: up to 8 guests in 4 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters and Cabin cruises
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
Rendez-Vous
- Route: Canal de Bourgogne between Fleurey-sur-Ouche and Escomme
- Accommodations: up to 6 guests in 3 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
Savoir Vivre
- Route: Canal de Bourgogne between Fleurey-sur-Ouche and Escommes
- Accommodations: up to 8 guests in 4 ensuite staterooms
- Private charters and Cabin cruises
- Itineraries: See all itineraries
- Learn more: Online brochure
