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Burgundy Canal ~ Ouche Valley ~ Dijon ~ River Saone ~ River Doubs

The ancient Dukedom of Burgundy is home to possibly the most concentrated essence of the best of France and what is French. With its capital at Dijon, Burgundy is rightly regarded as one of the most attractive yet diverse waterway regions.

West of Dijon, the Burgundy Canal follows the impossibly pretty Ouche Valley, heading towards Paris. In the east, the Rhone-Rhine Canal threads itself through Franche Comté, past Besancon, alongside and into the River Doubs, bound for Basle and the Rhine. And South, the Canal du Centre breaks away from the Loire valley, looping around to Chalon and finally, bisecting the region north to south, is the ample River Saone gently flowing south to join the Rhone at Lyon.

The unique attractions of the region are world-famous. The many charming historic towns, a legacy from the Duchy’s former golden age, will provide an opportunity to stop, explore and marvel. Romanesque monuments, castles and abbeys are complemented by cities of culture, crammed with art treasures and historic relics. Historic Dijon, home to mustard and brightly coloured tiled roofscapes, Michelin restaurants, Coq au Vin, Bœuf Bourguignon, Charolais cattle and Bresse poultry. Not forgetting the wine-waiter’s dream team – Beaune, Macon, Nuits-St-George, Beaujolais, Chablis and Cote d’Or.

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Cruising Southern Burgundy – the options

You can cruise the Burgundy canals and rivers piloting your own Self-drive Hire boat,
being pampered in fine style aboard a luxury Hotel Barge,
or as a guest cruising the Saone aboard an impressive de-luxe Riverboat.

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Self-Drive Canal Boating – S Burgundy

Go your own way. Explore the pleasures and treasures of the canals and the River Saone.

Self-Drive

Luxury Hotel Barging – Burgundy / Saone

Lie back and let the skipper and crew take care of everything. Great food. Fine wine. Unique.

Hotel Barges

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Saone Riverboat Cruises

Cruise sedately along the sumptuous Saone. Moor in the centre of historic towns and Lyon.

River Cruises

Getting to Southern Burgundy
Hotel barges often collect and return guests to a pre-agreed Paris or Dijon hotel. The primary French international airport is at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and there are European-flight airports at Dole and Lyon. There are also TGV express train stations at Dijon, near Dole, Macon, Le Cruesot (near Montchanin) and Lyon; and many other towns in the region have railway connections.