H2olidays

Le Boat

Burgundy Loire

Known locally as the 'green land of running waters' and internationally as a wine lover's paradise, the boating region of Burgundy offers visitors a chance to savour beautiful landscapes, fine cuising and excellent wines or France whilst aboard a Le Boat cruiser.

Regional Highlights

• The hilltop village of Sancerre and its famous wine - producing vineyards
• Delicious Crottin de Chavignol goats cheese – a local speciality
• The pretty book town of Charité-sur-Loire and the old barge town of Marseilles-les- Aubigny
• Stop at Plagny to visit the nearby Formula 1 museum at Magny Cours
• Nevers’ rich cultural heritage – a former Roman town and now a centre for fine porcelain
• On the edge of the Nivernais Loire region of Burgundy, the gently sloping Canal latéral à la Loire follows the course of the River Loire and affords spectacular views of the surrounding vineyard-clad hilltops and the beautiful River Loire itself.

Here are some cruising suggestions...

Short Breaks

Decize Short Break
Decize – Charité-sur-Loire – Decize
From the island town of Decize, enjoy a short break visiting some of the Loire Valley’s most beautiful old villages – Nevers, Marseilles-les-Aubigny and La Charité-sur-Loire. Easy cruising and few locks to operate leaves you plenty of time for onshore sightseeing.
Duration: 4 Nights
Cruise Type: Return Trip
Distance: 136 km
Locks: 34
Cruise Time: 4 days

Week Breaks

The Wine Lovers Cruise
Chatillon-sur-Loire - Nevers - Sancerre - Chatillon-sur-Loire
Follow the blue pavement lines through the pretty town of Nevers to discover its rich cultural heritage and enjoy splendid views over the River Loire. Visit the beautiful medieval hilltop town of Sancerre and learn all about the region’s vineyards at the Maison des Sancerre, a 15th century house dedicated to the ...
Duration: One Week
Cruise Type: Return Trip
Distance: 180 km
Locks: 38
Cruise Time: 36 hrs

The Heritage Cruise
Chatillon-sur-Loire - Briare - Montargis - Chatillon-sur-Loire
Cruise across the famous aqueduct at Briare before visiting the charming medieval town of Montargis - known as the ‘Venice of Gatinais’ because of its numerous canals and bridges. Buy delicious pralines from the original shop that made them in the time of Louis XIII. Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, is ...
Duration: One Week
Cruise Type: Return Trip
Distance: 122 km
Locks: 62
Cruise Time: 30 hrs

The Sparkling Cruise
Chatillon-sur-Loire - Decize (or vice versa)
A one week cruise alongside the River Loire through the famous Sancerre wineproducing region, stopping for winetastings en route, to Nevers, famous for producing the oldest china in France and where quaint streets converge on the Ducal Palace. Arrive in Decize, where 300 year old plane trees line the avenues in typical French ...
Duration: One Week
Cruise Type: One Way
Distance: 133 km
Locks: 26
Cruise Time: 27 hrs

Longer Breaks
The Pilgrim's Cruise
Decize – Digoin - Paray-Le-Monial – Decize
Enjoy a leisurely meander on the southern stretch of the Canal latéral à la Loire visiting the historic towns of Digoin, famous for its ceramics and Paray-Le-Monial. Excellent pathways alongside the canal make this great for walking or cycling. Paray-le-Monial is a world-famous pilgrimage site – it is here that the ...
Duration: 10 Nights
Cruise Type: Return Trip
Distance: 154 km
Locks: 40
Cruise Time: 35 hrs

Villages & Vineyard Cruise
Chatillon-sur-Loire - Decize - Auxerre - Migennes (or vice versa)
Enjoy a splendid, leisurely two-three week cruise through the heart of the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal latéral à la Loire taking in all the famous sights of the region, from splendid châteaux to artisan towns and world-famous vineyards.
Duration: Two Weeks
Cruise Type: One Way
Distance: 316 km
Locks: 151
Cruise Time: 76 hrs