Central Canal

Vineyards, fine dining and market towns

Cruise destinations on the Canal du Centre

Home to the Chalonais vineyards, wine connoisseurs, and cyclists alike will enjoy this beautiful route.

Map of the waterways

Canal and river map for Central Canal

Luxury hotel barges

2 hotel barge cruises

Save 20%
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★

Half-board barges

La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★

Self-drive boats in the Central Canal region

Locaboat

Locaboat operate 14 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
May sale
Europa 600 rental boat

Europa 600

6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2380€/week
May sale
P1107W rental boat

P1107W

7 guests
4 adults
1 child
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
From 1225€/week
May sale
Linssen 34.9 GS rental boat

Linssen 34.9 GS

6 guests
4 adults
2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2094€/week
May sale
P1500 FB rental boat

P1500 FB

12 guests
8 adults
2 children
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2905€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Locaboat

Locaboat operate 14 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
May sale
P1500 FB rental boat

P1500 FB

12 guests
8 adults
2 children
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2905€/week
May sale
P1165 FB rental boat

P1165 FB

7 guests
2 adults
3 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1750€/week
May sale
Linssen 34.9 GS rental boat

Linssen 34.9 GS

6 guests
4 adults
2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2094€/week
May sale
Europa 600 rental boat

Europa 600

6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2380€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Le Boat

Le Boat operate 13 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Save up to 50%
Continentale rental boat

Continentale

6 guests
4 adults
2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
From 1599€/week
Save up to 30%
Horizon 4 rental boat

Horizon 4

9 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating
From 2179€/week
Save up to 30%
Vision 4 rental boat

Vision 4

9 guests
8 adults
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating
From 1839€/week
Save up to 30%
Mystique rental boat

Mystique

8 guests
6 adults
2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
From 2379€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance operate 6 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last-minute
Tarpon 42 rental boat

Tarpon 42

12 guests
4 adults
2 children
7 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1780€/week
Last-minute
Tarpon 42 TP rental boat

Tarpon 42 TP

8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1400€/week
Last-minute
Tarpon 37 DP rental boat

Tarpon 37 DP

6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1250€/week
Last-minute
La Peniche F rental boat

La Peniche F

12 guests
12 adults
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2405€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Central Canal cruise and boating information

Central Canal

The Central Burgundy Canal, or Canal du Centre, links the River Saône to the Canal Lateral à la Loire, then the Canal de Briare, the Canal de Loing and eventually the River Seine. It also connects to the Canal du Nivernais.

Opened in 1792, it enabled boat traffic to travel from the north of France to the south and basically opened Paris to the Mediterranean sea for the first time.

Cruise this idyllic and peaceful waterway past vineyards and pastures dotted with white Charolais cattle, the hallmark of Burgundy.

What to do and what to see whilst you're in the region

Places to visit

  • Whilst in Chalon-sur-Saône
    • Cathedral Saint-Vincent in Chalon-sur-Saône
    • Tour du Doyenné
    • Museum Nicéphore-Niépce
    • The market square and streets of Saint-Vincent quarter
    • The isle of Saint-Laurent
  • Château de la Rochepot near Chagny
  • Mont de Sène near Nolay
  • The vineyards of Santennay, Montrachet and Meursault
  • The vineyards of the "la côte chalonnaise" with Rully and Mercurey
  • Château de Couches near Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune
  • Museum de la Mine at Blanzy
  • Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial
  • Townhall of Paray-le-Monial
  • The Pont-canal of Digoin
  • Apremont-sur-Allier
  • Triptyques in the curch of Ternant
  • Double lock and canal bridge at Gétin
  • Cathedrale Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte in Nevers
  • The Palace of the Dukes in Nevers

Restaurants to experience

  • Troisgros at Ouches near Roanne *** Michelin
  • Maison Lameloise at Chagny *** Michelin
  • Pierre et Jean at Chagny
  • Ed.Em (Édouard et Émilie) at Chassagne-Montrachet * Michelin
  • L'Empreinte at Buxy * Michelin
  • Jérôme Brochot à Montceau-les-Mines
  • L'Aposttrophe at Paray-Le-Monial
  • Frédéric Doucet and the Le Bistrot du Quai at Charolles
  • Auberge de Vigny near Digoin
  • Auberge du Pont Canal at Guétin

Information, history and details of the waterways in this region

The Centre Canal   The Saône   The Roanne-Digoin Canal   The Nivernais Canal   The Loire Lateral Canal