Burgundy North ~ Upper Loire
Destinations

Nivernais Canal ~ Auxerre ~ River Yonne ~ Briare Canal ~ Montargis ~ Loire Canal

This region of rolling countryside – the Garden and Heart of France – is defined by two rivers. The wide yet often shallow Loire (with the Loire Lateral Canal alongside) and the winding River Yonne.

The very pretty Nivernais Canal connects north-south between the two; and the Loing and Briare Canals connect the Loire with the River Seine and Paris. In the far west, the River Cher flows into the Loire at Tours.

This is a land of natural beauty, history and architectural delight. Of course, this is where French royalty and nobility chose to build their most sumptuous chateaux – nearly one thousand of them. It is a place of lush meadows and cherry trees, castles, formal gardens, ancient Gothic cathedrals and abbeys; and historic riverside towns such as Orleans, Auxerre, Clamecy and Nevers.

It is also a land of vineyards and prized wines that date back to Roman times. Of Sancerre, Chablis, and Pouilly-Fumé.

Cruising Northern Burgundy – Gatinais – Loire – the options

You can cruise the north Burgundy canals piloting your own Self-drive Hire boat,
or being pampered in fine style aboard a luxury Hotel Barge.

Getting to North Burgundy
Hotel barges normally collect and return guests to a pre-agreed Paris hotel. The primary French international airport is at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. There are also TGV express train stations at Sens, Migennes, Montbard and Dijon; and many other towns in the region have railway connections.