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Please note all bookings are Saturday to Saturday only!
Short breaks are only available in Season A and B - Contact us to book these.
A Period : 24/03 > 27/04/2007 & 15/09 > 03/11/2007
B Period : 28/04 > 29/06/2007 & 01/09 > 14/09/2007
Map
A map is available - click the thumbnail below to access a larger version.
Top - Map - Suggested Itineraries - Info - Location
Suggested Itineraries
2 DAY WEEK-END
- Venarey - Mussy and return : 32 km, 30 locks
- Venarey - Ravière and return : 38 km, 22 locks
- Tourist Attractions - Abbaye de Fontenay - Site d'Alésia, Forges de Buffon
MINI WEEK
- Venarey - Tanlay and return : 98 km, 48 locks
- Tourist Attractions - Château d'Ancy le Franc - Château de Tanlay
1 WEEK
- Venarey - St Florentin and return : 168 km, 112 locks
- Tourist Attractions - La Fosse Dionne à Tonnerre - Abbaye de Pontigny
Local Information
BOURGOGNE (BURGUNDY)
Burgundy is an historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European people, Celts, Romans, and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks. Burgundians gave their name to the region. Later in time, the region was divided between the duchy of Burgundy (west of Burgundy) and the county of Burgundy (east of Burgundy). Later, the duchy of Burgundy became the French province of Burgundy, while the county of Burgundy became the French province of Franche-Comté (literally meaning "free county").
WATERWAYS
The Canal of Burgundy joins the Rivers Yonne and Saône, allowing barges to navigate from the north to south of France. Construction began in 1765 and was completed in 1832. At the summit there is a tunnel 3.333 kilometers long in a straight line. The canal is 242 kilometers long, with a total 209 locks and crosses two counties of Burgundy, the Yonne and Cote d'Or. The canal is now mostly used for riverboat tourism; Dijon, the most important city along the canal, has a harbor for leisure boats. The Canal du Nivernais joins the Yonne and the Loire and is considered to be one of the lovliest canals of France.
TOURISM
The fertile land of Burgundy is filled in with vineyards, farmland, forests and communities. Burgundians of the Middle Ages dotted the land with magnificent cathedrals.
Things to see in the Bourgogne region include:
Cathedrale St-Etienne - Auxerre, This extraordinary Gothic construction is in the heart of Auxerre and is a local landmark.
Musee des Beaux-Arts - Palais des Ducs, Dijon. One of the best collections of original art and sculpture in the country. Located in a magnificent palace, which is worth the trip alone.
Basilique Ste-Madeleine -in Vezalay and one of Frances most famous Romanesque style churches. This is a massive consruction which was started in the 12th century.
Musee de l'Hotel-Dieu - Located in Beaune. The building has a long and colourful history and the artworks are classic Flemish and local art with a few gems on display.
Musee du Vin de Bourgogne - Also in Beaune. The museum is dedicated to the rich history of wine making in the region. The area is world famous for its Burgundy wine and a visit is not complete without a trip to cellars.
Domaine Maurice Protheau - Chateau d'Etoyes, Mercurey. Located 40km southeast of Autun is one of the best wineries in the region. They do a free guided tour of the cellars and offer their wine to purchase.
Cathedrale St. Benigne in Dijon
Benedictine Abbey - In Cluny. This was once the largest Christian building in the Western world.
FOOD & DRINK
Burgundy produces wines of the same name. The best-known wines come from the Côte d'Or, although also viticulturally part of Burgundy are Beaujolais, Chablis, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâcon. The two most important wine regions in France are Bordeaux (on the South West coast, rather arid) and Burgundy (in the East towards Switzerland). Bordeaux wines are strict, weighty, academic, stentorian; Burgundy wines are varied, complex, human, and sophisticatedly homely. Although "Burgundy" means red, the Burgundy region produces both white wines and red wines.
Regional cuisine is known for its richness. It includes the famous boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, and garlic snails. A sauce that frequently appears on menus is meurette, also a red wine sauce but made without mushrooms and flambéed with a touch of brandy.
Other specialities include the parsley ham (jambon persillé); hams from the Morvan hills cooked in a cream saupiquet sauce; calf's head (tête de veau, or sansiot); a pauchouse of river fish (that is, poached in white wine with onions, butter, garlic and lardons); a poussin from Bresse; a saddle of hare (rable de lièvre à la Piron); and a potée bourguignonne, or soup of vegetables cooked in the juices of long-simmered bacon and pork bits.
Burgundy produces a variety of cheeses. The best-known are the creamy Chaource, the soft St-Florentin, the orange-skinned Époisses and the delicious goat's cheeses from the Morvan. And then there is gougère, a kind of cheesecake, best eaten warm with a glass of Chablis.
Top - Map - Suggested Itineraries - Info - Location
Location Information
Easily accessible via A6 motorway and also served by high speed TGV trains in Montbard.
Top - Map - Suggested Itineraries - Info - Location
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