Burgundy Canal France Cycling
  • Canal de Bourgogne Veloroute
The Burgundy Canal provides north to south
access through France and connects the
Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea
through the Rivers Seine and Yonne to the
north, and the Rivers Rhone and Saone to the
south.  The Veloroute follows the canals  
through the Burgundy Valley.
  • Hiking
The wide flat paths of the Veloroute on the side
of the canals also make great hiking trails.
The sightseeing is always interesting along the
Burgundy Canal as Canal barges make week-
long trips out of Dijon.
The trails beside the canal are stone dust or
gravel and make a good surface for the bicycle
rider or hiker.  The terrain includes rolling farm
country, fields of white Charolais cattle, small
villages, hilltop castles, and Renaissance
chateaus.   
Much of the Burgundy Canal remains just the
way it was when constructed in the 17th and 18
th Century.  Except for a few locks that operate
electrically, the locks are operated by hand by
locktenders who live beside the canal.
Cycle The Veloroute, Burgundy Canal, France,  
Biking The Canal de Bourgogne
The Veloroute on the Burgundy Canal,
Hiking and Biking the Canal de
Bourgogne
Burgundy Canal France Hiking
The Burgundy Canal
goes through the city
of Dijon
Small hotels and
village markets in the
the route along the
Burgundy Valley and
the Burgundy Canal
In the hilltop village of
Chateauneuf-en-Auxois
small B&Bs and village
markets offer the hiker or
cycler a rest and
refreshment. Many small
 farming towns line the
route along the
Burgundy Valley and the
Burgundy Canal
Burgundy Canal Hiking
Trails beside the canal
The hiker
and bike rider
on the
Burgundy
Canal can
find small
hotels and
village
markets in
the farming
towns in the
Burgundy
Valley
Cycling for 140 miles of trails that
run beside the Burgundy Canal
takes bikers through the
Burgundy Valley.
The Veloroute offers 140 miles of bike trails beside
the Burgundy Canal in Eastern France wine regions.
The trails were once the tow paths beside the
Burgundy Canal and now are hiking and cycling trails
through the Burgundy Valley of East Central France.
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How to Reach Burgundy Valley for Hiking and Cycling on the Burgundy Canal
The TGV high speed Train and a high speed toll highway reach Dijon from Paris.
Note:  Bikes are not permitted on the TGV train (fast trains).  They are permitted on the slower regional trains
Burgundy Accommodations
France Rental Car
Burgundy Cycling,
Burgundy Trains
Canal History
Burgundy Hiking
Where is Burgundy Canal
Dijon, Burgundy Map
Do You need an International Driving Permit to Drive in Europe.
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an International Permit, only your drivers license    Italian law,
however,  requires that.....  
Auto Europe  selection, price, and ease of booking on the
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When traveling by air to France you can save on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks Free after
one night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city.   
See details, photos of hotels, and reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and   
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Burgundy Canal Biking
  • The Veloroute
The Veloroute describes a scenic bike path of
medium to long distance where there are few
hills and fewer than 1000 automobiles per day
using the road.  The Burgundy trail is a
combination of Veloroute and Voies Vertes,
trails with no automobile traffic at all.  
The Veloroute is open to hikers, cyclers, baby
carriages, rollerbladers etc. The trails are
maintained and marked for travelers along the
old tow paths and country roads beside the
Burgundy Canal.  Over the past few years the
trails have been repaired and upgraded to better
accommodate long distance hiking and cycling.
  • Trail Marking
To make it possible for cyclers to travel the full
distance of the Burgundy Canal,  the trails have
been marked with kms to nearby towns for
lodging and points of interest.  Signs indicating
distance to cities and villages aid the cycler in
finding lodging while on a long distance cycle
trip.  
  • Bike the Canal End to End
Now you can bike for about 150 miles along the
canal from one end to the other on path, old rail
beds and country roads through villages where
you find B & Bs, hotels, campgrounds, and
historic buildings.   The Veloroute trails are
mainly flat and make great family biking and
easy cycling for all levels of ability. Bike rentals
and repair can be found along the canal at tourist
offices and at some lockhouses.
  • Points of Interest
In the south,  the city of Beaune  makes a good
base for trips.  In the middle, Dijon makes a
good start or end place for bike rides because
of its architecture and trains to Paris and
Marseilles.  
North of Dijon the hilltop village of Chateauneuf-
en-Auxois offers small B&Bs and village markets
where the hiker or cycler can rest and refresh.  
Many small  farming towns line the Veloroute
along the Burgundy Valley and the Burgundy
Canal  
  • Veloroute North
In the City of Migennes the
Burgundy Canal joins with the
Yonne River.  The cities of
Tonnerre, and Montbard, north of
Dijon on the Burgundy Canal offer
2-hour train service to Paris and
connections to the south.  
Migennes is about 110 miles by
bicycle  trail north of Dijon.
  • South
To the south,  the City of Beaune
offers a good base for southern
canal trips.  The Burgundy Canal is
about 150 miles long.  Its southern
entrance is at Saint Jean de Losne
where the Burgundy Canal joins
the River Saone
The Veloroute to the side of the Burgundy
Canal offers 140 miles of bike trails
through East Central France wine regions.
Burgundy  
Cycling
Veloroute