Burgundy Valley Canal Boats,
Narrow Boat Barges on the Burgundy Canal
  • Cargo Boats, Narrow Boats
The barges that cruise the Burgundy Canal
today have evolved over the years from the
cargo carrying work boat of narrow beam
and shallow draft, often referred to as narrow
boat in Britain and barque, bateau  or
péniche in France.

  • Modern Canal Boats
The modern Burgundy Canal boats will be
restricted to 16.5 feet in beam, 5 foot 10
inches draft, with a height above water of
10.5 feet.
These canal boats of the Burgundy Canal
are no longer cargo barges but more often a
luxurious, floating hotel barge and can as
such be outfitted with satellite TV, spa on
deck, modern kitchen, Private chef, private
bath for each stateroom, antique furnishings,
air conditioning, bikes on board, van
support, wine cellar, cheese board, and
resident wine expert.

Cargo barges still cruise the Seine in Paris
and the Rhone River of Provence but the
barges that cruise on the Burgundy Canal
are, for the most part, modern and
recreational.  They cover some historic
scenery, however.

  • Canal de Bourgogne
The Canal de Bourgogne or Burgundy Canal
first provided north to south access through
Eastern France in 1832.  The canal
connects the Atlantic Ocean with the
Mediterranean Sea through the Rivers Seine
and Yonne just south of Paris at Migennes in
the north, and the Rivers Rhone and Saone
at St. Jean de Losne, south of Dijon.
  • Horse Drawn Barges
The early barges were pulled by horses as
they transported cargoes of grain and wine
to the mills and markets of Paris, Dijon, and
Marseilles.
When steam trains began carrying cargo,
the barges tried to lower operating costs by
providing lodging for the crew and at times
the captain's family, thus initiating the
concept of lodging aboard.
The barges eventually became steam
operated and later gas and diesel powered.
Today little cargo traverses the Burgundy
Canal, trains and trucking have taken over
that segment of canal activity.  
  • Hotel Barges
Today it is the hotel barge of 22 passengers
or the specialty barge of 6 to 8 passenger
that makes a one-week culinary and wine
cruise through the Burgundy wine regions of
East Central France.   
The Burgundy Canal
  • History
The Burgundy Canal had its first backers with a plan conceived in 1607
that would help transport produce form the farms of the rich alluvial
Burgundy Valley and from farms along the Rhone River.  
The engineers started work on the canal in 1727 and completed work
in 1832 when barges made the first crossing.  
Some cargo still traverses the canal but most traffic is now tour boat
cruises that make one-week trips or private barges that make
extended runs through France from the Med. to the Atlantic.
  • Highest Elevation
The Village of Pouilly en Auxios, north of Dijon, is the highest point on
the canal at 378 meters above sea level. (1,240 feet)  
  • Engineering
A three-kilometer tunnel (2.07 miles) is one of the intriguing features of
this marvel of engineering.  The Burgundy Canal has a total length of
150 miles.
  • Locks
With 113 locks on the Yonne River side of the canal and 76 on the
Saone River side, and a complex system of reservoirs and feeder
canals the Burgundy Canal remains an intriguing engineering
accomplishment and a wonderful place to enjoy a walk, bike ride, or
culinary barge cruise through the French countryside.
  • Sightseeing
Towns of note along the Burgundy Canal are the hilltop village of
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois where a castle tops the hill.
The City of Dijon offers interesting architecture and history and the City
of Beaune , as the center of Burgundy wine country offers sightseeing,
dining and wine tasting.  
  • Cycling, Hiking
The tow paths built beside the canal for the horses that once pulled the
barges have been turned into bike trails called the Veloroute.  The trails
offer a biking and hiking experience through eastern Frances wine
country.  
History of The Burgundy Canal, An
Engineering Marvel Conceived in 1607
Burgundy Canal  Boats
Burgundy Valley Canal Boats
cruise below the 11th Century
hilltop village of
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois where
small B&Bs, a village market, and
restaurant offer those that hike or
bike up a rest and refreshment.
Many small  farming towns line the
route along the Burgundy Valley
and the Burgundy Canal
Hiking Trails along the Burgundy
Canal use the service roads where
horses once pulled the barges
Burgundy Valley Canal Boats are nearly as historic as the
canal they cruise. They were first designed to carry cargo
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea but
today are often high-tech floating hotels with AC, satellite
TV, hot tubs, and spas.
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How to Reach Burgundy  
Burgundy Canal
Barge Cruises on the Burgundy Valley
are centered in the City of Dijon and
surrounding area.  The barges make
one-week culinary and wine trips on the
Burgundy Canal

The TGV high speed Train and a high
speed toll highway reach Dijon from
Paris.
Burgundy Accommodations
France Rental Car
Burgundy Barge Tours
Burgundy Trains
Barge Culinary
Barge Self Drive
Canal Boats Prices
Burgundy Hiking
When To Go To the Burgundy Valley:   
  • Cruise Season
April, to October  is canal cruise season and good times to go to Burgundy for Barge Tours, Dijon visits,
biking and hiking along the canal, and the culinary cruise vacation.  
  • Weather
The weather in Burgundy is temperate March and April (50-75 F) Showers could come in any month but
will be of short duration.  Weather is good in September October, great months to visit.
  • Low Season
From  April to mid May the barge tours will not be booked solid so prices are lowered.  Mid July and all of
August can also offer lower prices because much of France goes on a six-week vacation.  The last two
weeks of October can be low season and the end of the cruise season for some providers.
  • High season
Barge trips have their high season, mid May to Mid July and early September to mid October.   
Do You need an International Driving Permit to Drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to show
an International Permit, only your drivers license    Italian law,
however,  requires that.....  
Auto Europe  selection, price, and ease of booking on the
web. Shop online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel
(more economical) or gas, luggage space,(important)  
standard or automatic,(important)  two door, four door and
other options.  
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Save On Air Travel
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 .   (60 US cities and hundreds of others worldwide)

The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money     
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange    
for a limo from your home to the airport.  Free, 24 hour shuttles to the airport.
Hotels offer two weeks free parking with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day rate for   
extra days.  Cruise passengers included.   See more info at link below, details, photos of hotels, reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and   
enhance your Burgundy Canal barge vacation experience.  
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The hilltop village of
Châteauneuf-en
-Auxois
Boats of the
Burgundy Canal
  • Canal Cruise
The area traversed by the canal is the
famed wine region of Burgundy and
offers some of the most scenic farm
country in France.
The sights include rolling farm country,
fields of white cattle, small villages, and
imposing hilltop castles and chateaus.
The Burgundy Canal joins the Saonne
River in the \City of Saint Jean de Losne
in the south, the noted wine country of
Burgundy with the City of Beaune at its
center.
Parts of the canal have undergone
modernization and  automation of the
water and gate control but much of the
canal remains just the way it was when
the first barges made passage between
the Mediterranean and the Atlantic in
1832.