Burgundy Valley Canal History
A barge cruise, bare boat or a
culinary cruise over the
Burgundy Canal will tour through
historic Eastern France.

The Canal de Bourgogne or
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 area traversed by the canal
is some of the most scenic in
France and includes rolling farm
country, fields of white cattle,
small villages, and imposing
hilltop castles and chateaus.


Parts of the canal are
undergoing repair with steel
sheet pile being driven to
support the sidewalls and
upgrades and automation of the
water and gate control but much
of the canal remains just the way
it was when constructed in the
17th and 18 th Century.
The Burgundy Canal had its first
backers long ago 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 on one-week trips or
barges making an extended run through
France from the Med. to the Atlantic.
The Village of Pouilly en Auxois, north of
Dijon, is the highest point on the canal at 378
meters above sea level. (1,240 feet)  
A three-kilometer tunnel (2.07 miles) is one
of the intriguing features of this marvel of
engineering with a total length of 150 miles.
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
barge cruise through the French countryside.
The Burgundy Canal
was an engineering
marvel conceived in
1607.  Once
completed
in 1832, it  
joined the Atlantic to
the Mediterranean.
Burgundy Canal Barge History,
Villages like Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
along the route offer hotels and B&Bs
Eleventh Century
village of
Châteauneuf-en-
Auxois
Burgundy Valley Canal History is one of Innovation and
Engineering. The Burgundy Canal 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.
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How to Reach Burgundy Valley Canal Culinary Barge Tours on the 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
Canal History
Burgundy Hiking
Where is Burgundy Canal
Dijon, Burgundy Map
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.  Renting for more than 17 days; see their
options      
see  renting a vehicle in Provence
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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.  
Canal History
Cycling the Veloroute
The Burgundy Canal below the
Eleventh Century village of
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois