A real technical feat, the Burgundy Canal is 242 kilometres long and connects the Saône and Yonne valleys. Built between 1775 and 1832, it starts at Migennes in Yonne and ends at Saint-Jean-de-Losne, in Côte-d'Or, after passing through 189 locks.
At Pouilly-en-Auxois, in Côte-d'Or, the canal passes through an underground tunnel 3,333 metres long, the Voûte de Pouilly, to cross the watershed between the Rhône and Seine basins.
Along the whole canal, visitors can admire beautiful Burgundy landscapes, interspersed with remarkable tourist sites: the Renaissance castles of Ancy-le-Franc and Tanlay,the Cistercian abbey of Fontenay, the medieval village of Châteauneuf en Auxois, the archaeological site of Alesia, and the city of Dijon, capital of the Dukes of Burgundy.
The best way to enjoy this exceptional itinerary is on the water, aboard a barge or licence-free boat. This is an ideal way to travel at your own pace, go through the locks easily and disembark to visit places of interest on land.
As for bike-lovers, they will be delighted by the Burgundy Canal cycle route that goes along the old towpath between Migennes and Dijon. For swimming fans, there is the option to take a dip in the Grosbois, Panthier and Tillot reservoirs which supply the canal.
