6 days 5 nights/Full Board
Country: France£950.00 No single rooms left pp in a single room
£125.00 Deposit
£38.41pp Insurance
Overview
Passing through the scenic and sparsely populated country on the western edge of the Morvan regional park, the Canal du Nivernais is arguably the prettiest of the many canal cruise routes in central and eastern France. The Canal provides a link between the Loire Valley to the south and the Paris basin to the north, and its mix of river and canal sections make it an infinitely varying and interesting waterways journey.
Burgundy is a paradise for the nature lover. Its jewel in the crown, the Morvan Forest, is a national park covering nearly a quarter of a million hectares. This is a granite outcrop in the middle of a mainly limestone region. There are deep valleys and faults crossed by rapids, peaks covered with forest, mountainsides dotted with bogs and broom-covered heaths. The rivers Yonne, Cousin and Cure weave their way through the region forming picturesque valleys with abundant wildlife. Closer to the lovely city of Auxerre, the countryside is that classic mix so typical of rural France, forested slopes, working farms, hillside vineyards and sleepy villages.
Our cruise will occupy all four days at the heart of this short break so we haven’t scheduled additional excursions on the coach apart from the UNESCO-listed Basilica at Vézelay. In all we will cruise around 60km and pass through 31 locks. Because of the regularity of locks and our gentle cruising speed there will be plenty of opportunity for a towpath stroll.
An on-board lunch is included and a free bar operates throughout. As well as teas, coffees and soft drinks, the bar stocks bottled beers and a range of wines including local Chablis, Bourgogne Aligoté and Irancy rouge, Crémant de Bourgogne, and a Provence rosé.
The “Natalia”
In 2015 Lynn Woods took his project to a naval architect. The proposition was to build a “floating lounge” within the scale of the lock dimensions and bridge and tunnel clearances of the French inland waterway network. The boat therefore needed to be no more than 38m long, 5m beam, and around 2.8m air draft. It was to be constructed in steel with a single passenger deck including an outside viewing area forward. Its hull was to replicate the lines of a traditional Dutch Barge, which would have the effect of minimising wash, and it was to be environmentally state-of-the-art, so hybrid-engined. The project came to fruition in 2018 when Natalia was launched. The boat normally charges overnight from shore supply. Its diesel engines are only used if battery power is exhausted, so most of the time you can look forward to silent cruising. The saloon roof is bedecked with solar panels which reinforce battery endurance and support the boat’s air conditioning system.
Itinerary
Thursday 24th October
We depart the local area and make our way to Nivernais and our hotel. With suitable refreshment stops en route.
Friday 25th October
This is our first day of cruising the canal with lunch on board and a chance to stroll along the tow path if you wish.
Saturday 26th October
Our second day of cruising a new section of the canal. Again lunch is served on board.
Sunday 27th October
Day three of our cruise. Again a different section of the canal and with lunch on board.
Monday 28th October
Our final day and yet another section of the stunning canals. Lunch on board.
Tuesday 29th October
We depart our hotel and make our way back to England. Suitable refreshment stops en route.
Holiday Hotel
Our Hotel:
The 2* Logis St François in the village of Vermenton, recently fully renovated and ideally situated for our cruising the Canal Du Nivernais between Auxerre and Clamecy. This hotel is operated by the family who own the nearby Abbaye de Reigny where we dine on one evening. This is a comfortable, clean, spacious and quiet hotel and although it lacks some of the creature comforts we might expect of a major chain hotel it has an appeal all of its own in its simplicity, generous space and warmth of welcome.
Visit Hotel Website »