Enjoy a Gentle Pedal on a Barge Cruise in Burgundy

Canalside Cycling

Many of those enjoying the perks of spending their holidays on one of our hotel barges like to combine the few daily hours of peaceful cruising with a little bit of exercise. This is why we, at European Waterways, have bicycles available on all our barges, which can be used freely by our guests. Crew are always willing to make a stop at any lock to unload the bicycles and help you enjoy a gentle pedal along the canal towpath or somewhat more inland through the local surroundings.

A Recommended Cycling Route for Those Cruising the Burgundy Canal

If you are enjoying the good life on a barge cruise in Burgundy, we know a lovely little cycling route that allows you to explore the tiny, charming hilltop town of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois and its surrounding countryside. Ask your captain to make a short stop at the shores of the Burgundy Canal to let you and your bicycles off to enjoy an energising pedal from the canal side hamlet of Vandenesse-en-Auxois through the green, gently sloping countryside to Chateauneuf-en-Auxois.

The route, indicated on this map by the local tourist office, is only 5 kilometres long and will take about 25 minutes when cycling at an easy pace. Inside Chateauneuf-en-Auxois, you will find a medieval city and a 12th century fortress that will make you feel like you’ve just been transported back in time. The elegant houses of the city were formerly owned by wealthy merchants and are well worth a photograph (or two). In the summer months, animators will be present inside the fortress, entertaining the spectators with re-enactments of medieval scenes and educative stories about the history of the fortress.

After spending some time in the romantic and fascinating village, with its view over the rolling farmlands, the woodlands of the Morvan and of course the Canal du Bourgogne, you can grab your bicycle and pedal through to the serene Panthier reservoir. If the weather allows it, you can have a swim here – there are stairs available to make it easy for swimmers to get in and out. A hotel restaurant is on site, with a terrace looking over the reservoir where you can relax in the sun and enjoy the calm and quiet while having an ice cream or some of the typically French fried fish.

The reservoir is only a short distance away from the canal, where your hotel barge staff will be waiting for you to load the bicycles again and offer you a cool refreshment to revive yourself. We can guarantee that your hotel barge cruise experience will be enhanced by this little trip on your bike!

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