Saint-Jean-de-Losne RETURN
Since the 17th century, Burgundy has been shaping the biggest network of magnificent waterways in France. Enjoy a gentle pace of life along these historic canals, in and amongst quiet French villages, and delight in world-class cuisine and wine. This 7 night break gives you a great feel of the very best that this region has to offer.
Suggested Itinerary
Arrive at base
2pm – 5pm
After you have arrived and checked-in, we’ll show you to your boat as quickly as possible. Spend time settling in, freshen up and await your pre-departure briefing which will be given by one of our base technicians. They will familiarise you with the boat’s domestic systems and give you a hands-on demonstration of the boat controls and how to operate it. They will make sure you are comfortable and confident controlling the boat, as well as navigating the waterway, before you set off.
Explore Saint-Jean-de-Losne
5pm – 6:30pm
This popular small tourist town has fantastic supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, wine shops and more… All you could need to stock up on before you start your journey!
One of the best bakeries in the area, Boulangerie Jaye, is a mere five minute walk from the base: +33 (0)960 1023 44
Dinner at Le Bouchons Losnais, Saint-Jean-de-Losne
7pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy a fabulous dinner at Le Bouchons Losnais, just a ten minute walk from the Le Boat base. This popular local restaurant offers simple, fuss-free food, located right next to the Saône river. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy dinner on the terrace with a beautiful view of the river.
For bookings: +33 (0)667 1178 36
Overnight in Saint-Jean-de-Losne
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Saint-Jean-de-Losne > Seurre
9:15am – 11:15am
Approx. 2hrs | 1 lock
Lunch at Restaurant La Marine, Seurre
12pm – 2pm
Enjoy a wide range of authentic French cuisine, as well as the freshest sushi at this local favourite, complete with a nice garden terrace and a unbeatable view of the River Saône.
For bookings: +33 380 211 290
Seurre > Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
2pm – 4:30pm
Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 1 lock
Explore Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
5:10pm – 7pm
Take a stroll in the Île du Château Park, accessible by a footbridge, then stop by the Bread & Wheat Museum and learn about the many centuries of harvesting wheat and bread-making.
+33 (0)385 9157 09 | verdunsurledoubs.fr
Dinner at Le Caveau de Verdun, Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
7pm – 9:30pm
This restaurant serves generous portion sizes of traditional local food. Make sure you try the region’s specialty dish, ‘Pôchouse’, which is a mix of freshwater fish in a delicious wine sauce.
For bookings: +33 3 85 91 82 50 | lecaveaudeverdun.fr
Overnight in Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Verdun-sur-le-Doubs > Chalon-sur-Saône
9am – 12:30pm
Approx. 3hrs 30mins | 0 locks
Lunch at L’Émile Brochettes, Chalon-sur-Saône
12:30pm – 2pm
Take a ten minute walk from the port at Saint Laurent Island, to enjoy lunch at L’Emile Brochettes. Since 2003, this restaurant has been renowned for their delicious grilled meat skewers, but the menu has something for everyone. Sit outside on their beautiful patio and enjoy a relaxing meal.
For bookings: +33 3 85 48 29 05 | emile-brochettes-chalon.fr
Explore Chalon-sur-Saône
2pm – 5:30pm
Take a stroll to the town centre, where you will see quaint half-timbered houses, towers and turrets, fortifications and bastions from the 16th century. Must-see attractions for the day include the Saint Laurent Island Hospital and its 19th Century chapel, and the 15th Century episcopal palace.
If you are looking for an activity to do indoors if the weather isn’t good, visit the fascinating museum dedicated to the inventor of photography, Nicéphoré Nièpce, which displays some of the earliest cameras and colour photographs to be produced.
For more information: museeniepce.com
Dinner at Chez Jules, Chalon-sur-Saône
7pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy full-flavored, hearty dishes with a homely, comforting ‘twist’, inspired by the chef’s love of international cuisine. In addition to their classic menu, the restaurant also offers ‘wine dinners’, which are usually five courses with tailored wine parings.
A bonus: this fantastic restaurant is only a three minute walk from the mooring!
For bookings: +33 (0)385 48 08 34 | chezjules.restaurant
Overnight in Chalon-sur-Saône
For families with younger children
Chalon-sur-Saône: For a fun family activity, head to the patisserie L’Ambroisie, where you can learn how to make your own choux pastry and macaroons. Advance booking is required: +33 (0) 385 4809 88. You can taste your creations at the end of the class and also get to take home the delicious treats you’ve made!
Breakfast in Place Saint-Vincent, Chalon-sur-Saône
8am – 10am
Enjoy a stroll into town and grab a coffee and pastry for breakfast in one of the many quaint cafés of Place Saint-Vincent.
Taxi or train to Chagny
10am – 10:30am
Take a taxi (a 17 minute journey) or hop on the train (a 10 minute journey) to Chagny. The train station is 1.5km from the harbour.
Explore Chagny
10:30am – 12pm
Take the opportunity to enjoy a walk around the city before lunch to enjoy some sightseeing and to discover nice little gift shops.
Lunch at Pierre et Jean, Chagny
12noon – 2pm
Enjoy good quality food at good value for money at this unpretentious fine-dining establishment.
For bookings: +33 (0)385 870 867 | pierrejean-restaurant.fr
Explore Chagny
2pm – 6pm
Chagny marks the border between two wine growing areas, and is the ideal starting point for sampling all the vineyards have to offer, from the prestigious Côte de Beaune AOC grands crus, to the sparkling Burgundy cremants. We recommend the vineyard Domaine de la Folie, which is located about 1.5km south of the Canal.
For bookings: +33 (0)385 87 18 59 | domainedelafolie.fr
Taxi or train back to Chalon-sur-Saône
6pm – 7pm
Travel back to Chalon-sur-Saône.
Dinner at Les Gourmants Disent, Chalon-sur-Saône
8pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy well-presented, unique dishes with a balanced mix of flavours, made using fresh seasonal produce.
Be sure to book in advance: +33 (0)385 48 75 21 | les-gourmands-disent-restaurant.fr
Overnight in Chalon-sur-Saône
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Chalon-sur-Saône > Gergy
9am – 11:30am
Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 0 locks
Lunch on board
12pm – 2pm
Explore Gergy
2pm – 6pm
For a relaxing afternoon, take the short walk to the Saint-Germain church; its Gothic architecture and detailed sculptures are a real treat! Afterwards, enjoy shopping at the Meix Lantin Cheese Factory for divine goat cheese.
If you’re looking for someting a bit more active, Bourgogne Jeep Découverte offers a unique sightseeing experience; get the chance to drive a vintage Jeep through the vineyards, accompanied by a guide who will tell you all about the beautiful landscape. The recommended duration of a Jeep tour is about 2 hours and operating hours are between 9am and 7pm every day of the week.
For bookings: +33 (0)6 81 27 69 40 | bourgognejeepdecouverte.com
Physical address: 5 rue de Saone, 71590, Gergy
Dinner at Restaurant Beau Rivage, Gergy
7pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy laidback, fresh fare at this popular local, complete with a beautiful view of the river.
For bookings: +33 (0)385 9187 45 | beaurivage.fr
Overnight in Gergy
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Gergy > Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
9:30am – 10:30am
Approx. 1hr | 0 locks
Explore Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
10:30am – 11:30am
Get the fishing rods out and practice your hand at catching some local carp, pike perch, pike, catfish, roach or bream. Alternatively, hop on bicycles and take time to shop for wine and food in the town, and prepare a nice lunch to enjoy back on your boat.
Lunch on board, Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
11:30am – 12:30pm
Verdun-sur-le-Doubs > Seurre
12:30pm – 3pm
Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 1 lock
Explore Seurre
3pm – 6pm
Enjoy a discovery tour of the heritage of the historic centre of Seurre. Twelve panels representing the main buildings or remarkable places in Seurre, have been installed in the town centre. Children can also enjoy the visit as the little Jacquemart (bell striker) asks them a fun question or riddle on each panel. Alternatively, enjoy a peaceful walk or bicycle ride along the lush green canals and stretch your legs.
Dinner at L’Orée des Charmes
7pm – 9:30pm
This hotel-restaurant offers great local cuisine with special attention to the presentation.
For bookings: +33 (0)380 33 03 03 | oreedescharmes.fr
Overnight in Seurre
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Seurre > Saint-Jean-de-Losne
9:30am – 11:30
Approx. 2hrs | 1 lock
Lunch at Le Sauconna, Saint-Jean-de-Losne
12noon – 2pm
The Sauconna is a popular spot thats sees regular locals every week. This restaurant offers the tastiest local cuisine, home-made with fresh and seasonal products.
For bookings: +33 (0)3 80 71 50 31 | hotel-restaurant-sauconna.fr
Explore Saint-Jean-de-Losne
2pm – 6pm
This popular small town offers lots of possibilities. Visit the Barge Museum, located in a restored 15th Century house near the Le Boat base, or walk to the Baptiste church, which is covered with glazed tiles in classic Burgundy tradition.If you prefer to end your journey by savoring more wine, head about twenty kilometers by car from the base to the vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Dinner at La Barge Gourmande, St-Jean-de-Losne
7pm – 9:30pm
For your final evening of your holiday, enjoy something a little different with this restaurant situated on a barge in “La Gare d’Eau”, just a few meters from your boat at the base. The food is delicious and home-made, and you can enjoy a peaceful view of the water. The kitchen is also open plan to allow you to watch the chef at work.
For bookings: +33 (0) 660 7000 93
Overnight in Saint-Jean-de-Losne
Breakfast on board
7:30am – 8:30am
Enjoy your final breakfast on board before tidying and vacating your boat by 9am (unless you have booked and paid for a late-checkout)
Depart St-Jean-de-Losne
9am
10 night alternative
With an additional three nights, you would have plenty of time to cruise along the Canal du Centre between Chalon-sur-Saône and Chagny, instead of travelling there by taxi or train. It’s a 4.5hr journey by boat each way. From Chagny, we’d recommend taking a train north to visit Beaune, a walled town at the center of the Burgundy winemaking region in France. Surrounded by the Côte d’Or vineyards, this cobbled town is renowned for an annual wine auction held at the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune). Recognized by its colorful, geometric-patterned tile roof, this 15th-century former hospital is now the Hôtel-Dieu Museum, showcasing works like “The Last Judgement” altarpiece by Van der Weyden.
From St-Jean-de-Losne, you can also easily get to Dijon by train, which is known as “the city with a hundred steeples”, and is also the well-known capital of the Burgundy region.
This itinerary is a suggestion only
This suggested itinerary is an indication of what could be accomplished, and your ability to accomplish it, is not a contractual obligation of Le Boat. Le Boat is unable to guarantee when your pre-departure briefing will take place and in some cases it will not be given until the morning after your arrival. In these instances, you will need to adapt the itinerary outlined to accommodate a later departure. All cruising distances and times are approximations and are subject to local navigation restrictions at the time you cruise, planned or otherwise, which may also require you to deviate from the itinerary shown. Please check advertised opening times of sights, attractions and restaurants to avoid disappointment – some may need to be booked in advance. All meals, entry fees and tour tariffs are payable at your own expense. Attractions, restaurants and even locks and/or stretches of the waterway may be closed or can close without notice.
We’d love to hear from you
We’ve tried our very best to ensure the accuracy of the information we’ve provided. If you have followed all or some of this itinerary and have found something isn’t quite right, or perhaps you have some helpful tips and pointers that we could add which might be useful to your fellow boaters, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at: itineraries@leboat.com
Image credits
Saint-Jean-de-Losne Aerial – Guillaume Robert Famy – Saone Tourisme | Île du Château Park – Verdun-sur-le-Doubs tourism | St. Laurent Island Hospital – Wikipedia Commons | Place St-Vincent, Chalon-sur-Saône – Wikipedia Commons | Chagny Town – Chalon-sur-Saône tourism – Location Burgundy | Domaine de la Folie vineyards – Stuart Pearce | Nuits-Saint-Georges Vineyards Website