Rent a boat to navigate on the Canal du Centre
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Boat rental on the Canal du Centre. Discover the highlights of this cruise between Digoin and Chalon-Sur-Saône
From Digoin, several routes are available to you. You can leave for Briare for a river cruise in the heart of Burgundy or for Saint-Jean-de-Losne to navigate on a picturesque route. This is the direction in which we propose to take you.
Let's go for 112 km of navigable waterways. There are two starting points in this navigation area: Digoin and Saint-Léger-Sur-Dheune, where you will find a towpath along the way, so don't forget your bikes! Here are some of the towns and villages you can discover during your cruise.
Cities and villages to discover during your cruise
Navigation conditions to rent a boat without a licence on the Canal du Centre in Burgundy
The 112 km long Canal du Centre is narrow and winding. Navigation is simple and pleasant. The Canal has 61 automatic locks. It is an ideal destination for beginners.
To navigate the Canal du Centre by houseboat, you can start your cruise at the base of Digoin or Saint-Léger-Sur-Dheune and take the direction you want. Before starting your river cruise, you will receive a short 1-hour training session to familiarise yourself with your boat without a licence.
- Many castles to visit
- Discovering the wines of the Côtes Chalonnaise
- Towpath perfect for cycling
The locks are automatic or electric and most are manned by lock-keepers.
The locks are closed the 1st of May and the 1st of November.
The locks are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are closed for lunch between 12 and 1 p.m..
On the Canal du Nivernais, there is a ladder of 16 consecutive locks: the locks of Sardy.
- From 22 July 2026: the Canal Latéral à la Loire is closed between La Besbre Lock (PK 29, near Dompierre-sur-Besbre) and Maimbray Lock (PK 182, near Belleville-sur-Loire) until April 2027 due to insufficient water resources.
- From 31 July 2026: the Canal du Centre is closed until further notice due to insufficient water resources.
- From 16 August 2026: the Briare Canal is closed until further notice due to insufficient water resources.
Between Saint Jean de Losne and Mâcon, you must only stop at designated moorings, elsewhere you can moor anywhere along the banks in the heart of the countryside.
The Canal du Centre - our suggested cruises
Saint Léger
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Saint Léger
round trip
Dompierre
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Gastronomy
Monument
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Digoin
round trip
Gastronomy
Monument
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Dompierre
round trip
Branges
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Dompierre
round trip
Saint Léger
round trip
Decize
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Louhans
round trip
Swimming
Monument
Vineyard
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
Digoin
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Decize
round trip
Dompierre
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Monument
Vineyard
Saint Léger
round trip
Louhans
round trip
Gastronomy
Nature
Swimming
Monument
Vineyard
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Branges
round trip
Digoin
round trip
Monument
Gastronomy
River constructions
Swimming
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
Vineyard
Customer testimonials
4.5/5
(based on 24 ratings)
"Canal du Centre: our only option due to the lack of water. There were few places of interest to visit."
"Wonderful."
"Pleasant and peaceful, with a lovely lock keeper."
"It was great to be able to stop wherever we wanted, and the lock keepers were very friendly."
"Very good experience but the region is a bit quiet off-season."
"Wild, that was the goal."
"Great pleasure cruising the peaceful canals."
"Pretty nice. It was a pleasure to navigate on a canal in the middle of the countryside."
"Relaxing cruise."
"An extraordinary experience that we'll be repeating next year."
"auto-translation :''A real joy shared with my grandchildren''"
"We were very well advised by the team at the base, who were very helpful."
"auto-translation :''Everyone was happy with the experience.''"
"auto-translation :''It was magical to share this moment of reunion as a family, living a unique and original experience and meeting passionate and fascinating lock keepers.''"
"auto-translation :''Canal roanne digoin beautiful and wild''"
"auto-translation :''We have adored''"
"auto-translation :''A beautiful experience to renew''"
"auto-translation :''Super very nice''"
"auto-translation :''Quiet, relaxing and exotic''"
"auto-translation :''Rather successful''"
"auto-translation :''Enchanted by our cruise''"
"auto-translation :''Great ! Nothing else to say about our cruise on the Canal de Roanne to Digoin''"
"auto-translation :''This Canal was nice''"
Travelling with CrisBoat
Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
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"The freedom to choose our stops without any constraints."