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Canal Centre

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

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The basilica of Paray-le-Monial: You can visit this jewel of Romanesque art freely. It is the best preserved model of Cluniac architecture in Burgundy.
The basilica of Paray-le-Monial: You can visit this jewel of Romanesque art freely. It is the best preserved model of Cluniac architecture in Burgundy.
The Digoin Canal Bridge, one of the first canal bridges in France. It is a beautiful place to walk along the canal with the Loire at your feet.
The Digoin Canal Bridge, one of the first canal bridges in France. It is a beautiful place to walk along the canal with the Loire at your feet.
The Château de Palinges and its remarkable gardens: a historic monument located in the heart of a vast 35-hectare estate.
The Château de Palinges and its remarkable gardens: a historic monument located in the heart of a vast 35-hectare estate.

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.

2 possible starting bases

The locks are automatic or electric and most are manned by lock keepers, except on the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal du Centre where some are manual. The locks are closed the 1st of May, the 14th of July and the 1rst of November.

During the season locks are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are closed for lunch between 12:00-13:00 (1:00 p.m.).

Navigation on the Canal du Nivernais is currently suspended at Cercy la Tour (south of the Canal du Nivernais) until 15 June 2024 due to major maintenance work on a dam. As a result, if you are departing from Decize or Plagny, you can currently only cruise on the Canal Latéral à la Loire, and one-way cruises between Decize and Tannay or between Digoin and Châtillon en Bazois will only be possible for a departure after June 15th.

On the Canal du Nivernais, there is a ladder of 16 consecutive locks:  l'échelle de Sardy.

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.

Possible cruises in The Canal du Centre.

Digoin
round trip

Cruise 14 of nights
Monument Monument
River constructions River constructions
Gastronomy Gastronomy
Swimming Swimming
Nature Nature
Sports and leisure activities Sports and leisure activities
Vineyard Vineyard

Louhans
round trip

Cruise 14 of nights
Gastronomy Gastronomy
Nature Nature
Swimming Swimming
Monument Monument
Vineyard Vineyard
River constructions River constructions
Sports and leisure activities Sports and leisure activities

Also to be discovered


Here is the list of possible cruises on the Canal du Centre

Range Standard 2 1
Sheba
Sheba
-25%

€1,479 €1,109

From €222 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 5
  • Cabins : 1
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Electric toilets Electric toilets
220 v socket 220 v socket
Range Standard 2 1
Cirrus B
Cirrus B
-25%

€1,579 €1,179

From €295 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 4
  • Cabins : 1
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Electric toilets Electric toilets
220 v socket 220 v socket
Range Premium 6 0
Mystique
Mystique
-25%

€3,819 €2,859

From €357 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 8
  • Cabins : 3
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Bow thruster Bow thruster
Plancha Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV Flat Screen TV
Microwave Microwave
Air-Conditioning Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets Electric toilets
Bimini Bimini
Range Premium 4 0
Royal Mystique
-25%

€3,979 €2,979

From €496 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 6
  • Cabins : 2
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Bow thruster Bow thruster
Plancha Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV Flat Screen TV
Microwave Microwave
Air-Conditioning Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets Electric toilets
Bimini Bimini
Range Premium 2 2
Horizon
Horizon
-20%

€2,939 €2,349

From €587 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 4
  • Cabins : 2
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV Flat Screen TV
Microwave Microwave
Air freshener Air freshener
Electric toilets Electric toilets
Bimini Bimini
Range Premium 4 0
Horizon 2-S
-20%

€2,939 €2,349

From €470 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 5
  • Cabins : 2
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV Flat Screen TV
Microwave Microwave
Air freshener Air freshener
Electric toilets Electric toilets
Bimini Bimini
Range Premium 4 2
Horizon 3 Plus
-20%

€4,259 €3,399

From €486 / pers

Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24

  • Max. people : 7
  • Cabins : 3
  • Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Dual cockpit Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV Flat Screen TV
Microwave Microwave
Air freshener Air freshener
Electric toilets Electric toilets
Bimini Bimini

Customer testimonials

Average : 4.8 étoiles 4.8/5 (based on 15 opinion)
 
4
Cruise carried out on Apr 5, 2024, Tarpon 32Cruise : Digoin aller/retour
"Croisière relaxante."
 
5
Cruise carried out on Aug 5, 2023, Penichette 1107 WCruise : Saint Léger aller/retour
"An extraordinary experience that we'll be repeating next year."
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 8, 2023, Espade Concept FlyCruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''A real joy shared with my grandchildren''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 12, 2023, MagnifiqueCruise : Branges aller/retour
"We were very well advised by the team at the base, who were very helpful."
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 4, 2022, Tarpon 37Cruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Everyone was happy with the experience.''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on May 10, 2021, Tarpon 49 QPCruise : Digoin aller/retour
"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.''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 20, 2019, Tarpon 37 DPCruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Canal roanne digoin beautiful and wild''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Sep 22, 2018, Tarpon 37 DPCruise : Pontailler aller/retour
"auto-translation :''We have adored''"
 
4
Cruise carried out on Sep 28, 2018, Penichette 1107 W ACruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''A beautiful experience to renew''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 16, 2018, Triton 860 FlyCruise : Pontailler aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Super very nice''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Apr 23, 2018, Tarpon 42Cruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Quiet, relaxing and exotic''"
 
4
Cruise carried out on Sep 2, 2017, Tarpon 42Cruise : Louhans aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Rather successful''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jun 5, 2017, Espade Concept FlyCruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Enchanted by our cruise''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jul 2, 2016, Tarpon 37 DPCruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''Great ! Nothing else to say about our cruise on the Canal de Roanne to Digoin''"
 
5
Cruise carried out on Jun 20, 2016, Renaud 8000Cruise : Digoin aller/retour
"auto-translation :''This Canal was nice''"

Travelling with Cris Boat

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.

Who are we?
Customer
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
20 years of experience
Wide choice of boats and destinations
Voyager avec Cris Boat

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The Canal du Centre

Chagny

During your houseboat cruise on the Canal du Centre, you will also navigate through the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune. And what if you stopped for a wine tasting? Chagny is full of good gastronomic restaurants, the best known being Lameloise (3 Michelin stars).

Local market on Thursday and Sunday morning

Montceau-Les-Mines

If you moor your houseboat in the port of Montceau-Les-Mines, you can discover this mining town that has preserved its historical heritage. You can stroll through its welcoming pedestrian streets and its small art galleries, including that of Monique Thierry.

Local market on Tuesday and Saturday morning

Palinges

You can moor in Palinges to discover the Château Digoine, one of the most beautiful in Burgundy, accessible by boat without a licence! The Château de Digoine in Palinges is an ancient residence whose construction was completed in the 18th century. It is decorated by Cicéri and was popular with Offenbach and Sarah Bernhardt.

Paray-Le-Monial

For a more cultural cruise, we recommend a stop in Paray-Le-Monial, to visit the old town and its magnificent basilica. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the most famous monument in Paray-le-Monial. This 12th century building, built by Hugues de Semur, is the best preserved example of Cluniac architecture in Burgundy.

Digoin

Digoin is the starting point for one-way cruises to Châtillon en Bazois on the Canal du Nivernais or Briare on the Canal Latéral à la Loire, you can also go as far as Roanne on the Canal de Roanne à Digoin in one week. In Digoin, you can cross the Pont Aqueduc, the emblematic structure of the town! As you cross it, don't miss the breathtaking view over the Loire!

Local market on Friday and Sunday morning

Roanne

For a gourmet break, make a stop in Roanne, the gastronomic capital of Burgundy! Roanne is full of gastronomic restaurants, the most prestigious of which is the Maison Trois Gros (3 Michelin stars). You can then wander around the town to see its 12th century keep and its Bourbonnaise house, recognisable by its half-timbering.

What is included / not included

The price of your charter includes

  • The rental of the boat
  • Fittings: equipment necessary for navigation
  • Crockery: in sufficient quantity for the number of passengers on board
  • Bedding*: sheets, blankets or duvets, pillows and pillow cases
  • Boat insurance
  • Navigation instruction and delivery of the yacht's card
  • Breakdown assistance available 7/7 during the base's opening hours
  • The navigation toll
  • A 13 kg gas bottle

* Beds made up on certain boats in the 5 star range

 

The price of your rental does not include

  • Cancellation insurance
  • Navigation guide
  • One way supplement
  • Deposit redemption insurance
  • The cleaning package
  • Cleaning kits, kitchen linen, towels**.
  • Deposit of 780 € to 3 250 €, depending on the boat
  • The navigation package. This includes all consumables used during your stay (oil, diesel, gas, etc.). Depending on the category of the boat, the package varies from 7 € to 22 € per hour of navigation.

** Included on some boats