Burgundy Canal
Boats & barges
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Canalside
Accommodation
Exploring
Activities
Home port to the best barge cruises
Located near the summit of the Burgundy Canal, the port is home to some of the best barges such as La Reine Pedauque and The Duke. Check out the best cruises in this region.
Vandenesse is a quite village near the summit of the canal. Marking the beginning of the Auxois plain and laying in the shadow of Chateauneuf en Auxois.
If you enjoy walking or cycling you can visit the famous medieval village of Chateauneuf. There is also Panthier reservoir, with windsurfing, sailing and swimming at 5 km. Another beautiful chateau is at 8 km in the village of Commarin.
Within the village there are two well know local restaurants, with
good traditional cuisine.
- Dubois: 0380492236
- Chardin: 0380492238 - new owners
- Lac de Panthier
You can rent cottages in the village centre at the following telephone number 0380492712
At lock number 8, there is a grocers store with bread and local wines for sale. It is open every day during the season. Tel 0380492712.
Bicycle rentals
You can rent cycles from Lock house number 10, 500 metres down stream from the port.
Bric'a'Brac:
A few miles away in the village of Cussy-le-Châtel you will find a barn which is called "La Chouette Grange" there are all kinds of objects for sale both old and new, plus expos of local artists and handcraft. Open from 10.30 to 18.30 suring the summer
- Taxi service: 0380492192
- Camping site: Lac de Panthier 03 80 49 21 94
Many barges will spend a few days in the port, as the facilities are very good. Most weekends, you will find larger hotel barges in the deep mooring.
Port or Vandenesse: between lock 8 and 9 (pay at lock 9). This is a turning point for 38 meter barges, so they will often use the port for a couple of days and fill with water. Although the canal is not heavily encumbered by traffic, sometimes you'll find queues for water!
Between lock 11 and 12 there is a shaded mooring below Chateauneuf.
Apart from these two place move upstream to Escommes or down to Crugey for moorings as the pounds between the locks are unstable, from lock 1 to 11.
Cruising
This section of locks from number 2 to 8 and 10 to 12 are self-operating for boats less than 15 metres in length, you will be given instructions at lock 1 or 13 explaining how to operate the locks. Boats over 15 metres will have a lock keeper to accompany them.
Be careful cruising upstream at most of these locks. There is often a water current on the right side below the lock. In later summer the current can be quite strong and will tend to pull you over to the right just before going into the lock. Boom!
| Chateauneuf medieval village | 5 kilometres |
| Commarin chateau | 8 kilometres |
| Panthier reservoir | 7 kilometres |
Events
First week of September: "Maquettes afloat", a model
boat exposition in the port, working model boats of all kinds,
really worth the visit.