SAINT-JEAN-DE-LOSNE - CHAGNY
Out and Back
SAONE, CANAL DU CENTRE
The River Saone wide and majestic - A heron flies past then takes watch on a branch in search of fish. A wave bigger than the others announces a Rhone barge which slowly passes without troubling a flock of swans - Photos -Sunbathing. Return to civilisation in the city of Chalon - Pretty pedestrian streets lead us to the ornate facades of Saint Vincent Square - A visit to the Niepce museum. A deep lock then the Canal du'Centre winds its way towards the rich vineyards of Chagny. The locks beyond Fontenoy-le-Chateau are frequent, and are closed on Sundays.
175 km - 28 locks - 35 hours of cruising
out and back |
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SAINT-JEAN-DE-LOSNE - PONT D'OUCHE
Out and Back
CANAL DE BOURGOGNE
Washing drying on the decks of barges waiting to load. We slowly climb towards Dijon, city of history and capital of Burgundy - A stroll through town squares and winding streets. Masses of flowers, colourful and fragrant on the lock sides. We unload the bicycles and pedal hard up the steep slope towards Chateauneuf -To restore our strength we lunch in a charming local restaurant. The paved streets all lead to a fortress which watches over the surrounding Burgundian hills - What a view! The boat seems so small way below.
140 km - 110 locks - 36 hours of cruising
out and back |
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SAINT-JEAN-DE-LOSNE - LOUHANS
Out and Back
SAONE, SEILLE
The meeting of two rivers, the Saone and the Seille - A happy marriage of two waters of character - Down river we go, guided by red and black buoys - Chalon and Tournus, two famous old towns. Suddenly a blue flash as a kingfisher returns to its nest, a fish in its beak - Beyond Cuisery the banks move in towards us and we cruise through a tunnel of trees. A quiet mooring -The fishing line goes taught, a fish for our dinner.
293 km - 16 locks - 36 hours of cruising
out and back |
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SAINT-JEAN-DE-LOSNE - BESANCON
Out and Back
DOUBS
A crew member is on the roof as we approach the lock - A quarter turn of the control rod, a short wait and the heavy gates open - A green light welcomes us into the lock. A few hundred metres more and the collegiate church of Dole appears, towering over the roofs of the old town -A colourful market in the pedestrian streets -A walk along the water's edge in the tanners' quarters. Further on canal and river intertwine -The banks become steep cliffs plunging vertically into the water of the Doubs. High up the Citadel of Besancon looks over the old town encircled by the river.
150km - 48 locks - 32 hours of cruising
out and back |
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| VERDUN-SUR-LE-DOUBS
AThe cruises shown from St-Jean-de-Losne are also available from our base at Verdun-sur-le-Doubs. Add or subtract 4½ hours from the cruising times given for St-Jean-de-Losne. |
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FONTENOY-LE-CHATEAU - CHARMES
Out and Back
CANAL DE L'EST
A dark tunnel of trees - From time to time the sun shines through a gap to light up the surface of the canal. On the bank a deer looks at us in astonishment as we go past -A brief encounter then with two gracious leaps he disappears. A long flight of 15 locks - The lock-keeper accompanying comes on board for a glass of wine. The sun setting on the port reflects an image... of Epinal -The boat rocks a little and a barge goes slowly by in the morning mist.
130 km - 130 locks - 43 hours of cruising
out and back
(This cruise is a 7 day or more, comfortable 10 day option.) |
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FONTENOY-LE-CHATEAU - SAINT-JEAN-DE-LOSNE
One Way, or Vice Versa
CANAL DE L'EST, SAONE
The beautiful Canal de l'Est leads us from the foothills of the Vosges. After Corre the canal ends and we join the narrow winding Saone - At every turn the quiet arms of the river deserted by commercial barges provide a home for wild life - A water hen is giving swimming lessons to its little ones as we glide past. Quiet moorings in the middle of the countryside or at the foot of an ancient village. In the port of Gray all the crew go ashore to buy provisions : fresh lettuces, bread, local wines - We laze around on board before setting out again - Why hurry?
160 km - 33 locks - 32 hours of cruising
one way |
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FONTENOY-LE-CHATEAU - GRAY
Out and Back
CANAL DE L'EST, SAONE
Cruise to Gray as the one way trip notes above and return to Fontenoy-le Chateau.
200 km - 30 locks - 35 hours of cruising
out and back |
River Cruises 
