The Burgundy Canal by Bike

MONTBARD

Arrive at your leisure in Montbard. This charming little town nestled on the banks of the Burgundy Canal welcomes you for a delightful cultural stopover. Upon arrival, take the time to explore the Fontenay Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This Cistercian gem, surrounded by greenery, immerses you in a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere. The serenity of the place contrasts with the excitement of the journey ahead. As you wander beneath the majestic vaults, you can feel the power of silence and the history that lingers within these centuries-old walls.

From MONTBARD to SEMUR-EN-AUXOIS 35km 277m

From Montbard, you follow the peaceful Burgundy Canal, lined with shimmering reflections, flowered locks, and old lock-keepers’ houses. A detour to Fontenay Abbey is a must: this Cistercian masterpiece, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies untouched in a wooded valley for over nine centuries. At Granges-sous-Grignon, you leave the calm waters and begin to climb gently through hedgerows and dry-stone walls. In Grignon, time seems to have stood still in the quiet village. The road winds through the forest to the Château de Lantilly, an elegant 15th-century stronghold nestled between glade and hillside. Then, after one last rise, Semur-en-Auxois appears: a listed Town of Art and History, crowned with ramparts and rose-colored towers, it overlooks the valley like a movie set, ready to welcome you into its maze of cobbled streets.

• For a few more km 50km 422m

  In Venarey-les-Laumes, you leave the waterway to climb toward Alise-Sainte-Reine. There, the remains of the Gallo-Roman city of Alésia stretch out before you, with the towering figure of Vercingetorix watching over the valley. You rejoin the canal at Chassey, then branch off through gentle countryside dotted with small stone villages. Semur-en-Auxois, designated a Town of Art and History, rises proudly around a bend, perched on its pink granite spur and encircled by ramparts and medieval towers.

From SEMUR-EN-AUXOIS to VANDENESSE-EN-AUXOIS 45km 257m

You leave Semur-en-Auxois, a designated Town of Art and History, and descend into the green Armançon Valley before joining the peaceful banks of the Burgundy Canal.

In Pouilly-en-Auxois, you encounter the Voûte — a 3.3 km canal tunnel carved in the 19th century to let boats pass beneath the watershed between the English Channel and the Mediterranean. Ventilation shafts line the route, still visible today from the bike path. In the past, an electric tugboat slowly pulled barges through; its wooden shelter, designed by architect Shigeru Ban, stands as a tribute. From the port of Escommes, the descent begins. The canal winds gently through wooded hills and quiet locks. You ride through a tranquil landscape all the way to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, a peaceful village nestled at the water’s edge.

• For a few more km 58km 516m

  You follow its peaceful course to Pouilly-en-Auxois, passing flower-lined locks and lock-keepers’ houses. From there, you branch off toward the Château de Commarin, a noble residence still inhabited, surrounded by moats and centuries-old trees. The route then leads you to the Panthier Reservoir, a large canal feeder lake and perfect spot for a break by the water. The climb to Châteauneuf-en-Auxois begins: perched high above the valley, this fortified village is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. You then descend gently to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, a peaceful canal-side port nestled at the foot of the slope.

From VANDENESSE-EN-AUXOIS to DIJON 52km 113m

You leave Vandenesse-en-Auxois along the Burgundy Canal, surrounded by wooded hills and calm waters. At Pont-d’Ouche, a former canal port, the route enters the Ouche Valley. Narrower and wilder, it winds beneath limestone cliffs and dense foliage. You follow a smooth greenway, dotted with flower-lined locks and stone footbridges. Near La Bussière-sur-Ouche, the old Cistercian abbey appears through the trees. Gradually, the terrain opens and the landscape becomes more urban. Still riding in the calm of the canal, you enter Dijon, a UNESCO-listed Town of Art and History, where gothic spires, townhouses, and cobbled streets welcome you to the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy.

DIJON 45km 186m

From Dijon, a Town of Art and History, you leave the city following the peaceful Burgundy Canal. The towpath, lined with locks and groves, takes you to Bretenière.

There, the countryside opens up gently before you reach the first vineyards. Arriving in Gevrey-Chambertin, you enter the sanctuary of the Climats of Burgundy’s vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, every plot has a name, a story, and a distinct character passed down through centuries. Stone walls, vine shelters and perfectly ordered rows shape a living, thousand-year-old wine landscape. You ride at the foot of legendary names, through Gevrey, Brochon and Fixin, before returning to Dijon via quiet roads winding among the crus.

• For a few more km 60km 294m

  The countryside then opens onto the vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges, the beating heart of the Climats of Burgundy’s vineyards, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You ride through Vosne-Romanée and its legendary crus before reaching the Clos de Vougeot: a former Cistercian winery and the true spiritual seat of the Climats — a visit is well worth it. Further on, the names resonate like promises: Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis, then Gevrey-Chambertin, powerful and noble. You follow the Route des Grands Crus, among dry-stone walls, vine shelters and tight vineyard rows, all the way to the gates of Dijon.

DIJON

End of your stay after breakfast. You can take advantage of the morning to stroll through the streets of Dijon. After several days in the saddle, enjoy the city’s morning ambiance with a coffee on a terrace, watching the lively activity of the covered market, where stalls overflow with local delicacies. A final walk through the historic alleys allows you to admire the elegant mansions and the city’s distinctive façades.