Upper Loire, Canal de Briare
Montargis – Briare – Châtillon-sur-Loire.
2016: May 29 -Jun 4 / Jun 5-11
2017: May 21-27 / May 28 – Jun 3 / Jun 18-24 / Jun 25 – Jul 1
Sail with us on the oldest summit level canal in Europe, connecting the Loire and Seine valleys. In this region, known as the Gâtinais or “Garden of Paris”, the passing countryside of open fields, the picturesque winding waterways and the succession of classic French villages never cease to amaze on this relaxing and bucolic route.
Route description
- Day 1. Montargis: Welcome on board. The second largest city of the Loiret department, after Orleans, is also known as the “Venice of the Gatinais”. The town is criss-crossed with small canals with 131 bridges and an abundance of flowers.
- Day 2. Montbouy: The picturesque village of Montbouy, nested on the left bank of the Briare canal, is full of history. Many remains from antiquity are visible, such as a Gallo-Roman amphitheater that could seat 6000 spectators.
- Day 3. Rogny-les-7-Ecluses: Beautiful village, known and named after the staircase of 7 locks that were in use from 1642 till 1887 on the original canal. Traces of this old canal can still be found in the area.
- Day 4. Ouzouer-sur-Trézee: On our route to Ouzouer, we can also make a stop at the Gazonnne lock to visit the lakes in the neighbourhood. They fed water to the summmit pound of the original canal. Visit the French style gardens of the Pont-Chevron castle with mosaics dating from the roman era.
- Day 5. Briare: Briare is a former medieval place that became a country little-known village. It developed during the reign of Henry IV who started the construction of the canal of “Loyre en Seine”. Afternoon visit to Gien with the faience factory and museum.
- Day 6. Châtillon-sur-Loire: Today we cross the famous canal bridge over the Loire river to moor at Châtillon-sur-Loire. Visit the nearby Mantelot lock where the cargo barges used to cross the wild Loire river before the canal bridge was build.
- Day 7. Châtillon-sur-Loire: Farewell after breakfast.
This Upper Loire cruise can be combined with the Upper Seine cruise as a 14 day Seine-Loire cruise.
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