See vineyards from the water...or sitting on your bike!

A cruise along canals and rivers reminds us that Burgundy's wine tradition owes much to transport on its inland waterways. From one mooring point to the next, take your bike for a spin past legendary appellations and taste some delicious wines as you travel between famous cellars and hillside vineyards... Our Voies Vertes and Cycle routes all lead to vineyards which you can explore in different ways!

Burgundy in Pictures

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Voie des Vignes

Pommard, Volnay, Meursault... the 20 km cycle route, from Beaune to Santenay is part of the Tour de Bourgogne à vélo® and takes you through villages with famous names. From time to time, you can turn off onto a vineyard track and admire views of the Côte Chalonnaise and the Jura.

Voie Verte around Buxy

The Voie Verte runs from Chalon-sur-Saône to Mâcon, by way of Cluny, linking the Côte Chalonnaise vineyards to those of the Mâconnais. It winds around Buxy, through hedge-trimmed meadowland, past wine-growers' houses and hillside vineyards. Why not leave your bike in the village to visit the wine-growing museum which recreates a year's work in the vineyards from mid 19th century to 1950s?

Vineyard as port of call...

The Auxerrois is the gateway to the Burgundy appellation, its sloping vineyards stretching between Coulanges-la-Vineuse, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and Irancy. Alternate between the river Yonne and the canal du Nivernais for a variety of wine-tasting venues. Want to stay on the water? Then wait for the "Cave Vagabonde" to arrive. This barge sails up the canal loaded with wine for you to sample!

On the Canal du Centre

You can cycle beside the canal du Centre or sail along it through locks and wine-growing villages in a cabin boat. At the meeting point of the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune, the area surrounding Chagny is perfect for wine-based cycle touring. Slip away to the Dheune valley and taste wines from the Côte des Maranges with their delicate overtones of red fruit! The Mont de Sène at Santenay affords superb panoramic views over the vineyards.

Practical information

Bourgogne Tourisme and corresponding Comités Départementaux du Tourisme websites have downloadable routes and maps which you can use when planning your travels. Once you have fixed on an itinerary, you simply need to check out the lists of cycle touring and inland waterway operators in Burgundy.