Bed and breakfast
La "Maisonnette"
DECIZE 
Easy bicycle touring as a family
Cycling along the Nivernais canal greenway
Did you know? It's possible to explore Nivernais canal by bike, as well as by boat.
This smooth greenway route is fairly flat and far from traffic, and so it ticks all the boxes if you're looking to travel from place to place through the countryside. It is the perfect route if this is your first bicycle touring experience. Along the canal, there are some surprising, impressive, cultural, rustic and charming places to stop at, to take some unforgettable memories back home with you.
Your route in a few words
As you cycle along the Nivernais canal and the river Yonne, covering 6 sections of around thirty kilometres per day, you'll have covered the entire route before you know it. You can also choose to cycle along just one or two sections, it's up to you.
A bike ride through Burgundy at your own leisurely pace, pain-free.
174 km distance
6 sections
low difference in elevation
easy level of difficulty
families suitable for
through the countryside type of ride
Day 1
Decize/Cercy-la-Tour - 15 km
You can ease into your bicycle touring experience with a fairly short section. On this short ride, you'll have time for some sightseeing in Decize and Cercy-la-Tour.
The little Venice of the Nivernais
Decize
Sitting on a rocky outcrop, Decize is surrounded by the water. To cross the town from one side to the other, you'll need to cross no less than 5 bridges! This town is heaven-on-earth for nature lovers, and the historic town centre is also worth a visit.
Added bonus for families: the free mobile application LEGENDR offers an original walking tour in the form of a game.
Town of Decize
Rustic charm
Cercy-la-Tour
Make sure you take the time to venture as far as the ancient medieval fortress overlooking the countryside and the historic town centre of Cercy. From there, the panoramic view is stunning. Stop off for a relaxing break in this beautiful place full of flowers, nestled in lush greenery.
Added bonus for families: the swimming pool and play area where children will have a ball.
Historic tour of Cercy-la-TourEat and sleep in Decize and Cercy
Bed and breakfast
Domaine du Troncin
DECIZE 
Hotels - restaurant
Hôtel-Restaurant Le Bel Air
DECIZE 
Hotels - restaurant
Hôtel-Restaurant du Port
DECIZE 
Graded campsite
Camping des Halles
DECIZE 
Bed and breakfast
Chambres d'hôtes Chez Marie
CERCY-LA-TOUR 
Appartments and Gîtes
La Coulangette
CERCY-LA-TOUR 
Graded campsite
Camping Municipal
CERCY-LA-TOUR 
Day 2
Cercy/Châtillon-en-Bazois - 35 km
A ride through Bazois in the midst of nature: through forest, woodland, past châteaus and Romanesque churches. The arrival point is the town of Châtillon-en-Bazois, overlooked by the château and aquatic gardens.
The Château de Châtillon-en-Bazois gardens
Continue this bucolic day at a landscaped area of greenery: the château's English-style gardens. They have the 'Remarkable Garden' label and are worth a visit, especially for the views and water mirrors on the lawns reflecting the château and surroundings.
Eat and sleep in Châtillon
Day 3
Châtillon/Corbigny - 32 km
This next section (the most challenging along this route) will get your legs burning! But it's absolutely worth the effort. You'll be crossing the famous staircase lock with 16 locks in Sardy-les-Epiry covering almost 4 km, the pretty lockmasters' houses, the Voûtes de la Collancelle (tunnels) and the Baye and Vaux lakes, before arriving in Corbigny.
Sardy staircase lock
Baye and Vaux lakes
The Collancelle tunnels
Corbigny
Eat and sleep in Corbigny
Day 4
Corbigny/Clamecy - 33 km
Today, you'll be swapping Nivernais canal for the river Yonne. You'll be cycling past Dirol and the drawbridges, Tannay vineyard where we recommend stopping for a tasting, and then on to the town of Clamecy.
2 for the price of 1!
The village of Dirol
This charming village with a population of only around one hundred might not seem particularly impressive, but it is worth a visit for its 2 weighbridges, otherwise known as the drawbridges! If you're lucky, you might see them in action when a boat is sailing through.
Dirol drawbridges
Historic
Tannay vineyard
We recommend stopping to visit this little vineyard that covers around 25 hectares. It dates back to 1207 when the monks from Tannay collegiate church planted the vines to be able to make wine for the King. The wine would then be transported along the inland waterways of course!
Tannay vineyardClamecy, the capital of timber rafting
Around just one more bend and you'll arrive in Clamecy, today's arrival point. Nivernais canal crosses through this former medieval stronghold. The location meant it was the capital of timber rafting in the 18th and 19th centuries. Take the time to visit the historic town, the collegiate church devoted to St. Martin and the Musée Romain Rolland.
Eat and sleep in Clamecy
Appartments and Gîtes
Le Belvédère
CLAMECY 
Hotels - restaurant
Hostellerie de la Poste
CLAMECY 
Graded campsite
Camping du Pont Picot
CLAMECY 
Other group accomodation, Stopover gite
La Boule d'Or
CLAMECY
Day 5
Clamecy/Mailly-le-Château - 30 km
Now for a day of cycling through spectacular scenery! You can expect to see sheer cliffs, fortified villages and medieval fortresses… You're guaranteed to be amazed!
Staggering!
The Saussois Rocks
You've arrived at the foot of the Saussois Rocks. From this popular spot for climbing (almost 60 m high!) there's a breathtaking view of the valley and the wildlife there is safeguarded.
View of the canal
Mailly-le-Château
The little hilltop village of Mailly-le-Château overlooks Yonne valley, and you'll enjoy exploring this walled village. There is a breathtaking view of the canal from the top, with the Morvan in the distance.
Added bonus for families: the little planetarium in Mailly-le-Château where you'll be whisked away into the starry sky.
Eat and sleep in Mailly
Stop off at the Le Pré du Roi campsite and relax and unwind in a rustic setting surrounded by nature and the river. Children will be able to blow off steam in complete safety in the 3-hectare grounds and you can go swimming as a family in the river Yonne (no lifeguards) or you can go canoeing. In the evening, head to the campsite snack bar!
Day 6
Mailly/Auxerre - 32 km
This last day of cycling is your last chance to enjoy the fresh air alongside the river Yonne, before you arrive in the stunning town of Auxerre. But before that, you'll be riding at an easy-going pace from one beautiful village to the next, with hills covered in grapevines and cherry trees all around you.
A stop on the theme of wine
Wine tasting at the estate in Escolives-Sainte-Camille
Escolives (pronounced Ecoleev) is a charming village in the midst of the Auxerrois vineyard. You can come to the Domaine Borgnat and discover their wines at the 'Symphony Tastings': tour of the 17th-century wine cellars & tasting the range of wines.
Domaine Borgnat
Journey back in time
The Escolives-Sainte-Camille archaeological site
Come and explore the archaeological site of the 'Gallo-Roman villa'. The sculpted blocks of stone that were found in the foundations of the thermal baths at this vast villa are absolutely beautiful.
Escolives archaeological site
Auxerre
Welcome to Auxerre! Unfortunately this means you've reached the end of your trip, but you can stay here for a few days to make the most of this town, as the heritage sites and local atmosphere are worth exploring. This is the perfect transition before returning to real life and your hectic routine!
To see:
- The Cathedral of Saint-Etienne
- The Abbey of Saint Germain and the crypts
- The clock tower and astronomical clock
- The streets lined with half-timbered houses
Added bonus for families: the walking tour 'in the footsteps of Cadet Roussel'
Abbey of Saint-Germain
Cathedral of Saint-Etienne
The Clock Tower
The half-timbered houses
In the footsteps of Cadet Roussel
