Built between 1784 and 1843 to float wood for heating along the river from the Morvan and Bazois forests to the French capital, the Nivernais Canal covers 174 kilometres, from Saint-Léger-des-Vignes, near Decize in Nièvre, to Auxerre in Yonne, through Châtillon-en-Bazois and Clamecy. Nowadays popular among amateur sailors and lovers of river tourism, this beautiful waterway, known as the garden canal because of the peaceful, verdant landscapes it runs through, is an ideal way to discover the natural and built heritage of Nivernais. While you peacefully navigate along the canal, passing through the locks, you can admire some remarkable river structures, such as the vaults of La Collancelle and the sixteen locks of the Sardy Valley. Along the way, use binoculars to watch the many bird species, such as the great crested grebe, grey heron, mallard, mute swan and the kingfisher, which live along canal and the unspoilt surrounding area...
If you are more comfortable on land than water, and prefer walks or cycling, feel free to take the Nivernais Canal cycle route, a superb cycling itinerary of 180 kilometres, which runs along the towpath and a few small secondary roads. An agreeable route to travel with family or friends, dotted with lovely places to stop such as the village of Châtillon-en-Bazois and its magnificent castle with gardens, the ponds of Vaux and Baye, listed Sensitive Natural Areas, Corbigny Abbey, the cultural area of Pays Nivernais Morvan, the medieval town of Clamecy, former capital of wood-floating...
