Departing from our base in Mâcon, head south to reach the wonderful gourmet city of Lyon. Or head north to pass through peaceful natural surroundings and discover a few Burgundy grands crus.
Boat hire on the Lyon and Saône in a few words…
Leave Mâcon for a cruise along the Saône and the Seille. Here, you can explore multicoloured façades, lively pedestrianised streets, great wines and gourmet specialities. The Saône is one of the most beautiful rivers in France. Going upstream to the north, take a detour on the small canal that leads you to Pont de Vaux in the Pierres Dorées district, a real gem with its ochre stone houses. Then, visit Tournus and its Romanesque abbey. Much of this former Benedictine monastery has been preserved and its abbey church is one of the largest Romanesque monuments in France. If you choose to cruise along the Seille to Louhans, classed as one of “the most beautiful detours in France” and awarded the “site remarquable du goût” label for its gastronomy, you can try the famous Bresse poultry. From Mâcon, heading south, travel to Lyon and enter the town between the hillsides of Fourvière and La Croix-Rousse, with the charming Ile Barbe.
The
highlights of Mâcon
- Lyon is just a few hours away by boat
- Lots of local markets for poultry, books and local produce
- Possibility to cruise one way to Saint Léger sur Dheune
our routes departing from Mâcon
The routes shown are only suggestions; don’t forget that you can stop wherever you like on your cruise.
The golden triangle of Burgundy
Waterway
Saône, Seille, Canal du CentreItinerary
Mâcon...Saint Léger
Once the capital of the Gauls but these days the world capital of gastronomy, Lyon has something for the whole family. Plan your visit carefully: the city is large and has a wealth of historic heritage and other attractions.
Mâcon is a large town, devoted to culture and gastronomy, and is the birthplace of celebrities who need no introduction: the poet Alphonse de Lamartine (you can’t miss his statue) or, more recently, the footballer Antoine Griezmann.
Louhans boasts the only poultry in the world with its own appellation contrôlée (since 1957), so on Mondays, it’s essential to stop off at the poultry market. This is a central feature of the town’s history, having first appeared in the reign of Louis XI in the 15th century.
Tournus has kept three unmissable sites from its rich history: the Abbey of Saint Philibert, the Hôtel-Dieu and the old town, which still shows traces of the Roman period.
Since 1999, Cuisery has been the “book village". Explore the many second-hand book sellers and enjoy the other book-based activities, such as the book festival and the book market.
Chalon is the department’s largest town (Mâcon comes second) and has plenty of attractions, including its former abattoir, now transformed into a cultural centre that supports street artists in their creations.
Tie up your self-drive boat at Chagny on a Sunday to explore its large market. A perfect opportunity to stock up with all kinds of food and some good bottles of Burgundy. You’ll also find a highly-regarded restaurant: the Lameloise, which is Michelin-starred.
Santenay, a Côte de Beaune appellation that needs no introduction, is an ideal place for wine-lovers to stop off on their cruise. Don’t forget to book ahead for visits to vineyards; most of them require advance booking.
The surrounding beauty gives you an appetite!
Waterway
Saône, SeilleItinerary
Mâcon...MâconLouhans boasts the only poultry in the world with its own appellation contrôlée (since 1957), so on Mondays, it’s essential to stop off at the poultry market. This is a central feature of the town’s history, having first appeared in the reign of Louis XI in the 15th century.
Tournus has kept three unmissable sites from its rich history: the Abbey of Saint Philibert, the Hôtel-Dieu and the old town, which still shows traces of the Roman period.
Chalon is the department’s largest town (Mâcon comes second) and has plenty of attractions, including its former abattoir, now transformed into a cultural centre that supports street artists in their creations.
Canals and rivers for epicureans
Waterway
Saône, Canal du CentreItinerary
Mâcon...Saint LégerLouhans boasts the only poultry in the world with its own appellation contrôlée (since 1957), so on Mondays, it’s essential to stop off at the poultry market. This is a central feature of the town’s history, having first appeared in the reign of Louis XI in the 15th century.
Tournus has kept three unmissable sites from its rich history: the Abbey of Saint Philibert, the Hôtel-Dieu and the old town, which still shows traces of the Roman period.
Chalon is the department’s largest town (Mâcon comes second) and has plenty of attractions, including its former abattoir, now transformed into a cultural centre that supports street artists in their creations.
Tie up your self-drive boat at Chagny on a Sunday to explore its large market. A perfect opportunity to stock up with all kinds of food and some good bottles of Burgundy. You’ll also find a highly-regarded restaurant: the Lameloise, which is Michelin-starred.
Santenay, a Côte de Beaune appellation that needs no introduction, is an ideal place for wine-lovers to stop off on their cruise. Don’t forget to book ahead for visits to vineyards; most of them require advance booking.
If you want to book this cruise
Browse online the availabilities
our boats available
Departing from our Mâcon base, we can offer the range of canal boats shown below. To see the full range of cruises available, please see our self-drive boat pages or contact our team who can help you to choose.
Pénichettes Classique®
The traditional Pénichette®, very easy to pilot and perfect for couples and families.
From 2 to 7 people.
Pénichettes Aft-Deck®
A spacious and well-lit boat, characterised by its lovely protected terrace at the rear.
From 2 to 12 people.
Pénichettes Flying Bridge®
One of the latest range of Pénichettes®, offering considerable comfort thanks to their double inside and outside helm positions.
From 2 to 12 people.
Pénichettes Evolution®
Based on the strengths of the existing family of Penichettes®, this new generation of boats offers a completely new cruising experience.
Linssen
Choose one of the finest yachts with the Linssen Grand Sturdy 34.9 boat! Elegance, high-quality furnishings and comfortable sailing are the hallmarks of these renowned boats.
From 2 to 6 people.
Europa
Cosy, elegant and designed as small yachts, the Europa boats offer decidedly modern comfort and aesthetics.
From 2 to 6 people.
Your departure
base Mâcon
LOCABOAT HOLIDAYS
51 Rue Alain Colas
71000 – Mâcon
FRANCE
If you have already booked your cruise and you want to reach your departure base:
