Venarey river yacht charter & license-free river boats
Last updated on 8 April 2025
Belonging to the department of Côte-d'Or, the small commune of Venarey-les-Laumes invites you to take a leap into the history of France. With the Brenne and the Oze flowing through it, this commune offers its visitors the chance to read the country's history along the Burgundy canal, revealing a magnificent architectural heritage.
Immerse yourself in history in Venarey
Thanks to the opening of the Burgundy Canal, the small town of Venarey-les-Laumes began to open up to the world by creating its own river port. Venarey quickly became an essential nautical stopover for its bucolic setting and peaceful environment, but also for its proximity to numerous historical sites dating back to the defining eras of France.
Located about fifteen kilometers from the town of Montbard, Venarey is indeed a stone's throw from Alise-Sainte-Reine. This is the famous village where the Battle of Alésia took place, pitting Julius Caesar against Vercingetorix in the year 52 BC. Bordered by the small river Ozerain, this historic village lies at the foot of Mont Auxois. During your stopover in Venarey, take the time to visit the Alésia Museum and Park, which preserves the remains of the Gallo-Roman city of Alésia, retracing the history of an ancient and prosperous city.
During your stop in Venarey, also take the time to wander through its peaceful little streets, which open onto beautiful architecture such as the 13th-century parish church of Saint Germain de Paris and the 18th-centuryvenarey-les-Laumes castle, built in the 18th century.
The history of France along the waterways
The country's history can also be discovered along the Burgundy Canal. By choosing a river cruise from Venarey, you will be sailing on one of the most famous networks in France, where remarkable monuments and an impressive number of sites stand side by side. The Oze bridge, also known as the Roman bridge, will be your first discovery on the Burgundy canal. Then come the greatest Burgundy castles, which will pass before your eyes as you travel from one town to another.
Heading north, your first stop will be the town of Montbard, which enjoys peaceful days on the banks of the canal and will be a perfect point of departure for reaching the commune of Marmagne, where the famous Abbey of Fontenay stands. Your cruise will take you to the towns of Ancy-le-Franc, Tanlay and Tonnerre, offering you a historic and gourmet stopover.
Following the Burgundy Canal will also be a great opportunity to visit the villages labeled Most Beautiful Villages of France. Among them, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, a former fortified city proudly enthroned on a rocky outcrop that owes its fame to its aniseed-flavored draught beers, brewed since 1591 in the Abbey of Saint-Pierre. We should also think of the village of Noyers-sur-Serein, located near the town of Auxerre, which has lost none of its medieval character with its ramparts, towers and ancient buildings classified as Historic Monuments.
Sailing south from Venarey, you can't miss the splendid Ouche valley, dotted with locks and small villages hauling in the sides of the Burgundy canal or the Ouche river, where time seems to have stood still.Ouche, where time seems to have stood still.
Good to know
| Number of boats available | 1 167 |
|---|---|
| Average price per week | $2,454 |
| Minimum weekly price | $817 |
| Maximum price per week | $5,774 |