Places to visit

Silver Fern permanently moored at Saint Jean de Losne. So hiring means a round trip, returning the boat to Saint Jean de Losne. But lots can be seen and experienced in just one week. North-east along the Canal de Bourgogne is Dijon, north up the River Saone and into the Canal du Rhone is the pretty town of Dole, and south down the River Saone is the large centre of Chalon sur Soane.

Travelling to Dijon

Travelling north-east up the Canal de Bourgogne is a very pretty trip. However, there is considerable difference in land level between Saint Jean de Losne and Dijon, so you will go through quite a few locks. Fortunately most locks in France are manned. In fact one lock keeper in this canal will man up to five locks and will ride or drive to the next one before you get there. Lock keepers are also in radio contact with each other and will let the next person know that you are coming. Therefore they will ask you if you are going through to the next lock straight away. Because French locks are manned, they are only open from 9am to 5pm and close at lunch time. So you need to time your travel.

Travel to Dijon will usually take two days. Once there you can moor at the port for about 14 euros per day. Take care when mooring in Dijon - the pontoons are not very stable and one can easily fall in the water!

September 7th 2007 On our first night in Dijon We walked into Place Emile Zola and had a 20 euro meal at Le Brochet. Entree was terrine for me and sardines for Francois, then a joue (cheek) de boeuf served with pasta, just superb, so flavoursome and tender. Francois had a steak with the best ever chips. After that we had pain perdu which is a thick slice of bread softened with hot milk and sprinkled with sugar: real comfort food.

Dijon Highlights

Dijon offers so much. Historically the seat of power of the Dukes of Burgundy, it is full of beautiful old buildings, small winding streets, designer shops, antique shops, cafes, markets and many many sights to see.

Markets and Food


We got the free bus into the Dijon markets and wandered through for several hours. I bought pashmina and silk scarves for gifts (easy to pack) and found a traditional style (machine woven) Flemish tapestry throw for our dining table at home. We bought fruit, cheese and charcuterie. The main market building (Les Halles) is just amazing: rows and rows of stall with cheeses, meats and fish. We bought goats cheese, sheeps cheese and of course our favorite Brie de Meaux. I also love the oeufs en aspic: eggs with chopped ham and parsley set in gelatine: a great entree. Outside around the market are the fruit and vegetables stalls and in the surrounding streets are the clothing etc stalls. Next was a 13 euro lunch of a fish fillet with roasted Mediterranean vegetables and herbs with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and followed this with a sorbet citron. The food here is just amazing.

Art and more Food


It's Sunday and we walked for miles photographing this beautiful city. So many old buildings. We had coffee in Place Emile Zola, then strolled on to Place Francois-Rude, another coffee, then onto the Musee des Beaux Arts but back tracked to pick up a picnic lunch: 2 whole baguettes with filling, called a sandwich, but tied with little yellow ribbons. We also bought tartes aux poires (pears) and a mille feuille pastry which was wrapped in a box with ribbon.

After our picnic in Place des Ducs we looked at the Musee (the former Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne): fabulous artwork in a fabulous building. Dutch, Flemish and Italian works and apparently the best collection outside the Louvre. I was impressed by the golden silk wallpaper on the walls of the palace (now the art gallery) and the parquetry floors.