Canal de Bourgogne Towpath Ride
The Canal de Bourgogne slices straight through Montbard, and the flat towpath alongside it is one of the loveliest easy cycling routes in all of France. Hire a bike, pack a picnic, and let the rhythm of lock gates and poplar reflections do the rest.
Lock Gates and Lazy Kilometres
The stretch between Montbard and the village of Buffon (yes, named after the same man) covers roughly 8 km of dead-flat, car-free path shaded by plane trees. Narrowboats chug past at walking pace, their crews waving from the stern — it's almost absurdly peaceful.
You'll pass through several hand-operated locks where you can watch éclusiers (lock keepers) work the ancient mechanisms. Lock No. 104, just north of Montbard, is particularly photogenic with its stone keeper's cottage draped in wisteria in spring.
Extending the Adventure
Push further south toward Venarey-les-Laumes and you'll reach the Forêt de Fontenay, where the towpath dips into cool woodland and kingfishers dart between the reeds.
The canal connects directly to the Burgundy Canal cycling route (part of the EuroVelo 6 network), so serious cyclists can keep pedalling all the way to Dijon if the mood takes them. Most visitors are happy with a two-hour out-and-back to Buffon and a cold Chablis at the turnaround.
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