The Canal du Nivernais preserves a series of three tunnels known as the Voûtes de la Collancelle. It is also dedicated to recreational boating: you can cruise along it without a boating licence, whether you're planning a day trip, a weekend or a week-long journey. This example shows how landscapes and different ways of getting around come together in the Nièvre.
River landscapes and natural areas
Four areas provide a starting point for exploring the Nièvre: the Loire, Puisaye, the Canal du Nivernais and the Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan. The landscape includes forests, meadows, lakes and rivers. Those with a particular interest in nature can explore different perspectives: protected habitats, activities on the water and topics relating to the Loire.
The Réserve Naturelle du Val de Loire covers 1,454 hectares and extends across the Cher and Nièvre departments. Its landscape features include alluvial forests, dry grasslands and side channels. The Pavillon du Milieu de Loire also addresses the themes of rivers and natural habitats: as an environmental education centre, it offers activities on these topics. The Nièvre also has 28 Espaces Naturels Sensibles, 19 of which are open to the public.
Getting around the Canal du Nivernais
The canal is not just a waterway for leisure boats. Activities available there include cycling, hiking on signposted circular trails, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boating and donkey rides. This lets you explore the canal and its surroundings in different ways, without committing to just one way of getting around.
The cycling stages also take in a variety of landscapes. The stage through the Bazois passes forests and bocage landscapes dotted with castles and Romanesque churches. The stage between Chitry-les-Mines and Clamecy follows a continuous Voie verte, apart from the road connection towards Corbigny. This distinction is useful when planning a route if you have a preference for a particular type of trail.
Another structure on the water is the Pont-canal du Guétin: this stone aqueduct has 18 arches and carries boats over the Canal latéral à la Loire. The Bec d’Allier is a confluence area that can be reached from the aqueduct via this canal. The Sentier du Passeur au Bec d’Allier is also located near Gimouille.
Culture, books and mining history
In La Charité-sur-Loire, literature and urban history meet. The town developed its identity as a book town with the arrival of booksellers and art-book dealers. The Cité du Mot is a public institution that promotes the priory and La Charité-sur-Loire as a town of art and history; its cultural programme is devoted to words. Alongside the historic site, language and literature are also at the heart of the experience.
The priory is open free of charge all year round, though opening hours vary by season. The Church of Notre-Dame and the Jardin des Bénédictins are also open free of charge all year round. Check local opening hours and access information before your visit. The Musée de la Mine in La Machine offers a very different way to explore history: located in a former administrative building of the coal mines, it tells the story of coal mining and the lives of miners.
Regional produce and finding the right place to stay
The Nièvre's culinary offerings include wines, cheeses, pastries and honey, as well as Charolais beef. Sweet specialities include Négus, Pavé de la Route Bleue and Nougatine de Nevers. The wine-growing landscape is also a distinctive part of the region: the Nièvre has five vineyards. These culinary themes add another perspective on the region to its nature and cultural experiences.
Discover more destinations: Anlezy, Arbourse, Biches, Champallement, Château-Chinon, Chaumard, Dun-Sur-Grandry, Fours, Glux-En-Glenne, Isenay, La Nocle Maulaix, Lavault-De-Frétoy, Menou, Mhere, Millay, Montaron, Montigny-En-Morvan, Moux, Onlay, Oulon, Ouroux, Saint Saulge, Saint-Hilaire-En-Morvan, Saint-Honoré-Les-Bains, Saint-Péreuse, Saint-Révérien, Sémelay, Tazilly, Varennes-Vauzelles, Villapourçon, La-Charité-Sur-Loire, Neuville Les Decize, Montsauche-Les-Settons, Magny-Lormes, Maux, Dun Les Places, Thianges, Chitry-Les-Mines, Lanty, Sermoise, Pouilly-Sur-Loire, Nevers, Magny-Cours, Cosne-Cours-Sur-Loire, Corbigny, Saint-Eloi, Menestreau, Decize, Pougny, Bazolles, Rémilly, Moussy, Préporché, Entrains-Sur-Nohain, Marigny-Sur-Yonne, Chiddes, Saint-Seine, Jailly, Savigny-Poil-Fol, Gimouille, Vauclaix, Beaulieu, Devay, Achun, Ville-Langy, Montigny-Sur-Canne, Sougy-Sur-Loire, Châtillon-En-Bazois, Varennes-Lès-Narcy, Limanton, Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, Teigny, Gâcogne, Moulins-Engilbert, Tintury, Cercy-La-Tour, Clamecy, Prémery, Alligny-En-Morvan, Saint-Benin-D'azy, Luzy, Saint-Martin-Du-Puy, Lormes, Saint-André-En-Morvan, Ruages, Saint-Pierre-Le-Moûtier, Pougues-Les-Eaux, Donzy, Saint-Amand-En-Puisaye, Azy-Le-Vif, Saincaize-Meaucé, Mars-Sur-Allier, Billy-Sur-Oisy, Arleuf, Dornecy, Marzy, Chantenay-Saint-Imbert, Mesves-Sur-Loire, Planchez, Larochemillay, Fourchambault, Corvol-D'embernard, Montenoison, Poil, Montigny-Aux-Amognes, Beaumont-Sardolles, Fertrève, Moraches, Crux-La-Ville, Challuy, Bitry, Tresnay, Anthien, Alligny-Cosne, Druy-Parigny, Fléty, Raveau, Vignol, Ciez, Blismes, La Collancelle, Ternant, Chevenon, Saint-Malo-En-Donziois, Lucenay-Lès-Aix, Cossaye, Saint-Brisson, Montambert, Champvert, Bouhy, Guipy, Couloutre, Epiry, Châtin, Chalaux, Saint-Léger-de-Fougeret, Marigny-l'Église, Saizy, Oisy, Narcy, Toury-sur-Jour, Vitry-Laché, Mont-et-Marré, Saint-Vérain, Myennes, Colméry, Pouques-Lormes, Dampierre-sous-Bouhy, Corancy, Nuars, La Machine, Arquian, Dornes, Tannay, Brassy
For the regional travel overview: Burgundy.
