Cercy-La-Tour brings together two defining landscape features: the confluence of several waterways and its position on a rocky promontory. Here, the Canal du Nivernais meets the Alène, Aron and Canne rivers. The town also offers remarkable panoramic views over the town and its surroundings. This gives visitors several ways to plan a stay: explore the waterside scenery, follow a circular route, visit individual cultural landmarks or go fishing.

Waterways and circular route

The confluence defines the broader waterside landscape of Cercy-La-Tour. The Source des Vreilles offers a different, precisely defined natural feature: this karst spring lies near the Canal du Nivernais and has a constant flow rate of 600 litres per hour. Alongside the meeting of the canal and rivers, visitors can therefore discover a single spring and its measurable flow as distinct features of the surrounding area.

Those wishing to include a longer walk in their plans can consider the 10.5 km circular route “Entre vieilles pierres et rivières.” It follows the towpath along the Canal du Nivernais and leads to Cercy-La-Tour’s leisure port and the structures of the waterway. The route also explores the bocage landscape and the area’s cultural heritage, including the Moulin de Chevillon. In this way, the route combines landscapes, the waterway and cultural heritage in a single circular walk—a different way to explore the area than visiting just one landmark.

Romanesque church and historic details

The Église Saint-Pierre is an 11th-century Romanesque church, dating to 1080. It has been protected as a historic monument since 7 July 1987. The church houses a 111-centimetre-tall wooden statue of Saint Hilary of Poitiers from the 18th century. It is gilded with gold leaf and silvered with powder. The church and statue offer different points of interest: the Romanesque architectural history on the one hand, and a precisely described work of art with distinctive surface decoration on the other.

Another historic object is the Fontaine d'Aligre. Made of sandstone and bronze, the fountain dates to 1844 and depicts the Marquis and Marquise d'Aligre. Unlike the wooden statue in the church, its materials and the people depicted take centre stage. Those interested in local history can thus discover two very different details: a religious sculpture and a fountain bearing portraits of the Marquis and Marquise.

Fishing and planning your journey

Fishing opportunities are also described in different ways. The Chaumigny fishing venue in Cercy-La-Tour is called “Passion” and is geared towards carp fishing. At the Carpodrome de l'Étang de la Tuilerie, anglers can fish for carp and tench under the no-kill rules of a dedicated carp fishing lake. While the Chaumigny venue focuses on carp, the Carpodrome description also mentions tench and its no-kill rules. Local regulations may change; check them before fishing.

Cercy-la-Tour railway station is another useful reference point when planning your journey. It has a TER ticket machine, as well as bicycle and car parking. Station facilities may change, so check the latest information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Péreuse, Isenay, Bouhy, Moux, Dampierre-sous-Bouhy, Glux-En-Glenne, Blismes, Dun Les Places

For the main travel overview: Nièvre.