Mailly le Château / Auxerre

With this stage of the Nivernais Canal by Bike, you can leave the lively river port at Auxerre with ease. From the outset, you’ll be struck by the power of the Yonne River. You reach Cravant via a route running along the foot of pretty hills planted with vines and cherry trees. Then you pass through a gorge with striking cliffs and perched villages.

Route details

The greenway beside the canal is practically unbroken, except as you leave Auxerre, at the level of La Cour-Barrée (although the way is being laid out here).

Alternative route towards Accolay via the small Accolay Canal:
- At the Ecluse du Manoir (a lock), cross via the railway bridge
- At the port of Bazarnes, go via the D 439 road, passing under the railway line.

Don’t miss

Auxerre: St Stephen’s Cathedral – the belfry - Saint-Germain Abbey – the Yonne quays - Vaux: the 12th-century church - Champs-sur-Yonne: the charming village – the 13th-century church - Escolives-Sainte-Camille: the Merovingian (Dark Ages) site – Irançy: the pretty village set in an amphitheatre of vines – wine cellars open to visitors in this reputed wine appellation - Vincelottes: the historic port – the 11th-century Cistercian cellars – Vincelles: the winemakers’ village - Cravant: the pretty village – the fortifications – the 13th-century church - Accolay: the Gallo-Roman port - Vermenton: the former abbey at Reigny, with guided tours and summer events, tel 03 86 51 59 30 - Prégilbert: the former abbey of Crisenon - Mailly-la-Ville: a village whose lands once belonged to the Counts of Auxerre - Mailly-le-Château: the fortified village – the views.

Markets

Auxerre: mornings on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays
Cravant: Saturday morning