We have made it to our turn-around point – Vandenesse-en-Auxois. While the Canal de Bourgogne continues on for another 164 kilometres and 121 locks, we must stop here. We won’t make it through the Pouilly Tunnel. This will be the end of a lovely journey up the Burgundy Canal. Of course, we’ll have to retrace our trip here and go back to the start of the Canal de Bourgogne in St. Jean-de-Losne – another 79 kilometres and 68 locks.
As we approached Vandenesse-en-Auxois, we knew we were in for a treat – high on the hill, clearly visible from the canal, the Château de Châteauneuf.
For closer shots of Châteauneuf, look at Chapter 18. We went there by car in the spring of 2019.
But in August 2021, we got to go there (or close to it) by barge. As we got closer to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, there were more scenic spots – this one in Crugey (Population 173).
Also in Crugey.
Not all the beauty was on land. This web was on Aleau’s aft deck. (Spiders are a fact of life on a barge.)
Our mooring in Vandenesse-en-Auoxois gave us the nicest view we’ve had so far – and we’ve had many. Taken from Melba, with Aleau on the right, L’Escapade in the centre – and Châteauneuf at the top.
We had three dining choices in Vandenesse-en-Auxois – and we tried each one.
The pizza was as good as any we’ve had. Generous toppings. Thin crust.
Dinner (twice!) was at Restaurant de l’Auxois.
The first time, we ate on an outdoor patio. (I’m the one smiling.)
My entrée was ‘Oeufs-en-Meurettte.’ By the time this adventure is over, I’ll have sampled every version in France.
Jeannie’s entrée was ‘Persillé de Bourgogne, moutard de Fallot, et salade.’
We both chose ‘Filet de poulet, sauce à la crème, et moutard de douce’ as our ‘plat.’
For dessert, I had my favourite – Tarte Tatin.
The next day we had an outdoor lunch at a restaurant alongside the lock in Vandenesse-en-Auxois and next-door to where we had picked up our pizza two days earlier.
Because we had had such a large dinner the night before, we decided to have just a small salad.
We limited breakfast the next morning to a croissant and fruit eaten on Aleau’s aft deck.
Every afternoon, we (L’Escapade, Melba, Peary, and Aleau) took turns hosting ‘apéros’ on our barges. With its two umbrellas, L’Escapade was a perfect place to take shelter from the sun.
No matter which barge we were on, the view was always beautiful.
By day or by night.
Then, it was time to start our return trip – enjoying sights we missed on our way way to Vandenesse-en-Auxois.
