The Rigole d'Yonne and 16 locks on the Canal du Nivernais

de fr

Set off to discover two magnificent engineering structures located in Nièvre in Burgundy: the Échelle de Sardy-les-Epiry on the Canal du Nivernais and the Rigole d'Yonne.
This walk follows the Canal du Nivernais along a greenway. You can admire a series of locks, 16 in total over a little more than 3 km. Your walk continues overlooking the canal, along the edge of the Rigole d'Yonne, which supplies the canal with water from Lake Pannecière.

Details

n°11061544
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 45 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 46 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 268 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 221 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

The Rigole d'Yonne
Lock No. 6 on the Sardy scale
Sardy ladder on the Nivernais Canal

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Port Brûlé, at the leat.

(S/E) Walk along the canal without crossing it and you will soon reach the houses of Port Brûlé. Continue down the ladder and discover thefirst lock of the Échelle de Sardy, which has 16 locks in total.

(1) Continue along the edge to reach thesixth lock.

(2) Keep following the towpath to reach lock no. 10.

(3) Continue along this greenway to reach lock no. 16.

(4) Cross the Nivernais Canal here by taking the small bridge on the right, towards the village of Sardy-les-Epiry.

(5) After crossing the stream, continue straight ahead until you reach the bend.

(6) Turn right and take the Blin road.

(7) At the crossroads, ignore the dirt track opposite and continue along the tarmac road on the left.

(8) At the next crossroads, you will reach the Rigole de l'Yonne (a canal feeding the Canal du Nivernais). Turn right and follow it. You will walk a few metres in the open before entering a wood offering shade and coolness, which is very pleasant in the summer heat. Continue along the canal until you reach the Port Brûlé car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 267 m - Car park - Port Brûlé
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 263 m - Lock No. 1 on the Sardy ladder - Canal du Nivarnais
  3. 2 : km 0.94 - alt. 250 m - No. 6 - Écluse à Gégé
  4. 3 : km 1.76 - alt. 239 m - No. 10 - Écluse du Patureau Volin
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 225 m - Cross the canal via a small bridge.
  6. 5 : km 3.63 - alt. 221 m - On the right, grassy path.
  7. 6 : km 3.85 - alt. 223 m
  8. 7 : km 3.98 - alt. 228 m - Crossroads towards La Rigole
  9. 8 : km 5 - alt. 265 m - Encounter with the Rigole de l'Yonne - Rigole d'Yonne
  10. S/E : km 10.55 - alt. 266 m - Car park - Port Brûlé

Worth a visit

(2) Lock No. 6: an unusual stop is a must at the Planche du Belin lock. Push open the door of this former lock keeper's house and discover local products and unusual objects. And Gégé dit l'Indien, the host of these premises, a colourful character with whom you can share a coffee.
(3) Lock No. 10: see the lock keeper's house dedicated to sculpture here.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
patrujmmf
patrujmmf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant descent along 16 locks, followed by a short climb along the pretty little canal that feeds into the Canal du Nivernais. There is an information panel about the Yonne cycle route
and two ageing signs about the Canal du Nivernais and timber floating.

Machine-translated

Xavier NA
Xavier NA

Thank you for your feedback. For the second part, connecting to the Rigole d'Yonne via a path that is no longer authorised, we have created an alternative route that is slightly longer but fully accessible. Enjoy your walk!

Machine-translated

Alain du 58
Alain du 58

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The section along the canal is perfect for hiking.
However, the return route through the woods is inaccessible. The path after the bridge over the river cannot be used. It is closed off by a fence because there are now large rubbish bins there.
I tried to go around through the fields without success.

Machine-translated

Luc Ma
Luc Ma

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk along the Nivernais Canal, descending and ascending through a very pretty wooded area and along the small supply canal.

Machine-translated

pascalpedrak
pascalpedrak

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short route with no difficulties, except for a section of a few dozen metres through a restricted and private area, but this can be bypassed (to be verified) by taking the Blin road and joining the canal just before Blin. In any case, the region is magnificent.

Machine-translated

Montereau77
Montereau77

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

From the start at Port Brûlé to lock no. 16, everything is fine, but at point no. 5, after leaving the grassy path, it's completely unknown territory! At no point is the Rigole de l'Yonne marked...

Machine-translated

FGV
FGV

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello!
I would also like to point out that there is a ban on passing 250 metres before point 6. We passed it.
We had the chance to speak with the person who was running the tourist office at lock 16 that day. She warned us, adding that discussions were underway between the Corbigny Tourist Office and the owner of the site to determine whether or not this sign was legal. In the meantime, she left it up to us to decide whether or not to pass. If the ban is confirmed, we invite other hikers to find an alternative route from point 5 to reach the banks of the Rigole de l'Yonne upstream of point 6, for example via the Domaine du Chêne if possible.
More information is available from the Tourist Office at 8 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 58800 Corbigny, 09 82 56 94 98.

Machine-translated

benoit58
benoit58

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

20/20. One of the most beautiful walks in the region around the water. Magnificent stone structures, numerous places to stop for a break. Lock keepers' houses, café, splendid nature. To be done and redone in all seasons.

Machine-translated

PERRET Marie-Noëlle
PERRET Marie-Noëlle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Between points 5 and 6, a no-passing zone...
We passed...
Along the ditch, there are two paths: take the one on the right.

Machine-translated

bcr
bcr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route, meeting relaxed people on foot or by bike, no cars. Much of the route is shaded. I suggest doing the route in reverse to avoid the climb on the path to reach the forest where the Yonne stream flows, and to enjoy the view of the countryside in front of us towards the 16th lock.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The descent of the 16 locks

Visorando Member
Échelle des 16 écluses
↔14.55 km ↗+85 m ↘-87 m ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sardy-lès-Épiry (Nièvre)
A walk that first follows the Yonne river for several kilometres, then follows the descent of the 16 Collancelle locks.

Walking Montreuillon aqueduct trail

Visorando Member
Circuit de l’aqueduc de Montreuillon
↔13.98 km ↗+178 m ↘-178 m ◔4h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Mouron-sur-Yonne (Nièvre)
A walk through forests and along the Yonne channel. A magnificent view of the Yonne valley from the aqueduct.

Walking From Jules Renard to the Emeraude

Visorando Member
De Jules Renard à l'Émeraude
↔7.86 km ↗+72 m ↘-69 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Chaumot (Nièvre)
From Chitry-les-Mines, home of Jules Renard, to Corbigny and back via the Yonne and the Nivernais Canal.

Walking Mont-et-Marré

Visorando Member
Mont-et-Marré
↔7.96 km ↗+71 m ↘-68 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Mont-et-Marré (Nièvre)
A hike designed to showcase the small heritage of this commune in the Nièvre, located on either side of the Canal du Nivernais: castles, beautiful farms and barns, wash houses and fountains, a beautiful variety of paths and panoramic views.

Walking Saint-Révérien route

Visorando Member
Circuit de Saint-Révérien
↔10.02 km ↗+147 m ↘-153 m ◔3h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Révérien (Nièvre)
Start the hike with a visit to the Romanesque church of Saint-Révérien, a Cluniac site, then continue to the Gallo-Roman site of Compierre, where the remains of the city are still visible and explained. After passing by ponds with the Montenoison hill in your sights, the path will take you to the village of Compierre, at the top of a hill dominated by a castle with a magnificent view at its foot.

Walking A short walk in Châtillon-en-Bazois

Visorando Member
Petite promenade à Châtillon en Bazois
↔5.55 km ↗+22 m ↘-22 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Châtillon-en-Bazois (Nièvre)
A short route or a Sunday stroll! You’ll discover the port, Châtillon Castle and the Nivernais Canal, which is very popular for boat trips.

Walking Grand tour of Montigny-en-Morvan

Visorando Member
Grand tour de Montigny-en-Morvan
↔15.73 km ↗+314 m ↘-316 m ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montigny-en-Morvan (Nièvre)
In Montigny-en-Morvan, there are several hikes. We did a combination of two hikes: Les rives du Petit Lac (12km) and Les Rives de Pannecière (8km).

Walking Route d'Anthien

Visorando Member
Circuit d'Anthien
↔14.76 km ↗+300 m ↘-307 m ◔5h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Anthien (Nièvre)
A hike on the edge of the Morvan Natural Park that will take you to Mont Sabot, at the top of which you will find a Romanesque chapel. Throughout the route, you will have views of the Yonne valleys and the Morvan mountains: Bion, Sabot and Bué.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.