PLACE

COMMENTS

Migennes

I

Villeneuve-sur-Yonne

Villeneuve-sur-Yonne:

Quay, part with rubber bumper, part with sloping wall

1 electrical point, sufficient for 4+ boats

1 water point, locked

Variety of shops

No charge

The quay at Villeneuve is sometimes shared with camper vans.  The main street of the town is only about 100 metres away from the quay, and there’s a wonderfully shady park at the lock end of the quay.

Villeneuve-sur-Yonne

I

Sens

Sens:

Ample quay

1 electrical point (8 outlets)

Water available with bayonet fitting from municipal flower-gardening points

Wide variety of shops

No charge

We tend to end up staying at Sens for at least several days every time we pass by.  The quay itself seems a favourite spot for couples of all ages to meet and snuggle on the benches, and it leads directly onto a substantial pedestrian area which itself leads into the heart of the city.

Sens

I

Montereau

Montereau:

Pontoon

Ample electrical points

Water

Variety of shops

No charge

The pontoons are very close to the bridge which straddles the dividing line between the rivers Seine and Yonne.  There can be heavy commercial traffic passing by.  You’ll need to walk across the bridge to get into the major parts of the city.

Montereau

I

Chartrettes

Chartrettes:

Quay to port (downstream), marina with fingers to starboard

No electricity at quay, ample points in marina

No water at quay, water at marina

Essential shops after 1 km.

No charge at quay, paying port in marina

Not a bad idea to ask someone for directions to the supermarché and bricolage.  They’re quite hidden away otherwise.  If you’re on the quay side, you’ll have to cross a bridge eventually.

Chartrettes

I

Riz Orangis

Riz Orangis:

Small quay for 3 boats

No electricity

No water

Variety of shops

No charge

This quay seems to be in the woods, near to a closed-up restaurant.  It’s surprisingly close to the city, though, once you walk along a path and out of the woods.

Riz Orangis

I

Bry-sur-Marne

Bry-sur-Marne :

Quay for several boats

No electricity

No water

Variety of shops

No charge

The quay here is a busy pedestrian spot next to municipal buildings.  Lots of people around, but very comfortable nonetheless.

Bry-sur-Marne

I

Meaux

Meaux:

Finger pontoons

Electricity

Water

Wide variety of shops

No charge

We do like Meaux, the city, the position of the port, the whole lot.  We look forward to going back again.

Meaux

I

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre:

Ample quay, but beware of markings and sandbar at entrance to harbour

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

No charge

We've mentioned before the problems of navigating the buoys at the entrance to the port.  We did better this time! 

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre

I

Château Thierry

Château Thierry :

Quay, most with sloping wall, and 1 small pontoon

1 electrical point above pontoon

1 water point above pontoon

Wide variety of shops

No charge on quay, paying port for electricity and water on pontoon

We keep discovering new conveniences about Chateau Thierry: access to water and electricity is the only drawback, if you want to stay for several days.

Château Thierry

I

Dormans

Dormans:

Quay adjacent to campground

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port for use of electricity and water

The quay here has recently been extended with an extra pontoon, which makes it even more convenient than before.

Dormans

I

Mareuil-sur-Ay

Mareuil-sur-Ay:

Quay and finger pontoons

Electricity

Water

Essential shops

Paying port

This is such a delightfully peaceful stop - don't know how, but somehow it feels so 'cultured': the fact that there are several excellent local wineries in the village is not to be sneezed at either.

Mareuil-sur-Ay

I

Sillery

Sillery:

Quay and finger pontoons

Electricity

Water

Essential shops

Paying port

Sillery is an alternate mooring for those who wish to visit Rheims, without staying at the noisy mooring in the middle of that city.  It’s about 30 minutes away by bus or train.  It also has the distinction of having one of the best boulangeries in the whole of France!

Sillery

I

Variscourt

Variscourt:

Small quay with picnic tables

No electricity

No water

No shops

No charge

This is a lovely, discrete small picnic area, with the quay big enough for 2 boats attached.

Variscourt

I

Rethel

Rethel:

Ample quay

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

Rethel

I

Attigny

Attigny:

Quay

No electricity

No water

No shops

No charge

Attigny

I

La Cassine

La Cassine:

Grass quay, need stakes

No electricity

No water

No shops

No charge

This is a pleasant picnic site right next to the lock.

La Cassine

I

Charleville Mezieres

Charleville Mezieres:

Quays and full marina with pontoons

Electricity

Water

Wide variety of shops

Paying port

The marina is on the opposite bank to the town.  When we visited, the footbridge was closed for extensive repairs, necessitating a good 1 km walk back down to the next bridge in order to get to town.

Charleville Mezieres

I

Revin

Revin:

Ample quay

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

The port is secluded, and set next to a lovely park.  Major shopping mall is about 100 metres from the port: other shops nearby and also in the town across the bridge and uphill.  Helpful capitainerie here.  We enjoyed staying for several days.

Revin

I

Vireux Wallerand

Vireux Wallerand:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

Most shops are across the bridge from the mooring.  Supermarket is about 1 km out of town, on the road following the river upstream.

Vireux Wallerand

I

Dinant

Dinant:

Pontoons

Electricity

Water from domestic tap fitting

Wide variety of shops

Paying port

There are several pontoons, split one from another.  A little ingenuity is needed to wrestle sufficient water to fill a tank from the taps which are fitted with domestic faucets.

Dinant

I

Namur

Namur:

Finger pontoons on strong river current, quay on opposite bank.

Electricity

Water

Wide variety of shops

Paying port on fingers.

If the current is strong, we recommend proceeding to the auxiliary port, one lock away.  It is equipped with pontoons and all facilities, in calmer water.

Namur

I

Dinant

Dinant:

Pontoons

Electricity

Water from domestic tap fitting

Wide variety of shops

Paying port

Dinant

I

Vireux Wallerand

Vireux Wallerand:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

Most shops are across the bridge from the mooring.  Supermarket is about 1 km out of town.

Vireux Wallerand

I

Revin

Revin:

Ample quay

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

The port is secluded, and set next to a lovely park.  Major shopping mall is about 100 metres from the port: other shops nearby and also in the town across the bridge and uphill.  Helpful capitainerie here.  We enjoyed staying for several days.

Revin

I

Charleville Mezieres

Charleville Mezieres:

Quays and full marina with pontoons

Electricity

Water

Wide variety of shops

Paying port

On our second visit here we discovered a small quay on the opposite bank to the marina.  No facilities, no charge, but good location for going into the town.

 Charleville Mezieres

I

Sedan

Sedan:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Shops

Paying port

Sedan

I

Dun-sur-Meuse

Dun-sur-Meuse:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Essential shops

Paying port

Dun-sur-Meuse

I

Verdun

Verdun:

Long quay

Electricity

Water

All shops nearby

No charge

The popularity of Verdun as a mooring means that boats are doubled parked: with some common courtesy, this creates no problems.  It's certainly a stop that would be hard to just pass by.

Verdun

I

St. Mihiel

St. Mihiel:

Improvised quay

No electricity

No water

Shops after 1 kilometre

No charge

Travelling upstream, the official mooring in the town was full, but soon afterwards we saw a dis-used swimming pool at the entrance to a small embranchement, and were able to tie up to one of its concrete walls.

St. Mihiel

I

Commercy

Commercy:

Quay

No electricity

No water

Few nearby shops

No charge

Commercy

I

Toul

Toul:

Quays, pontoons and fingers

Electricity

Water

All shops nearby

Paying port

We like Toul: it's a pleasant and bustling city.  We've made extended visits here in the past, and we're sure we will again in the future.

Toul

I

Richardmenil

Richardmenil:

Quay in grassy area

Electricity

Water

Essential shops

Paying port

Nice walk uphill to get to any shops.

Richardmenil

I

Charmes

Charmes:

Quay, shared with motor homes

Electricity

Water

All shops

Paying port

Sharing the quay with motor homes leads to the difficulty that you may find all electrical points already taken.  Sadly, we also found, this time, that the capitainerie was distinctly unfriendly and haughty.  That's enough for us to try to avoid stopping there again.

Charmes

I

Thaone-sur-Vosges

Thaone-sur-Vosges:

Private pontoon

No electricity

Water

Shops after 1 kilometre

No charge

You won't find this mooring on the maps - it belongs to a Sand & Gravel Company.  We were kindly allowed to tie up because our drive shaft broke away from the gearbox coupling, and we became completely immobile.  Our sincere thanks again to the peniche owner who made room for us.  We enjoyed a peaceful stay here for several days while awaiting repairs.

Thaone-sur-Vosges

I

Epinal

 Epinal:

Quays on both sides of dead-end basin

Electricity

Water

Wide variety of shops

Paying port

Pleasant mooring set in a park area, complete with restaurant.  It's a great bargain considering all the facilities and the attractions in the surrounding town.

Epinal

I

Girancourt

Girancourt:

Grass bank between two locks with some rings

No electricity

No water

Essential shops

No charge

Picnic tables and a barbecue pit are supplied here.

Girancourt

I

Port de Bains

Port de Bains:

Grass bank near to the lock

No electricity

No water

No shops

No charge

Port de Bains

I

Demangevelle

Demangeville:

Grass bank near to the lock

No electricity

No water

Essential shops after 1 kilometre

No charge

We stopped here because it was a Sunday, and the eclusiers close down operations in this section at 1800 on Sundays.

Demangevelle

I

Port sur Saone

Port sur Saone:

Finger pontoons in marina, quay on opposite bank

Electricity

Water

Variety of shops

Paying port

There is a section of bank outside the port, across from the paying quay, which is free of charge, but of course there's no access there to water or electricity, and it's a fair walk to get to a bridge to cross over onto the 'developed' side with nearby shops.  However, planning an early morning departure next day, we stayed this time on the 'no charge' bank with no problems.

Port sur Saone

I

Gray

Gray:

Ample quay

Electricity, paid by jetons purchased at tourist office

Water, paid by jetons purchased at tourist office

Wide variety of shops

No mooring charge

It's quite a busy port, the quay is long and conveniently situated near to some large shops.  Utilities are a bit far apart, though.

Gray

I

Auxonne

Auxonne:

Ample quay and pontoons

No electricity

1 water point at end of the quay

Variety of shops.

Paying port (in high season)

Auxonne is an interesting town to walk around, famous for its associations with N. Bonaparte.  A pleasant capitainerie too.  The pontoons have been extended since our first visit here in 2005, so there's room for more boats.  Again we felt welcomed at the capitainerie.

Auxonne

I

St Jean de Losne

St Jean de Losne:

Quay in town centre, plus a vast marina complex nearby

Electricity, by jetons on the quay

Water, by jetons on the quay

Good selection of shops

Paying port in the marina complex

Staying on the quay in the town centre is free for short-stay periods, but the competition for spaces is fierce.  Mind you, the marina complex also has very limited space for visitors.  The main attraction for stopping here is that they have one of the biggest displays in France of boats-for-sale: there are also two decent chandleries, and a popular refuelling barge (which is where you can buy your jetons for use on the quay).  You can be sure to run into other people who consider themselves boaters!

St Jean de Losne

I

Bretenieres

Bretenieres:

Grass bank between two locks

No electricity

No water

A nearby supermarket

No charge

We get fed up with travelling by mid-afternoon, and look for somewhere to stay.  This suited us fine for an overnight stop.

Bretenieres

I

Velars

Velars:

Small quay

No electricity

No water

Next to a supermarket

No charge

Travelling north on the Canal de Bourgogne, the quay is on the right, immediately after the lock

Velars

I

La Bussiere sur Ouche

La Bussiere sur Ouche:

Quay

No electricity

No water

Nice boulangerie in the village

No charge

Quay is on the left before the lock.

La Bussiere sur Ouche

I

Vandenesse

Vandenesse:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Shops

Paying port

Vandenesse

I

Pouilly en Auxois

Pouilly en Auxois:

Ample quay in a basin

Electricity

Water

Shops nearby

Paying port

There's a lengthy tunnel which finishes at Pouilly en Auxois (travelling north): be sure to have your on-board safety equipment ready for inspection.  And there's an interesting barge museum to visit, after you've got yourself tied up.

Pouilly en Auxois

I

Pont Royal

Pont Royal:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Shops nearby

Paying port

Pont Royal

I

Marigny le Cahouet

Marigny le Cahouet:

Quay

No electricity

No water

Some shops

No charge

Marigny le Cahouet

I

Venarey les Laumes

Venarey les Laumes:

Quay

No electricity

No water

Few shops

No charge

Venarey les Laumes

I

Montbard

Montbard:

Quay

Electricity

Water

Shops nearby

Paying port

Montbard

I

Ravieres

Ravieres

I

Tonnerre

Tonnerre:

Quays on both sides of canal

Electricity to port (going north)

Water to port

Plenty of shops

Paying on port side

Port side was full when we arrived, so we tied up on the starboard side without utilities and without charge.  No problems.  Just a walk across the bridge to reach 'the other side'.

Tonnerre

I

Flogny

Flogny:

Quay

No electricity

Water

Few shops

No charge

Flogny

I

St Florentin

St Florentin:

Marina to starboard, bank to port

No electricity on bank

No water on bank

No charge on bank

The quay was full when we arrived, so again we just stayed on the opposite side without difficulties.

St Florentin

I

Migennes

Migennes:

Ample quay

Electricity

Water

Shops

Paying port

Arriving in Migennes, we stayed for a day in the port on the Canal de Bourgogne, before moving down to our winter mooring at Chantier Fluvial de Migennes.  Both are convenient for accessing the town facilities, though the port - which is managed by a hire boat company - is more accustomed to accepting overnight visitors.