Still searching for July-August accommodation? Dreaming of a holiday destination with fresh air, tranquillity, and authentic French charm? Follow us as we take you on a journey to discover the canals of Saône-et-Loire! Throughout this guide, you’ll uncover our perfect gîtes for your summer escape. From the port of Louhans with its centuries-old arcades, the Canal du Centre winding through the heart of vineyards, to the green cycling routes perfect for your bike adventures, this Burgundian department hides treasures of coolness. The summer 2025 gem? Passionate property owners who still have availability for savvy holidaymakers. Your gîte along the waterways might just be waiting for you…
Getting to Saône-et-Loire from the UK
By Eurostar & Train: London to Paris in just 2 hours 16 minutes by Eurostar, then 3 hours 26 minutes drive from Paris to Chalon-sur-Saône. Total journey: approximately 6-7 hours including connections.
By Car via Calais: London to Calais takes around 3 hours 25 minutes including LeShuttle crossing, then approximately 4-5 hours drive to Saône-et-Loire. Total: 7-8 hours driving time.
Alternative by Train: Direct train connections from London to Chalon-sur-Saône in 5 hours 53 minutes with just one change in Paris – the perfect car-free option!
Contents: Discover Saône-et-Loire & Our Holiday Rentals for Summer 2025
Louhans Bresse Gîtes: Summer 2025 Boating Gem
Stroll beneath these 15th-century arcades, admire the half-timbered houses with their glazed multi-coloured tile roofs – the true architectural signature of Burgundy. The Mansard-style roofs create a unique urban landscape where yellow, green and brown blend in a shimmering palette.
The Spacious & Bright Residential Chalet in Bresse at Le Fay places you in an exceptional haven: 20 wooded hectares, private fishing and natural biological swimming ponds. This gîte guarantees the freshness you’re seeking!
From your sheltered terrace, head to Louhans port to embark on the navigable Seille river. This peaceful waterway takes you to Cuisery, labelled “Village of Books”, through preserved bocage landscapes. The 2025 summer gem? Combine morning river navigation, lunchtime Bresse chicken tasting under the arcades, and afternoon fishing in your private ponds, with trampoline and play areas for children.
Accessibility remains excellent: A6 exit Chalon-sur-Saône then 30 minutes of picturesque roads. Your summer 2025 gîte can be decided the very morning for an extended weekend!
Chalon-sur-Saône Canal Gîtes: Vineyards & Navigation
The Canal du Centre opens its doors for a unique stay in the heart of the vineyards. The Gîte Bonaparte in Cheilly-lès-Maranges places you two kilometres from this historic waterway nicknamed the “peaceful canal”. This 4-star gîte with heated pool offers privileged access to green routes within a one-kilometre radius.
| 70 Miles of green routes | 61 Locks | 4★ Classified Gîte | 0.6mi To green routes |
Your morning begins with a dip in the pool facing the Côtes de Beaune vineyards, then head to the banks for 70 miles of pure cycling bliss between Digoin and Chalon-sur-Saône. The 61 locks punctuate your route with refreshing stops where watching the ballet of pleasure barges becomes a fascinating spectacle.
Louhans, this Bresse pearl with its 157 classified arcades, remains your best asset for a summer 2025 gîte along the waterways. But Louhans is much more than just a port! Every Monday morning, the town comes alive around its famous poultry market under the Renaissance arcades. Here, the Bresse chicken AOP reigns supreme with its blue feet, red crest and white plumage. These exceptional poultry, raised free-range in Bresse meadows, are the gastronomic pride of the region.
The Gîte Napoléon, adjacent to Bonaparte, completes this exceptional offering. These passionate winemakers willingly share their secrets and sometimes invite you to their private tastings. The 2025 summer gem? Enjoy the same prestigious appellations as Beaune, often in the shadows but at much more accessible prices, while savouring the tranquillity of the canals.
Saône-et-Loire Holiday Gem: Nature & Canals
Rural authenticity finds its expression with Gîte le Rural in Étang-sur-Arroux. This ecological barn labelled “Regional Nature Park Welcome” immerses you in the preserved atmosphere of southern Morvan. Charlotte and Jean-Marie, red fruit producers, welcome you facing the Arroux valley with views of the Uchon massif.
For an equally refreshing experience, Gîte Le Chant de la Rivière in Épinac places you on the edge of meadows, two steps from the fish-rich Drée. This gîte offers a privileged location on the green route connected to EuroVelo6, with hybrid and mountain bikes provided.
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Grand Site of France
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Medieval City
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Wellness & Relaxation
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Regional Nature Park
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The 2025 summer gem? Combine the freshness of Morvan woods, discovery of exceptional Gallo-Roman heritage and return to authentic Burgundy’s roots.
Saône-et-Loire Navigation Summer 2025: Canals & Cycling
Your Saône-et-Loire gîtes open an exceptional aquatic playground. EuroVelo6, this mythical European cycle route, crosses the department following the Saône for 62 miles of marked and secure routes. Cycle in the shade of century-old plane trees, stop at the marinas of Verdun-sur-le-Doubs or Saint-Jean-de-Losne.
For navigation enthusiasts, the Canal du Centre offers licence-free boat rentals in Santenay or Chagny. Navigating the locks becomes child’s play and offers refreshing breaks ideal for hot weather. The more contemplative will opt for a commented cruise discovering the history of these waterways dug under Louis XVI.
Fishing finds its paradise in the Bresse ponds, notably from your Le Fay gîte with its private waters populated with carp, roach and pike. The rivers of Autunois teem with brown trout in preserved bucolic settings.
Booking Saône-et-Loire Gîtes: Summer 2025 Gem
Our selection of Saône-et-Loire gîtes favours direct exchange with passionate people who know their region inside out. Charlotte and Jean-Marie at Le Rural, Philippe and Dominique at Bonaparte and Napoléon gîtes, or Annie at Chant de la Rivière perfectly illustrate this Burgundian authenticity.
Availability often becomes available last minute: cancellations, withdrawals… Our team checks availability in real time and guarantees a quick response. The 2025 summer gem? Book directly without going through large platforms that saturate in July-August, and benefit from the wise advice of owners who live their territory daily.
Why Saône-et-Loire is THE 2025 Summer Gem
Saône-et-Loire offers exceptional value compared to southern France. Our selected gîtes guarantee Burgundian authenticity: private pools, fishing ponds, vineyards as far as the eye can see and canal freshness. A6 accessibility remains a major asset: Paris-Chalon in 3 hours 26 minutes, Lyon-Mâcon in 1 hour 16 minutes. TGV Montchanin-Creusot serves the heart of the department.
| 2h 16m London-Paris | 1h 16m Lyon-Mâcon | 62mi EuroVelo6 | TGV Montchanin |
Unlike southern France, you’ll still find confidential tastings at winemakers, barge trips without mandatory reservations months in advance, and private fishing ponds where only frogs disturb the tranquillity.
Saône-et-Loire summer 2025 is the promise of an authentic stay where canals, vineyards and Burgundian art of living combine to the peaceful rhythm of locks. Your gîtes open the doors to a department that has preserved its river soul, away from the summer bustle of saturated destinations.
Book Your Gîte Now!
Contact us to receive our offers and special deals on Saône-et-Loire canals
Our selection extends far beyond Saône-et-Loire! Whether you’re more seaside team or mountain team, we’ve selected exceptional accommodation throughout France.
Seaside, discover our gîtes in Loire-Atlantique facing the ocean, or our authentic rentals in Morbihan in the heart of Brittany. Each destination offers its unique charm for your holidays along the water.
Mountain side, our gîtes in Côte d’Or immerse you in Burgundian authenticity, while Doubs reveals its preserved landscapes. Haute-Saône hides treasures of tranquillity, and Jura reveals its crystal lakes and spruce forests. Not forgetting Territoire de Belfort and Yonne to complete your exploration of eastern France.
From Saône-et-Loire to the mountains of Jura, via the Breton coasts:
Your dream gîte awaits!
