The majority of tourists begin their cruise at the historic city of
Auxerre after which, the canal winds south through the department of
Yonne countryside past a number of small, picturesque villages and hamlets, departing from and rejoining the river Yonne on this ascending leg. Notable villages include
Bailly with its famous wine cellars situated in caves,
Vincelles and the nearby wine village of
Irancy,
Cravant,
Mailly-la-Ville,
Mailly-le-Château,
Châtel-Censoir and
Coulanges-sur-Yonne. Amongst the most spectacular sites are the
Rochers du Saussois (photo), a series of 50 metre-high limestone cliffs beside the river. Shortly after Coulanges, the canal leaves the department of the Yonne and enters the department of the Nièvre. At roughly the half-way point, the canal passes through a landscape of
limestone outcrops and undulating farmland until arriving at the medieval town of
Clamecy. The
Romain Rolland Museum in Clamecy houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the former industrial and communicatory importance of the canal. Those interested in the history of the canal will be able to visit the now unused parts which were replaced by a stretch of the river. After Clamecy boats cease to navigate on the Yonne and it is canal only up to the summit. The Canal continues to rise, passing through the countryside of the valleys of the Yonne, through more villages and hamlets including
Corbigny, the only sizable town for some distance, the last 12 kilometres featuring 28 locks including the 16 locks of the Sardy flight (
échelle de Sardy) which lead to the summit at
Baye, then
Châtillon-en-Bazois with its château overlooking the port and
Cercy-la-Tour and its giant Madonna statue, the last town before the canal ends at
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes adjacent to
Decize. == See also ==