Fortified towers of Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.

Nevers to Fleury-sur-Loire

The Canal Latéral à la Loire

We are on a one-week trip from Briare to Decize, 130 kilometers on the Canal Latéral à la Loire along the edge of Burgundy in central France. We just spent the night at Nevers, where we saw its large double cathedral of Saint Cyr and Sainte Julitta.

Now we will leave its large boat basin and return to the main canal via the long side channel. The main canal turns to the south, taking us past the small town of Sermoise-sur-Loire.

We will stop at Chevenon to get lunch and see a very impressive château. We will continue to the southeast and tie up for our last night along the canal at Fleury-sur-Loire.

Part of map NL-31-2.

Part of map NL-31-5 from the Perry Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas.

Sermoise-sur-Loire

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Sermoise-sur-Loire

Sermoise-sur-Loire is a town of almost 1,600 inhabitants.

The first airport for Nevers was built here in 1910. In 1935 a new airport was built closer to Nevers.

Chevenon

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Chevenon

Chevenon is a little further along the canal. The local businesses have put up a sign by the canal so you know where to tie up and walk the kilometer or so into the town of about 600 inhabitants.

The Church of Saint Martin at the center was first built in the 12th century, extended in the 13th and 15th centuries, and then renovated more recently.

Church of Saint Martin in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers
Church of Saint Martin in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers

We got lunch at the bar–tabac in the center of town.

Café in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers

Menu routier, basically "the truck driver's meal."

Café in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers

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Eating lunch afé in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers

For 14.20€ you get:

  • Starter:
    • Paté or
    • Salmon loaf or
    • Chicken—pastry starter
  • Main:
    • Steak with green beans or
    • Pork roast
  • Cheese:
    • Cheese plate or
    • Fromage blanc, creamy soft cheese similar in consistency to cream cheese but almost entirely fat free
  • Dessert:
    • Apple fritter or
    • Apples stewed with sugar or
    • Ice cream
Eating lunch afé in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers
Eating lunch afé in the center of Chevenon, south of Nevers

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Château de Chevenon

The Château de Chevenon was built between 1382 and 1406 by William I of Chevenon, appointed captain of Vincennes by King Charles V. It's in the style of the Vincennes château, a tall rectangular house with round towers on two corners and square towers on the other two. It was rebuilt in the 16th, and restored in the 19th.

Front façade of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Bob in his pajamas at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Bob in his pajamas at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Large round towers of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Square towers of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Square towers of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
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Inland Waterways of France
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Rear façade of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.

A nearby sign says:

The Château of Chevenon

It is considered the most prestigious of all the châteaux of the Nivernais region, both in its structure and state of conservation and by the nobility of its interiors.

The château which remains today was built between 1382 and 1406, in the style of the château of Vincennes, in place of two residences which have disappeared.

Initially, it was a square protected by two surrounding ditches and two strong round towers.

Parts of the original château that were threatening to collapse were demolished in the second half of the 18th century, leaving only the body of the west stately home, better protected than others.

In 1770 two large towers were destroyed and in 1773 the ditches were filled and the surrounding curtain walls demolished. Thus was delivered to the wreckers part of the fortress which without fail had resisted for centuries the most violent attacks. The west façade is now flanked by two remaining round towers. The walls are still pierced with arrow loopholes and gun ports, sometimes replaced by small windows.

Despite the alterations made to the 17th and 18th centuries, Chevanon remains one of the finest castles of Nivernais.

Rear façade of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Red armored door at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Arrow slit at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Large round towers of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Large round towers of the Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Outbuilding at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Outbuilding at Château de Chevenon, south of Nevers near the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Part of map NL-31-2.

Part of map NL-31-5 from the Perry Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas.

Luthenay-Uxeloup

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Luthenay-Uxeloup

Luthenay-Uxeloup, like Chevenon, lies off to the side of the canal. The apse of its Saint-Aignan parish church was built in the early 12th century.

Its Uxeloup kennel was famous as the base of a hunting team that began in 1830 hunting wolves in the surrounding forests. Then they switched to hunting rabbits, and more recently, badgers.

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Fleury-sur-Loire

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Fleury-sur-Loire

Fleury-sur-Loire is a village of just 242 people who have done a very good job of attracting business from the canal. They had a good place to tie up on our first trip, but on the second trip they were making it even better.

The small cabin is a small café with light meals. Or you can walk just over a hundred meters into the village to a café near the church.

Boat tie-up area at Fleury-sur-Loire.
The church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
The church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
The church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.

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The church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
Inside the church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
Inside the church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
Inside the church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.
Inside the church at the center of Fleury-sur-Loire.

A plaque inside the parish Church of Saint-Julien lists 36 men from the village who were killed in the First World War. The population was 401 in 1911, 334 in 1921.

A café near the church has the key to the church.

We will stay here for one last night on the canal. In the morning we will continue to Decize. We won't have far to go, so we will arrive in plenty of time to pack up and ready to turn in the boat in the morning.

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Fleury-sur-Loire to Decize