One of the most peaceful, attractive and least populated stretches of inland water you can cruise in France is the River Saône as it wends away from Burgundy into the wooded hills and lush pastures of the lower Vosges. A week-long one-way cruise from Dijon will take you first on the attractive Canal de Bourgogne as far as Saint-Jean-de-Losne, where you connect with the Saône. It progresses at first majestically, and then idyllically past pretty villages and mellow châteaux as far as Corre or thereabouts (depending on which firm you hire from). The advantage of the river over the canal is that you can tie up anywhere, you can jump in to cool off, and though there are plenty of locks, there are long stretches without. Bikes can be hired with the boat and enable you to explore the countryside or to ride alongside on the towpath: a wonderful extra dimension for adults and children, for the towpaths and surrounding country lanes are virtually empty of traffic For information about cruiser hirers see Canal Cruising in Burgundy in Exploring locally, South-East of Paris.