Kayaking in Le Chalaux River, Saint Martin du Puy,
Burgundy France
Best season:
Early Spring
Close to the lake of Caumecon, Saint Martin du Puy is a small rural community, gathering eight villages in Burgundy of central France. On the spot, there is one of the best canoe and kayaking places in France, the river "Le Chalaux", where national and international competitions are held quite regularly.
The National Kayak Championship of France of 2001 and 2004 as well as the European Kayak and Canoe Championship of 2005 also took place in the specific location. The river offers possibilities of kayaking in its vivid and rapid water streams, due to the fact that water derive with force from an upcoming hydro-electric station, releasing strong water streams towards the 37 m/121 ft depth of the river’s bottom.
Various shops and accommodation options are available in the village which is situated on a hill in the middle of a National Park called the Morvan. Training offered by professionals of the Parc de Morvan. At 3 km/1 mi away from Saint Martin du Puy, a beautiful chateau is located in Vesigneux, which is still owned by the Bourbon family (one of the oldest French noble families).