Hotel Central Montargis

Montargis

by pedroswift

"Venice of the Gâtinais*"

Montagis is situated on the River Loing and the Canal de Briare which is parallel to it. There are off shoots of the water ways through the town where, in ancient times, Tanners and other water-dependent tradespeople carried out their business. Today these attractive small canals give rise to the comparison with Venice.
Montagis is on the cross roads between northern Bourgogne and the Lower Loire and the routes from Paris heading further south via the Upper Loire.
It's only a couple of hours drive from Charles d' Gaul Airport and we have found ourselves there a couple of times after arriving at CDG and picking up a car to drive to destinations in the south. The attractions of a good bed, a shower and a half decent meal at the Ibis Hotel at Montargis have been too much to overlook after the 24 hour+ flight.
*Gatinais is a former province of France

"Canal Port"

Montargis also provides a port for Hotel Barges which do Burgundy Cruises and a port for numerous plaisancers (privately owned canal cruising boats). In this capacity we have visited the town three or four times for an overnight stop and to eat at the numerous dining establishments, to stock-up on provisions and to use the automatic laundry.