France is at its best away from the main tourist trails, and canals like the Briare, Nivernais, Burgundy and Canal du Midi are perfect for exploring some of France’s finest scenery, fascinating history and local culture. I've cruised there and it's lovely. 250 boat models, 12 countries, 28 Boating regions and 115 departure bases. Setting off on a boat on your own for a 3-night cruise in the canals sounds like the stuff of dreams. We would highly recommend this if this is your first time. With almost 8000km of waterways, France has the largest network of rivers and canals in Europe waiting to be explored. Buying a Eurail pass is a great way to travel Europe by rail. It is a 10 euro ride but well worth visiting not only for the views but for the visit to La Maison de Sancerre. Boat bases throughout France - cruise the famous Canal du Midi, the wine regions of Burgundy, the unique Camargue, rural Brittany and more. The Captain and 2nd in Charge (yes, you will have to nominate the 2nd in charge) will be given a demonstration on the features of the Horizon 2S and how to operate the boat. •Route planner Discover the new Le Boat 2021 Brokerage boats today! Right out of my dreams. Get answers to your questions about Canals, http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts, http://unexcusedabsences.com/2011/05/a-full-rich-day-he-said/, Canal Du Midi - Couple of Questions from First Timers. If you have any questions or would like some advice we would love to hear from you. •Access and play videos. For your very first boating experience look for a route within the region that you want to travel with the fewer locks, just so that you can enjoy the experience without stressing out too much on how to handle them. With passenger capacity ranging from 6 to 12 people, the vessels for our river boat cruises in France explore hand-selected routes in regions as diverse as Alsace and the Midi. The costs vary from €2-€20 per night. french-waterways.com is the most comprehensive and authoritative online source of inspiration and information about enjoying the rivers and canals of France – on the water or by the water. Thank you for your comments. Entre Fleuves et Rivières: Les Canaux du Centre de la France is a book of photos and text (in French) that makes a great souvenir of a barge cruise or boat trip the canals and rivers of the Loire Basin. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-73369546', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Sete, any Burgundy canal, the Lot, or even the canal in Alsace. Once the hub of the industrial revolution, old factories and warehouses are now nestled in between luxury shops, modern bars and cosy cafes along the banks of the canals. Dozens of different boats ply the canals and you can cruise for a few hours or a whole week. At present, for a 20m barge the rate is 203.60 euros for 30 days cruising (not necessarily consecutive days), or 626.50 euros for a full year’s unlimited travel. This sounds like a wonderful experience. Years ago when our two boys were young their favourite holidays were sailing in France. It's a great trip to take, but you do need to be careful crossing the Etang de Thau. Here is a list of companies offering boats: I have been trying to avoid the canal du midi. We have added a wide selection of used models available for sale! Our opinions as always are our own. Feel free to check out my blog, UnexcusedAbsences.com. Would we love to have a horrible fever and be sick for a week? Cheers Jane and Duncan. You will then build your confidence up for some of the other regions that LeBoat offer. There were two menus a Euro14 which consisted on an Entree and Plat du Jour or Plat du Jour and Dessert and the Euro 17 which consisted of an Entree, Plat du Jour and Dessert. Cruising the French Canals with Le Boat 24/09/2018 15 min read 14 comments One of our favourite holidays, of all times, is sailing on the canals of France and none better than sailing with Le Boat France in their new fleet of Horizon 2S boats. Check what time you can collect your boat, the office does close in the middle of the day. Are you looking a cheap bareboat for rent? However, I've not heard of any robberies or assaults of boaters. 195 steps away from the nearest Chateau. You can reach us via our Facebook page or email us here. Just type 'Nivernais' or 'Loire' into the search box to get started for research in a particular region. Life is peaceful on the waterways. The price when we last checked was €25. The author may post again if desired.Posts on the Tripadvisor forums may be edited for a short period of time. Fuel is charged on an hourly basis. Trebes - Carcassonne - Narbonne (questions). For the latest flight deals to France you can compare prices on Skyscanner here: Travelling from the rest of the world – click here. There is a walking trail available with details on the board near the moorings. H2O - PORT DE PLAISANCE 21170 SAINT JEAN DE LOSNE - FRANCE H2O is the name of our business that we started in France in 1987 in order to use our many years of experience in the hotel barge and canal rental-boat world on the French canals. I like your little tips here and there. You wind up through ancient streets visiting the Church of Saint Hilarie that dates back to the 12th century and picturesque houses half-timbered houses dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Would you like to drive your holiday boat by yourself? I've cruised the canals of Europe for the past 5 years and have posted photos, commentary and detailed maps for each week of travel. Hi Leah Colourful butterflies gracefully flutter by and in the distance, the low ‘moo’ from one of the cows in the herd of cattle in the paddock across from us can be heard. amzn_assoc_linkid = "90a89c23c3bd38a322eb9a700f7449a9"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; If August traffic and closures are a concern, they will be a concern no matter where you go, the Canal du Midi, the Canal entre Deux Mers, the Canal du Rhone a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? One of the more 'animated' areas in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Check out our tour of the Horizon 2 S Le Boat: Our departure time was between 11.00 and 12.00 hours. Just opposite the moorings, there is a local restaurant called Le Floroine. more. From 9 to 12 metres, from 2 to 4 cabins, there is a boat for every need, every size and every budget. We are planning to do a canal boat hire for one of the french canals but like England which canal to do. We have looked at the Loire/Burgandy area, this looks nice but some of the reviews read that it is very quite. We can accommodate you on any of one of our 12 luxury barges that offer the best French river cruises. Nicols have holiday itineraries for a weekend, a short break or longer holidays – all offering a different way to see the country as you slowly travel from village to village and lock to lock. Every region of France deserves its reputation as the natural home of waterways tourism. We could have sat there all day enjoying the views of the local vineyard but we wanted to get to Sancerre. This isn’t your only option. A perfect holiday for all the family to enjoy. The hot scorching summer sun is at its peak. Do not rush this part. the french canals. Our two mantras that we live by are 'chase time not money' and 'age is no barrier when it comes to travel'. This looks and sounds like an incredible trip! The village was built during the 12th century around the small monastery which belonged to the monks who farmed the vineyards. It may sound daunting at first handling a boat and the locks but Le Boat have made it very easy for everyone to enjoy their vacation. COVID (good) NEWS. Canal Du Midi - best route for a 7-day trip? We are just beginning our search. We have created a partnership with the 4 largest boat rental company in France. B urgundy is bisected by two canals – the Canal de Bourgogne and the Canal du Nivernais. Ecluse de Maimbray which is manual with a lock keeper in between Beaulieu-sur-Loire and Belleville-sur-Loire, Ecluse de Houards which is manual with a lock keeper, Ecluse de Peseau which is manual with a lock keeper, Ecluse de Bannay which is manual with a lock keeper. We hope you can make it one day. With Le Boat you can explore the sights or stop at any time to relax, indulge in fine French wines and delicious food. Whilst we were visiting Sancerre more boats pulled up beside ours for the night. August is national holiday month and people will be on vacation. If you enjoy goat cheese there is a small farm close by “Crottin de Chavignol” which we were keen to visit but just never made it. The boat has earned its place among the four best blue water sailboats for being the most economical under 50 feet sailboat. •Mooring and lock information The Best 5 Sydney Workcation Escapes and Local Experiences, 5 of the Best Fun-Filled Victorian Farm Stays for Families, Our Travel Partners – Book Your Travel Here, Navigation Maps to assist in navigating the waterways. Well we finished the French Canals after a very successful trip lasting almost 10 weeks. Shops closed along the Canal du Midi, and I do not think you would even notice really, will also be closed elsewhere. When we travel throughout France and Europe we book our cars through Autoeurope. We will be there on the 27 August for one week. Hope you can get to visit the canals of France with le Boat one day. During our overnight stay back at base, we topped up the water and electricity from the points located at the marina specifically for Le Boat. canal du midi - camargue ... On your way back, you’ll be amazed by the huge and powerful boat lift of Arzwiller which replaces 17 locks! However, I definitely wouldn't book a hurricane season trip without cancellation insurance. After our ‘run through’ on the boat and the completion of paperwork we were ready to set off. At Belleville-sur-Loire there was a lock with a lock keeper to help guide you. Now years later we are once again sailing the Loire region with two close friends of ours from the U.K. Now, more of what to expect on life on the canals. Boat Ownership Options France Afloat together with its sister company, Aquarelle, can provide a number of boat ownership options to get you “Afloat” on the French and European Inland Waterways. France Afloat is unique in being both a family business and actually being based in France. You must not miss their 4D adventure cinema, it was such a buzz (no pun intended, you will know what I am talking about when you visit). There is paperwork to be completed prior to departure. The credit for satisfying the needs of millions of cruisers goes to Bavaria Cruiser-46. It is 1.8km in length and should take you about 45 minutes. If you have little up to date knowledge of the canals and rivers between northern Europe and the Mediterranean, I have published a book which should give you all the information you need in order to get the correct French recognised qualifications and licences to take the boat … One of the most enjoyable holidays that you can have is sailing the waterways of France. We recommend taking out travel insurance as soon as you book your flights and pay deposits on any cruises, tours or hotels. No, but we're willing to take the risk to visit the places we want to go. PS Feel free to contact me off-line if you have more questions. Places to dock/services between Port Cassafieres and Homps. Perhaps a vacation in July or September would be better for you. I would love to try it sometime! Your email address will not be published. Latest news. It is designed for couples who enjoy sailing down to the Bahamas for winters. We sat outside on the pavement on a balmy summer’s evening and enjoyed delicious cuisine. French Canals Patron Q&A Part 1 [embedded content] How to do the French Canals by sailboat?! Le Regency was an excellent recommendation. For the return journey back to the boat it is easier to arrange the taxi to collect you from the Tourist Information Centre. We are at To Travel Too and we have many travel-related boards check us out at Pinterest. Once the edit period has expired, authors may update their posts by removing and reposting them. Our explorations of France till now has been limited only to Paris but we hope to set that right soon. Think of France and its waterways come to mind: the elegant canals of Burgundy, the sun-drenched Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Brittany’s endless stream of canals and rivers, the picturesque rivers of Alsace and the untamed Camargue. The biggest risk in your proposed itinerary I see is a hurricane in the Abacos. We would appreciate any input from canal travellers on their preferred canal journey and best time to do it. •Restaurants low bridges that you will all have to duck to pass through, remember the umbrella and canopy may be up – most of the bridges on this route were low and we had to duck. Discover the new Le Boat 2021 Brokerage boats available today! I think it is also not expensive, right? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-75753353', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cruise.' Cheers Jane and Duncan. It is not that expensive just depends on the number of people, the size of the boat and the journey. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. She will arrange to collect you from the boat and visit the Sancerre vineyards. First is deciding where to go. Nothing beats it. We would love to explore France’s waterways and this is a great way to start. 12.5 km from Chatillon-Sur-Loire is Les Riaux a delightful 18th Century Gite owned by Jean-Marc and Hubert. The owners recommended a local restaurant for us in the town of Gien across the river. I've also traveled what LeBoat calls the 'Seaside (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Ideally, we believe 10 days sailing in France on their many waterways is the ideal vacation period. There is so many great things to do and see there, I wouldn’t miss that visit to the vineyard for sure. There is a lot to take in but Le Boat provides: Downloading the Le Boat App – it pinpoints your exact location on the waterway and gives you tips on what you can see coming up e.g. As we had only 3 nights we decided to sail from Chatillon Sur Loire down to Sancerre and then return to base late afternoon prior to handing the boat over the next morning at 09.00. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Charter a boat or yacht with Happycharter, the international yacht charter portal. The smell of freshly cut grass drifts our way. There are a good number of villages and towns one passes through and the canal is probably more animated than any other in France. You can explore the French countryside by car, by train, or by bike… how about being on a boat?! The French countryside comes alive with colours and sounds, it is such a beautiful country. A great resource for the local restaurants and what to see and do in the area: Key features include: Yes, avoid the Canal du Midi the last week in August at all costs! The Fresh Water Factor You will float about 2.5% lower in fresh water than in salt water, say +40mm for a draught of 1.50m. For a more active canal experience, rent a canoe or kayak and paddle along the canal. Three years in a row we traversed the waterways of the Loire, the Burgundy and Brittany regions. Europe - boating on French canals - My friend and I would like to travel for a week on a canal in France. Friday, 03 April 2020. Cheers Jane and Duncan. We could have sailed up to Briare on the last night and return early back to base on the morning before handover if we wanted to, but we had visited Briare the day before sailing and thought that we would leisurely sail back to base. Never done the French canals before so this sounds like an exciting new thing to do. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers’ questions frequently. An impressive feat of modern engineering, the Falkirk wheel uniquely connects the Forth and Clyde and Union canals in Scotland. There is parking available at the base if you are coming by private car. Recent boating charter trips to the Burgundy Valley along Canal du Nivernai and Boating the Canal Du Midi, during fall harvest ~ “ vinification ” (French code for wine making), proved to be a perfect way to truly see and savor France’s beautiful historic wine-rich region. Click our link below for the latest Tripadvisor reviews. In the end, we travelled with the canopy and umbrella down. Throughout our travels in France we have used Flixbus – you can check our their latest schedules and ticket prices here. Read more. There are only 3 rooms available so early reservations are recommended, especially during July and August. 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