Easily accessible, the Loire Valley is approximately 2.5 hours from Paris by car and encompases the heart of French village life. Ideal for beginners, there aren't many locks there are lock keepers to give you a helping hand. River Cruise Holidays in France. To help you choose your French self-drive boat holiday here is an outline of France boat hire areas: With miles of canals and rivers, boating holidays in France give you hundreds of route options. Nestled in the Languedoc wine region, the Canal du Midi is an ideal location for wine tasting holidays. Hire Boat Information hereis outline guidance only, based on details provided to us. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What’s included in the price of hiring the boat? There's even an option to combine your boating holiday with golf. A visit to Carcassonne and Fonseranes locks is a must for your French canal boat holidays. Sireuil (La Charente). Shorter cruises will require that you return to base A. The atmosphere of the South, with its colourful markets, the way of life in the South West and its hideaway villages, the Celtic atmosphere of Brittany, with its … The region has excellent cuisine and is famous for it's local produce, Sancerre wines, arts and crafts and historical sites. Grez-Neuville (L'Oudon). Camargue and blue Mediterranean. A UNESCO world heritage site, this is the oldest major operating canal system in the world, completed in 1681. The currency in France is the Euro. Clothes pins: Clothes pins are useful in hanging up sheets to create shade and for when you need to rinse out some clothing here and there. Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every fleet and many of their boats, published here. Buzet (La Baise). Take time to discover regional delicacies and fine wine whilst on your boating holiday in France. The interiors of this wonderful vessel echo the décor and ambience of a French manor … Another popular destination for a France barge holiday is the sun-drenched Canal du Midi in the South of France. When you collect your boat it will be freshly cleaned and set up with a gas bottle, a full tank of diesel and a full tank of water to last your week. Your Expert Hotel Barge Concierge. Your search ends here. Trèbes, Homps, Ventenac, Paraza, Marseillette and Capestang offer much for wine connoisseurs! A full list of extras will be supplied with your booking form, so you can purchase additional items such as cleaning kit, bar-b-cue and bikes to carry on board. Local specialities include Armagnac, duck breast, Agen prunes and Buzet wines. Some boats also have a bow and stern thruster to assist movement sideways. On your Canal du Midi cruise, tour vineyards, visit wine caves and taste free samples. Local specialities include Armagnac, duck breast, Agen prunes and Buzet wines. view our video and It is necessarily approximate and is not contractual. Grocery shopping: Please remember to take some cash with you on your French boating holiday as some shops cannot accept payment by card. Do you need previous experience or qualifications? Not to be missed is the medieval castle at Josselin, designated a 'monument historique' since 1928. Looking for an ideal cruise holiday in France? World heritage. A smaller fleet with excellent boats above: the barge-style Euroclassic, The biggest fleet, with a wide range of sizes and styles of boat, Distinctive boats (incl. Such a variety of places and scenes, such a variety of different waterways to explore and people to make friends with. Nearby points of interest include the Castle of King Louis XI at Auxonne and the Vauban Citadel in Besancon. If history is your thing, then Northern France makes an ideal destination. The major rivers, however, are out of bounds – the Seine (including Paris), the Rhine, Rhone and the Gironde – because they are too busy with commercial traffic or have strong currents or tides. Long-time associated with fine food and wine, the Burgundy region is crossed by three major canals – the Canal de Bourgogne, the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal de Briare. Hire boats come in different sizes, to suit a couple, a family or you and your friends, and your holiday can be arranged from start to finish by any of the reputable companies to be found here. We offer luxury hotel barge cruises in the main regions of France. Cruise towards Strasbourg or Arzviller, which has the only boat lift in France. Perfect for ‘absolute beginners’ – no qualifications required! Locks: Passage through locks and bridges is free. Local specialities for food lovers include 'mouclade' oysters, melon, meats, snails and cheese. We recommend that the ladies drive the boat and the men do the rope work; techniques develop with practice but the latter requires more physical strength. Closest airports: Paris-Orly. Yes, but it’s not quite like a car. Perfect for history lovers, the region boasts Medieval castles and villages as well as abbeys, chapels and manors. From Vermenton, cruising options include the medieval city of Auxerre via the River Yonne. Alsace – Ardennes. A mountainous region with beautiful scenery, watersports, history, tasty local cuisine, cycling and hiking. No!, and you will be given whatever guidance you need before you set out – there are simple controls, rather like driving a car, and basic waterways ‘rules of the road’. The waterways are peaceful and set between hills and forests. We’ve partnered with the best four self-drive fleets, large and small, offering a huge range of boats Waterways of France. Don’t worry, instruction is given before you set off. BOATING HOLIDAY CRUISING ON THE FRENCH CANALS. Fishing: You'll need to purchase a licence to fish. Join the Canal de la Sarre at Gondrexange and explore lakes, beaches, swimming and watersports. To comply with Government restrictions we are taking new boating holiday reservations for boat hire commencing from 4th July 2020 onwards. Dating back to the 19th Century, the Canal de Garonne starts at Castets-en-Dorthe and meets the Canal du Midi at Toulouse. World renowned. There are over a hundred hire boat bases throughout France that each keep a (limited) number of differently-sized boats for couples, families and groups. Burgundy, in France’s heartland, is one of the most popular cruising areas and is often referred to as the home of hotel barge holiday. French barge cruise holidays allow you to go where you want and do as you please. get the facts! The French canals and rivers travel scenic countryside and ancient towns, with each area having its own particular culture, history and architecture. welcome. Up to 20% discounts for private charter or book by cabin luxury cruises, Save 5% to 50% per week on boats and destinations throughout France, Up to 20% off high-quality fleet cruises on the major rivers of France. Frp, Harskirchen, cruise to Sarreguemines which is famous for its ceramics or to Saarbrucken which is just over the German border. Hiring and driving your own cruising boat is an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the French waterways have to offer. Closest airports: Toulouse-Blagnac, Carassonne-Salvaza. Closest airports: Strasbourg, Harskirchen (Canal de la Sarre). The locks are closed on 1st May and 14th July. Many of the locks are open during the day (please check opening hours) but close at lunchtime. Closest airports: Perpignan, Carcassonne, Béziers, Montpellier, Toulouse. Hiring and driving your own cruising boat is an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the French waterways have to offer. of all styles, sizes and price-points, and available at bases to cruise the canals throughout France. Boats are available for weekly hire, as well as for short breaks and longer periods. Closest airports: Bordeaux-Mérignac, Toulouse-Blagnac. Almost anywhere! Book today. Rich biodiversity, sandy beaches and bustling medieval towns and ports make for a fun filled holiday in the south of France. For barge holidays in France or a canal boat hire, familiarize yourself with the rules before leaving the dock. The bands do not represent accurate low or high season rates. Glénac (Canal de Nantes a Brest). There’s no harm in asking questions when considering boat holidays in France canals. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, but it’s not quite like a car. Some boats also have a bow and stern thruster to assist movement sideways. Explore by boat, barge or ship – what are the differences? Crystal clear water, countryside and fields of sunflowers sum up a cruise along this large and winding river. Travel by boat on the canals is s-l-o-w and speeding destroys not only your peaceful holiday but the canal banks too. The beatuiful river is also perfect for fishermen, who can expect to catch brown trout, carp, pike, perch and eel. Waterways Holidays Ltd Where charges exist, they are between approximately €10 and €50. The Canal du Midi offers a wonderful journey through the sun-drenched vineyards and pretty villages of the Languedoc – France’s most prolific wine producing region. The sun-kissed Canal du Midi in Southern France is perhaps the most famous canal in the World. Closest airports: Paris-Orly, Plagny (Canal lateral a la Loire). It will also have a fully fitted kitchen – the luxury boats are modern and very high-spec – and all bedding required. Closest airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Nantes Atlantique, Laval (La Mayenne). The stunning Ouche Valley, the wide river Saone . Here comes the sun. The locks are closed on 1st May. The locks are closed on 1st May. So choose your destination, find your own perfect style of boat and then book direct with our trusted boating holiday providers. The main sites in Auxerre include the Cathedral of St. Étienne and the Abbey of Saint-Germain. The Canal du Nivernais links the Loire Valley to the Seine Valley. Port sur Saone (La Petite Saone). You can hire a boat from A to B or do a ‘there-and-back’ trip and you can even take your family dog. If so, how do I get back to my car? There are purpose built moorings in many towns and villages. Is it easy to drive a hire-boat? France Afloat is unique in being both a family business and actually being based in France. Closest airports: Nantes, Rennes, Sucé sur Erdre (L'Erdre). Closest airport: Paris airports, Brienon (Canal de Bourgogne). Shower shoes / Flip flops / thongs : for the showers at the various ports that you can stop at. What are self-drive boating holidays like? Relax on the terrace, with it’s jacuzzi and deckchairs, while you comfortably admire the most beautiful landscapes of France. Terms, Conditions, ©Copyrightand Privacy Statement, Contact Address french-waterways.com •  2 Michaels Court, Hanney Road, Southmoor, OX13 5HR, UK •  Port Lalande, 47260 Castelmoron-sur-Lot, France, Sign up now for our occasional email Newsletter about self-drive hire boating in France - special offers, new cruises and things to do in this wonderful country. Closest airports: Nimes, Montpellier, Aigues-Mortes (Canal du Rhone a Sete). document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); You'll find locally grown products at weekly street markets in many villages and towns. (PS: you may unsubscribe at any time), Hundreds of boats, of all types and sizes, to choose from, Thousands of kilometres of lovely canals to explore. Price Band = whole boat, per week Outline guidance only – hire prices vary by boat size, season and location. See life pass you by on canals, rivers and lakes. The canal has 53 locks and is 193km long, crossing the river Agen by way of a beautiful aqueduct. And, it’s no [...] The locks are automatic in this region. The locks are closed on 1st May. On-board the magnificent Renaissance you’ll be treated to the ultimate luxury barge trip in France as you travel the Upper Loire and Western Burgundy. Burgundy – Nivernais – Loire. Food lovers will love the Meditarranean style cuisine and local products. Our Unique Expertise – France, Cruising the Waterways and Self-Drive Boating Unique. 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