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We offer fully equipped self-drive boats for hire in France, in several other European countries and even further afield...
France is without a doubt a paradise for inland waterway tourism. With its many navigable waterways ranging from major rivers (Loire, Seine, etc.) to internationally renowned canals (Canal du Midi, Canal de Bourgogne, etc.), as well as more discreet rivers (Lot, Doubs, Mayenne, etc.), there is something for everyone.
Inland boating is an invitation to discover the regions you cruise through in all their aspects (history, gastronomy, culture, architecture, etc.). France therefore has a tremendous amount to offer boaters eager for discovery, aboard a licence-free houseboat.
South of France
The Canal du Midi is the most famous waterway in Europe and offers the widest choice of licence-free boats! It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, you will enjoy magnificent hillside landscapes and charming stopovers to discover towns and villages.
But if you wish to venture off the beaten track, other waterways are accessible in southern France, allowing you to cruise through the Camargue, Aquitaine or the Lot region.
Central and Eastern France
A spiritual centre with Cluny and Taizé; a wine capital with Chardonnay, Gamay, Pommard and Beaune; a gastronomic hub with Bocuse, Bernard Loiseau and Troisgros restaurants, Bresse poultry and Charolais beef — Burgundy is undoubtedly the heart of inland boating tourism.
In addition to the Canal de Bourgogne, the Nivernais Canal, the Seille and the Saône rivers, this region offers many other waterways suitable for all types of cruises, whether you are a beginner or an experienced boater.
Western France
Brittany, a land of myths and legends where ancient traditions are still alive, has preserved its language, customs and folklore. This magical and mysterious region will enhance your river cruise with its richness and unique atmosphere.
Anjou, for its part, offers 275 km of navigable rivers exclusively dedicated to inland boating tourism, in the heart of the Loire Valley, with its remarkable castles and renowned vineyards.
The 21 locks along the Charente River are self-operated, offering great freedom for river cruising. The clear waters, bordered by dense tree-lined banks, flow through towns and villages where numerous welcoming mooring spots have been developed.
Eastern France
The Marne, Doubs, Rhine, Aisne, Moselle and many other rivers are interconnected by a vast network of canals: the Rhône–Rhine Canal, the Marne–Rhine Canal, the Aisne–Marne Canal, the Saar Canal, the Meuse Canal, and more. You can cruise round trip, one way, or in a loop — the choice is yours.
By hiring a licence-free boat in Alsace-Lorraine or the Ardennes, you will discover a blend of cultures. You may even feel that you are no longer entirely in France. You will simply be in Europe.
Europe
Civilisation has always developed along waterways.
Inland boating is therefore one of the best ways to explore Europe’s iconic cities on a river cruise: Venice, London, Amsterdam, Ostend, Carcassonne, Berlin, and more — as well as its picturesque countryside: green Irish landscapes, Scottish distilleries and haunted castles, French vineyards, Dutch tulip fields, Portugal’s Great Lake…
Photos: Xavier Gillet, Friedrich Olivier, Tourist Board, www.czechtourism.com, Le Boat, FPP, Nicols, Locaboat