French Holiday Ideas | The Beauty of boating holidays in France

Boating breaks in France


France is so blessed with navigable rivers and canals that it’s perhaps tricky deciding which region to head to for your cruising or boating break.

The two most common destinations are Burgundy, which boasts both the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal du Bourgogne, and the Canal du Midi in the South of Franc, whiche joining the Atlantic toi the Mediterranean. It was made more famous in recent years thanks to Rick Stein’s humourously told tale of navigating its length.

Choose Burgundy and you will be gently meandering through stunning vineyards and open valleys, stopping off at your leisure to sample some of France’s finest food and wine.

Along the Canal du Midi, the views are equally enthralling as the 300-year-old waterway takes you past such historic sites as Carcassonne, Béziers and on to seaside resorts like Agde. The added bonus, of course, is almost guaranteed sunny weather if you travel in summer.

But beyond these two prominent destinations, there are countless lesser known navigable waterways to enjoy, from Alsace to Brittany, from the Somme in Picardy to the Charente and the Camargue.

Of course, the steering of the boat is only part of the fun. You can top off at villages along the way to sample local life and really immerse yourself in country culture and by planning your journey properly you can have as much action or peace and quiet as you wish.



Some people prefer to get active, hiring bikes or horses to explore the area around their day’s mooring while others prefer to simply sun themselves up on deck. The beauty of boating is flexibility and choosing your own pace of voyage.

As for the vessels themselves, well you don’t need to be a trained skipper to make your way around the beautiful French countryside. The boats, from self-drive cruisers to pénichettes, are easy to use and very well equipped. You can even enjoy the option of a catered hotel barge on many of the main waterways.

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