Le Boat Destinations – FRANCE
There is so much of France to explore with Le Boat. Here is a summary of the main regions.
Canal du Midi
When you choose Canal du Midi boating holidays, you’re set to savour the slow easy pace of travel, past lush vineyards in the heart of the Languedoc wine region. You can enjoy wine tasting, cycling, and sightseeing at medieval villages and ancient fortress cities all the way from bustling Toulouse to the golden sands of the Mediterranean Sea!
Luxuriate in the laid-back charm of beautiful Canal du Midi. This is the perfect boating region for wine tasting, history, heritage, gastronomy and family friendly holidaying.
LOCKS:
Locks are fully automatic, manned and free of charge.
Opening hours: During the busy summer season locks are open 09:00-19:00 (7:00 p.m.). Locks are closed for lunch between 12:30-13:30 (1:30 p.m.). Public holidays: Locks are closed on some public holidays : 1st May & 1st Nov.
Please note that the locks can get busy in peak season. Please also note that the Fonsérannes staircase has specific opening hours for rising vs down navigation.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are plentiful on the Canal du Midi, most of them are offering electricity and water refill for a small charge. You could also moor where you want to along the canal thanks to the ropes and spikes on-board your boat. Please do not cross the pathway with the ropes in order to allow the passage of walkers and cyclists.
Burgundy: Franche Comte
Famous Burgundy well deserves its reputation for fine wines and gourmet cuisine. Lush vineyards hug rolling hills, and quiet villages invite you to linger on. Amidst a network of canals flows the majestic Saône River, the focal point of your Burgundy boat hire in France! This beautiful river ushers you into a world of pleasures, a realm that pleases the senses and soothes the soul.
Pamper your palate in the heart of magnificent Burgundy. This is the perfect boating region for wine tasting, nature lovers, gastronomy and fishing.
LOCKS:
The locks on the Seille River are self-operated. The locks on the Petit Saône are automatic and have lock keepers; others are self-operated. On the Big Saône, you’ll find three large automatic locks with lock keepers between St. Jean-de-Losne and Mâcon. On the Canal des Vosges, Canal de Bourgogne and the Canal du Centre, all locks are automatic.
Opening hours: Petit Saône locks operate from 09:00-19:00 (7:00 p.m). They are closed for lunch from 12:30-13:30 (1:30 p.m.). Big Saône locks operate from 06:00-21:00 (9:00 p.m.). No lunch closures.
Public holidays: Fontenoy le Château: Closed 1st May & 1st November | St Jean-de-Losne: Closed 1st May, 14th July & 1st November | Branges: Closed 1st May, 14th July & 1st November.
MOORINGS:
There are numerous well-equipped moorings on the Seille River. Mooring on pontoons or in a harbour is compulsory on the Big Saône.
Burgundy: Loire Valley & Nivernais
Stately châteaux, colourful gardens, flourishing vineyards, medieval villages and larger Roman towns create an idyllic landscape for boating in the Nivernais & Loire Valleys. Let yourself meander through beautiful valleys, take the bikes for a spin and enjoy some of the world-class wines these regions are famous for.
Unwind and delight in the scenic valleys of Nivernais & Loire. This region is perfect for wine tasting, historical and heritage interests, nature lovers, cycling and gastronomy.
LOCKS:
There are 110 locks on the Canal du Nivernais and 47 locks on the Canal Latéral à la Loire. They are very well kept and each has a lock keeper. The awesome Sardy staircase near Lake Baye has 16 locks.
Opening hours: During the busy summer season locks are open 09:00-19:00 (7:00 p.m.). Locks are closed for lunch between 12:00-13:00 (1:00 p.m.).
Public holidays: Locks are open on most public holidays.
Lock Closure dates: Please be aware about the lock closure dates by local authorities. During that day(s), you won’t be able to go through the locks. For more details and questions, please contact our sales team. All locks closed on: 1st May, 14th July & 1st November.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are plentiful on the Canal du Nivernais, the Yonne River and the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Alsace-Lorraine
Boating holidays in Alsace indulge the senses with all manner of experiences – rural, urban and everything in between. Two beautiful canals lead to vibrant cities in France and Germany, and along the way you get to enjoy lake resorts, village cafés, towering castles and some of the finest cuisine in France! Enjoy a deliciously unique blend of cultures you’ll find nowhere else.
Alsace-Lorraine is the perfect boating region for nature lovers, history, heritage and gastronomy.
LOCKS:
The locks on the Canal de la Marne au Rhin and Canal du Rhône au Rhin are automatic and easy to operate, and there is no charge to use them. Canal des Houillières de la Sarre locks have lock keepers to help with the manual locks. There is no charge.
Opening hours: During the busy summer season locks are open 07:00–19:00 (7:00 p.m.) on weekdays and Saturdays, and 07:00-18:00 (6:00 p.m.) on Sundays. These hours are for the Canal de la Marne au Rhin and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin. During the busy summer season the locks on the Canal des Houillères de la Sarre are open 08:30-18:30 (6:30 p.m.).
Public holidays: All locks closed on: 1st May & 1st November.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are generally plentiful on all the canals.
Camargue
Broad saltwater lagoons, golden beaches, wild white horses and pink flamingos – the Camargue basks in sunshine all year around which makes it ideal for boating holidays. Romans plied these waters, and Crusaders followed. You can feel the regions rich history as you approach fortress seaport cities like Aigues-Mortes, but don’t miss out on a Camargue horse ride through the saline wetlands and discover the unique wildlife. Find more information about the Camargue region below.
Relax amidst the natural splendour of sun-bathed Camargue. This region is perfect for swimming, family holidays, wildlife and horseback riding.
LOCKS:
The Camargue region has no locks except for one near Beaucaire, so it is perfect for anyone new to cruising or looking for an easy cruising experience.
Opening Hours:
During the busy summer season locks are open 09:00-18:00 (6:00 p.m.).
Locks are closed for lunch between 12:30-13:30 (1:30 p.m.).
Public holidays:
All locks are closed on: 1st May, 14th July & 11th November. Nourriguier lock : closed on Easter Sunday. Lock St Gilles : closed only on 1st May
MOORINGS:
Between St. Gilles and Aigues-Mortes (good for bird watching) and between Palavas-les-Flots and Frontignan you can generally find mooring spaces along the towpath using your onboard mooring pins, although please refer to your waterways map for exact locations. Otherwise, you are advised to moor in ports or private marinas in the Camargue region, where a fee of between €10-€55 will usually apply. Most will have water refill points and electric hook-up facilities (not available on all boats).
Lot
Trees line the shores of the scenic River Lot, giving way to medieval hilltop villages, lush vineyards and spectacular limestone cliffs amongst the wilderness. The river makes a unique venue for boating holidays in France. Outdoor pursuits like cycling, swimming and fishing go hand in hand with fine dining, browsing in open-air markets and sightseeing at historic châteaux!
Savour the Lot River’s enchanting natural beauty. Lot is the perfect boating region for viewing wildlife, fishing, swimming or active watersports.
LOCKS:
There are no lock keepers on the River Lot, and all the locks are manual and user-operated. Locks are fun and operation is simple, but we recommend that at least two members of you crew have a good level of fitness. Couples travelling alone should allow extra time for slower progress and should be mindful that one person will have to operate both gates at each lock by themselves, while the other drives the boat. Most couples choose to wait for another boat, so they can travel through locks together and share the effort required. Should you have any questions or difficulties, Le Boat is at hand to provide you with helpful advice. There are 17 locks on the upper River Lot.
Opening hours: Locks open every day from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Public holidays: Locks are open on holidays in this region.
MOORINGS:
You can moor in ports. However, there are also some lovely country mooring areas on the river away from villages that will give you a chance to enjoy the solitude of the Lot Valley. Some have picnic tables. Moor with the bow facing the current, and run lines to keep the stern off to prevent the boat from going aground if the water level lowers during the night.
Charente
A river of incredibly clear water lined with pines, vineyards and meadows, the Charente is amongst the prettiest waterways for canal boat holidays in France! Long known for its Cognac, gracious châteaux and friendly people, the valley opens its arms to you, inviting you to savour a leisurely journey on a river that looks as beautiful as it did many centuries ago.
Find yourself spellbound on the shimmering Charente River. This region is perfect for nature lovers, history, heritage, wine tasting and fishing. It is also family friendly.
LOCKS:
There are 21 locks above St. Savinien. They are easy to operate. There are no lock keepers. Opening hours: Locks are open all day. No transits are allowed after sunset. The lock hours at St. Savinien are 08:00-18:00 (6:00 p.m.). The lock closes for lunch between 12:00-14:00 (2:00 p.m.).
Public holidays: Locks are open on bank holidays.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are plentiful on the Charente River. A trip to the seaport of Rochefort is well worth the effort. If you don’t want to tangle with the tides, moor at St. Savinien and hop on the train to Rochefort.
Brittany
A Celtic land laced in canalised rivers studded with towering castles seemingly at every turn, a Brittany boat hire in France ushers you into an especially unique French locale. You’re not far from the North Atlantic coast, so seafood at cafés is in order! You can also venture to Nantes and Dinan for the museums, historic sites and fine restaurants.
Brittany is the perfect boating region for history, heritage, gastronomy, nature lovers and family friendly holidaying.
LOCKS:
Locks in Brittany are mostly automatic and have lock keepers. Some are manual, and you’ll operate those yourself.
Opening hours: During the busy summer season locks are open 09:15–19:00 (7:00 p.m.). Locks are closed for lunch between 12:00-14:00 (2:00 p.m.).
Public holidays: Locks are always open.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are plentiful in Brittany, and most services are available. Expect to pay between 10 and 15 euros per night for a boat about 10 metres (33 feet) in length. Rates are a bit higher in some ports.
Aquitaine
Known for its fabulous wines and gourmet cuisine, the Aquitaine epitomises the best of gastronomical boating in France. The Canal Latéral à la Garonne and the River Baïse are your playground, winding through meadows, orchards and medieval villages that tempt you to tie up and spend time simply sipping wine in the warm sunshine with your family and friends.
Indulge your palate in sunny Aquitaine. Aquitaine is the perfect boating region for lovers of gastronomy, history and wine tasting.
LOCKS:
Locks are automatic and free of charge. There are 53 locks on the Canal Latéral à la Garonne.
Opening hours: During the busy summer season locks are open 09:00-18:00 (6:00 p.m.). Locks are closed for lunch from 12:00-13:00 (1:00 p.m.).
Public holidays: Locks are closed on some public holidays: 1st May & 1st November.
MOORINGS:
Moorings are plentiful in the Aquitaine.
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