> River tourism: the Lot, a refuge for nature-lovers in France’s south-west

> Current trends: river tourism ever more popular in the Sarthe

> Drought: river tourism stays on course!

River tourism is in vogue: the number of passengers sailing on the Loire, Cher and Vienne has almost doubled since 2004.

> A Week on the Seille

For those who fancy themselves as sailors (freshwater ones) and have a yearning to take the helm of their own vessel for a week, there’s a perfect solution ready and waiting: boat hire. Renting a boat on the canals or indeed on the Seille does not require a licence. This is what launched the market in the early 1980s, and it’s a flourishing market now, with no fewer than four different firms hiring out craft to an ever expanding clientele on the Seille alone.

“What people love here is the wild, natural side. And of course we now offer return-trips so they can go wherever they like – they can even go to Lyons and back”. A week meandering from one place to another, through towns and locks or making a round trip. The customer can ask the hire companies for more or less whatever he wants, if he’s prepared to pay for it. From a week on a fairly simple three or four berth boat during the low season, up to a luxury craft for eight in August, with prices ranging from 800 up to around 4,500 euros.

Canals – a new Eldorado for tourism?

With 1,000 kilometres of navigable waterways, Burgundy is fortunate enough to have the largest network in France. Which explains why the region has developed such a thriving trade, with a wide selection of habitable boats. The second widest in France, in fact, after the Canal du Midi. Almost 400 of these craft are available for hire from around twenty rental firms, at no fewer than 27 bases. […]

[…] Pleasure barges are to waterways what caravans are to roads. The privately-owned fleet in France consists of around 1,800 craft. Over 150,000 holidaymakers hired boats last year, to meander down the county’s rivers and canals at their own pace. The industry has 83 companies and a fleet of 1,853 boats at 129 bases, offering wide coverage of France’s various waterways. […]

The summer sunshine is arriving, and with it comes a brand new website, where you can find information about boating holidays or even organize your trip! > see the article at www.voilesnews.fr/fr/info_27_25807.html

No sailing licence!

French law does not require a licence for recreational boats of 15 metres or less in length, and with engine power not exceeding a ratio proportional to its size. A theory-based and practical introduction to boat handling, given at the base before departure, allows new sailors get to grips with their boat quickly and master the basics of sailing. A licence is then issued for the duration of the trip.

During the television programme Envoyé Spécial which aired on Thursday, July 1^st 2010, Françoise Joly and Guilaine Chenu presented various reports from the banks of the Canal du midi, explaining that river boating represents a whole new way of discovering this beautiful region.

Holidays on the water

Good news for boating enthusiasts: the French Nautical Industries Federation has refurbished its website devoted to river boat hire (www.location-fluviale.com), providing quick and easy access to a host of valuable information on this popular theme [...].

www.location-fluviale.com gets a new lease of life!

Come and visit the newly launched website. Bon voyage! > see the article at http://www.norlanda.com/fr/news/www.location-fluviale.com-s-offre-une-nouvelle-jeunesse—-a226.html

Set a course for the canal, for a relaxing getaway on the water!

Looking for an original way to see France? Try a boating holiday. Rental a boat – no licence needed – and meander down the canals at your own pace.… magical!

Rental a boat

You don’t need to be an old sea-dog to take to the water! Boats under 15m in length or carrying fewer than 12 passengers don’t require a licence. […] Before setting out, you’ll get a free introductory lesson lasting around one hour. […]

Budget

Rates vary depending on the level of comfort of the boat, the number of berths aboard and the season. Expect to pay from €350 per week for two people, up to €3,800 per week for a top-of-the-range boat with room for 12 people. […]

Comfortable boats

The boats are like a home away from home, equipped with a kitchen, lounge area, cabins and one or more bathrooms… Some have an inside cockpit, while others have one outside[…]

Hire with a skipper

If you prefer a holiday that’s 100% relaxation, you can sit back and let someone else do it all for you by renting a boat with a skipper, and even a hostess and/or chef. […]

A Tour de France on the canals, or exploring France in eight stages!
The Tour de France on the canals is the theme of an adventurous multimedia travel log produced by L’Express and RFI. Based on experiences, encounters and impressions gleaned from journeys on France’s canals, this account touches upon on just about every aspect of river tourism: history, heritage, culture, cuisine, sports and leisure, practical considerations, handy addresses, etc.

What’s the route?

- Stage 1 > The Paris area, the Canal de l’Ourcq, the Marne

- Stage 2 > The Canal du Nord and the Canal de la Somme

- Stage 3 > Brittany, the Nantes-Brest canal

- Stage 4 > the South-West, the Canal de Garonne, the Baïse and the Lot

- Stage 5 > The Canal du Midi

- Stage 6 > The South-East, the Canal du Rhône à Sète

- Stage 7 > The canals of the Centre (Loing, Nivernais, Briare, Burgundy)

- Stage 8 > Eastern France, the Marne-Rhine canal

> Click here to visit the Tour de France canal blog.

“Captain of the ship”

[…] Never been boating before? No problem. You’ll get a quick lesson on how to manoeuvre your boat or barge before you set out, with instructions on handling, mooring and navigating locks. And that’s pretty much all you’ll need to know, as boating on canals is safe, with speeds limited to 6 km/h. Only navigating locks can sometimes be a little tricky, requiring several people to help manoeuvre the boat.
On the money side, boating isn’t just a different kind of holiday. It’s also an affordable kind of holiday! Aside from the diesel fuel, which has to be paid for at the end of a cruise, boating holidays are “all in”, with no hidden extras. The hire rate is per boat (not per person), and the main activities don’t carry surcharges: 4 to 5 hours of boating per day, walks and bike rides along the towpaths, angling, bathing, visiting waterside villages, and passing through locks is free.

“Water-based getaways”

Off the beaten track, boating holidays definitely have the wind in their sails. More intimate than their seafaring cousins, river and canal cruises are an excellent opportunity to explore the very heart of a country or city. In France alone, there are around 8,500 kilometres of navigable waterways. […]
TAKE THE HELM! You don’t need a licence to skipper a boat. Much more fun and ideal for exploring inland areas, a barge is easy to handle and can navigate not just rivers, but also canals, making it a great way to discover idyllic scenery.

“I’m off on a river cruise”

The Seychelles. Too pricey. Egypt? Too hot. The Scandinavian fjords? Too cold! So why not stay closer to home with a cruise in France?

“The watery way to wellbeing”

Why not try a cruise on France’s navigable waterways? Firmly anchored in France’s history, its rivers and canals have helped to shape the development of the country’s regions, economy and culture. Once used to transport cargo and passengers, in recent years France’s canals and rivers have been riding a new wave: river tourism…

“When holidays take to the water”

“WHERE TO HIRE? The first thing to do, is log onto the website at www france-fluviale.fr […]. The boats are regularly inspected and come with full safety guarantees. The hire price generally includes basic facilities (sheets, dishes and eating utensils, refrigerator, gas cooker), boat insurance, tools, water supplies (to be restocked every 2 or 3 days, often free of charge in ports or harbour master’s offices) and gas for the length of the trip. Fuel is paid for by the holidaymaker. Allow around €15 per day, depending on the type of boat and distance travelled. ”

“Holidays…a long quiet river”

“With some 200,000 amateur boaters having taken to France’s canals last year, barge holidays have the wind in their sails! An original way to explore France, or even Europe. No more exhausting holidays! Popular practically all year round, river tourism is a family-friendly option for anyone looking for a peaceful, relaxing getaway. A typical barge meanders along at a sedate cruising speed of 6 km/h. ” Hire dossier.

“River tourism: time to cast off!”

“Home to Europe’s largest network of navigable waterways, France’s wealth of natural riches is becoming increasingly popular, with some 9 million passengers every year taking to the water for a day or longer. […] The variety of canals provides a chance to explore different places from one year to the next, and see the architecture and charms of France’s regions.”

“Hiring a boat”

” Most hire firms have fairly comprehensive sites, where you can get an idea of what’s on offer and see the interior of a boat, before you book. […] On most sites, the trend is towards transparency. Any extras are clearly detailed are the price shown. That goes for bike hire to boat cleaning after the cruise, as well as things like secure parking for your vehicle […]. There’s a wide range of services, and the real cost of the cruise has to include all the options chosen. On some sites, you can even book a cruise online. […] And on the subject of money, boat hire may cost a certain amount, but in exchange, you have something unique, that’s a vehicle, a “hotel” and “restaurant” all at once, and that lets you travel through the countryside at a human speed and get right to the heart of the city in peace. You could get used to it, that’s for sure. “

” What about a gentle trip on the water? France, tourist canal ”

” Looking for little R&R, away from the crowds and the beaches? Then turn the page. Get off the beaten track, and take to France’s waterways. On a barge, the hassle of everyday life seems a distant memory. […] Playing at sailors on a river boat that looks much like a yacht, is not only possible, it’s affordable too. […] Whether as a couple or in a group, for a weekend or a few weeks, relax and move at your own pace. “

” The pleasure of going with the flow… ”

” Take a good look around you. There’s most likely a river or canal you can boat on. Just think, even just a stone’s throw from your home, it’s such a different experience that you won’t fail to be surprised. “

Evening news with Béatrice Schonberg

BS: ” Philippe had always dreamed of taking the helm of a boat. His ocean is a waterway fifteen metres wide, running through a sea of green fields. Before setting out on his voyage, the future skipper gets some valuable instructions on handling his craft. […] “.

P: ” The gentle pace, the calm, the tranquillity…it’s an extraordinary experience, because we lead such busy lives “.

” Long live boating! ”

” It’s paradoxical: the French, though they live next door, don’t realize they have 12,000 km of navigable waterways. And yet freshwater boating is the most pleasant way to spend a holiday. ”
Travelling without having to unpack, rediscovering the simple pleasure of taking it slow and easy in the heart of the city or in the countryside. ” At 6 km/h, you’re moving at a walking pace, except that it’s comfortable, not tiring. “

” Floating holidays: Happiness on the water ”

” Take a different approach to time: here, life is a long, quiet river. ”
Article on ideas about holidays afloat.

” Why not hire a boat for your holiday? ”

” Tourism. The French are doing it more and more.

Sailing boats, motorboats, offshore or on the river, it’s your choice. ”
Hire a boat for your next summer holiday.

” Holidays on the water: sail or motor? ”

“When it comes to getting out on the water, the stars are first in line. Follow their example: drop anchor wherever your budget or fancy takes you!”
On a barge, like Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart.