France has something like 8,000km (5,000 miles) of navigable inland waterways – you can travel by boat across this large country from north to south; and east to west, using canals and rivers of great variety, size and scenic beauty. Whether you’re interested in a passage through the canals to the deep blue Mediterranean, or living aboard in one of the world’s most civilised countries, buying a boat, chartering a luxury hotel barge, or hiring a self-drive boat, for a holiday or a vacation, this is a big subject with almost limitless potential for fascination, safe exploration, huge enjoyment and warm friendship. That’s what this website is all about. We hope you’ll find it clear, comprehensive, informative and inspirational – it is based on years of our own boating experiences. Welcome!
Our all-new Holidays and Vacations section will help you to enjoy the rivers and canals of France to the full – whether ‘boatside’ or ‘bankside’ !
- Journey Through France Video
- Waterway Regional Guides
- Self-Drive Boating
- Luxury Hotel Barges
- River Ship Cruises
- Canalside Recreation (soon)
Holidays and Vacations
River Ship Cruises
“ . . A very special way of seeing France. A wonderful holiday – hot, sunny weather, fantastic things to see and do, never a dull moment, interesting fellow cruisers, great food. . .” (new section in preparation)
Practical Cruising
Knowing The Ropes
Detailed guidance, tips and tricks that will make you master of the waterways, as well as master of your craft. Or mistress, of course. A ten-year fund of information, the product of thousands of kilometres of cruising, thousands of locks and hundreds of moorings.
Key topics include -
- Routes to (or from) the Mediterranean – options and timings
- Dimensions – Depths, Widths and Headroom
- Boating Regulations and VNF Navigation Licences
- Mast Stepping (and un-stepping) and Protection
- Lock (ecluse) and Mooring techniques
- Connecting to Electricity, Fuelling and Filling Up
Fifty pages of detailed navigation guidance for many French canals and rivers – based on our own direct experience since 2003. Here’s a link to just one example – the world heritage Canal du Midi.
Grehan’s 
The waterway regions of France – 
Will my boat get through? Details of 
SatNav system 