Canal and River Routes Through France

Using a pilot-guides is strongly recommended: Breil Guides or Fluviacarte (Navicarte) Guides.

North-South Passages, Channel to the Mediterranean

Depending on the route, the controlling dimensions are those common to the various ‘central’ canals – 1.8m water draft, 3.5m air draft, 5m width.
Journey time between 24 and 34 days.

1a From Calais to Pont l’Eveque

• • Travel on the Canal de Calais, the River Aa, the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut and the Canal du Nord to the Oise Lateral junction at Pont l’Eveque.
    3 days travel – a total of 138km, 20 locks and 2 tunnels (one 4.4km long).

1b From St Valery-sur-Somme to Pont l’Eveque

• • Travel on the River Somme and the Canal du Nord to the Oise Lateral junction at Pont l’Eveque.
    4 days travel – a total of 184km, 24 locks and 1 tunnel.

There are also options to cross the English Channel to Gravelines or to Dunkerque (Dunkirk) both of which connect to the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut (Grand Gabarit) canal.

From Pont l’Eveque to Chalon-sur-Saone
At this point there are two alternatives -

2a Paris and the ‘Bourbonnais’ Loire-Centre route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• • 2 days on the Oise, south to Conflans, 2 days through Paris on the Seine, 12 days south-east on the Canal de Loing, the Canal de Briare, the Loire Lateral and the Canal du Centre, to Chalon.
    16 days travel – a total of 688km and 167 locks

2b The ‘Champagne’ Marne-Saone route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• • 4 days on the Oise Lateral, the Oise a l’Aisne, the Aisne Lateral and the Aisne a la Marne to Conde sur Marne. 8 days on the Marne Lateral, the Marne-Saone and the Saone, to Chalon.
    12 days travel – a total of 509km, 170 locks and 2 tunnels (one 5km long).

From Le Havre (or Honfleur) to Chalon-sur-Saone

3 Le Havre or Honfleur to Paris (Charenton)

• • River Seine
    5 days travel – a total of 218km and 6-10 locks (depending on details).

4 From Paris to Chalon-sur-Saone
At this point there are two alternatives -

4a The ‘Bourbonnais’ Loire-Centre route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• • South-east on the Haute-Seine, the Canal de Loing, the Canal de Briare, the Loire Lateral and the Canal du Centre, to Chalon.
    12 days travel – a total of 495km and 155 locks

4b The Eastern ‘Champagne’ Marne-Saone route

• • 5 days on the Marne and Marne Lateral. 8 days on the Marne-Saone and the River Saone, to Chalon.
    13 days travel – a total of 545km, 148 locks and 1 tunnel (5km long).

5a From Chalon-sur-Saone to Arles (or Saint-Gilles if heading west)

• • 8 days travel on the River Saone and River Rhone (and Petit Rhone) to Arles/Saint-Gilles – a total of 413km and 15 locks.

5b From Arles/Saint-Gilles to the Med – options

• • 1 day (40km, 1 lock) to Port St Louis.
  • 2 days (81km, 1 lock) to Grau du Roi/Port Camargue.
  • 2 days (128km, 1 lock) to Frontignan/Sete.
  • 3 days (158km, 3 locks) to Grau d’Agde/Cap d’Agde**
  • 6 days (260km, 28 locks) to Port la Nouvelle**
    ** Canal du Midi draft restrictions

East-West Passages, Mediterranean to the Atlantic

The controlling dimensions are those of the Canal du Midi – 1.5m* water draft (*theoretical), 3.3m air draft, 5.4m width.
Journey time between 14 and 18 days.

6a From the Mediterranean ports to Port la Robine (Canal du Midi)

• • From Port St Louis
    5 days (220km, 15 locks) to Port la Robine
  • From Grau du Roi/Port Camargue
    4 days (100km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine
  • From Frontignan/Sete
    2 days (53km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine
  • From Port la Nouvelle
    1 day (39km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine

6b From Port la Robine to Pauillac (Bordeaux) – The Canal des Deux Mers

• • 6 days travel on the Canal du Midi to Toulouse – 151km and 36 locks.
  • 7 days travel on the Canal de Garonne, the River Garonne and the River Gironde from Toulouse to Bordeaux, then Pauillac (for re-masting) – 268km and 53 locks.
  • A 13 day total of 419km and 89 locks.