These are the key publications that you’ll need for exploring, or travelling through, the waterways, rivers and canals.
There are three series of chart-guides that cover the network. Each provides a map of the subject river or canal, kilometre by kilometre, with information (in French, English and German) about locks (width, rise, number of chambers), bridges (air draft), depths, towns and villages; and moorings. Whilst it is possible to travel using just a waterways system map (see below) plus the various navigational signs that warn, instruct, or provide information we think it is preferable to have better information to hand. All that said, all these guides are less than perfect; they could not be otherwise, covering thousands of kilometres of waterway containing features that change from year to year. So, there are inevitably a few mistakes and a few things missed in these publications.
This is our selection, for other books and guides (equally interesting, but perhaps not quite as vital) see our Waterways Books page. And see the range of Aboard in France website eBooks and Eurocanals planning eGuides.
Grehan’s Tip: Use a clear plastic top-cut wallet, larger than A4 size, to keep the chart-guide in that you’re using. Keeps it dry when it rains and also keeps the book open at the right page for your current position.
The newer publisher, based in Castelnaudary on the Canal du Midi. These A4 format chart-guides have been very carefully thought-through, by someone who knows the waterways and knows how to provide and lay out information, in colour, clearly and professionally. The series is not yet quite complete – there are some gaps that include the River Seine and the northern canals from Calais and Dunkerque – but its coverage is nonetheless extensive, with a very complete set of publications.
Information about the 
The original narrow-format chart-guides. Very comprehensive coverage of all the French waterways. Because of their long publishing history Fluviacartes (the new name for Navicartes) have lots of useful detail that has been built up over the years, however they are also (by the same token) prone to have detail that has changed. Compared to Editions du Breil the layout and style in a few legacy editions is dated and less attractive. But they are the benchmark that other guides are judged by.
Information about the Inland Waterways of France – David Edwards-May
The standard guide to the French canals and navigable rivers includes maps and distance tables for each waterway, giving the user a general view of the geography of each waterway as well as a detailed cockpit reference. The introduction forms a comprehensive general guide to the French waterways, including distances and overall dimensions, formalities, navigation regulations and up-to-date list of hire operators, making inland waterways of France not just an unrivalled planning tool but also an outstanding cruising reference.
( Waterways GPS SatNav software also now available )
Revised 2010 – Full-colour. Contact us for special (e.g recorded, insured) delivery services
The best – award-winning – descriptive guide to the varied network of rivers and canals that penetrate almost every region of France. It provides information on the history, architecture, engineering structures, chateaux, historical sites and scenic attractions of each navigation, enabling the reader to identify areas of great beauty and interest. Maximum craft dimensions are provided together with details of bankside moorings, repair yards, shops, restaurants, fuel and water points and appropriate map and guides for each section. This edition includes all recently restored navigations and explains newly introduced licensing and personal qualification requirements.
Further information about Cruising French Waterways and order 
Presents a concise cartography of all the navigable French waterways, large and small, and makes it possible to know the principal characteristics of them. Each waterway has its own diagrammatic map, with key distances, locks and dimensions. The map of the French inland waterways included is very detailed, and makes it possible to prepare river routes, without surprises. We are not keen on the Vagnon guides, but this is very good, very useful.
Vagnon/Chagnon Pilot Books
Quite modern, clean design, A4 format. However, although they are well researched and comprehensive we find them very difficult to use in practice. Like all the chart-guides each page covers one section of the waterway but the Vagnon/Chagnon guides do so in a counter-intuitive and diagrammatic way that is difficult to comprehend. Not recommended by us.
The waterway regions of France – 
Our comprehensive selection of the best 
The 
Will my boat get through? Details of 
SatNav system 