Alsace : SAVERNE

Start your river and canal escapade in Alsace, land of history and gastronomy, either taking the direction of Strasbourg "European city" or towards Lutzelbourg, renowned for the inclined barge lift. Beyond this, you will arrive on the verdant Lorraine plateau amidst lakes and forests, at Gondrexange you can join the canal des Houillères de la Sarre taking you through the Lorraine Regional Park up to Sarreguemines, renowned for its porcelain and quite close to the German border.

The attractions :
Its beautiful houses
Complete range of boats available
Delicious regional cooking

Sablé sur Sarthe is the ideal base for exploring the Sarthe, a calm and peaceful river. The novice may be attracted by the fact that there are very few locks.  Sarthe is dotted with many picturesque villages as it meanders across the Anjou countryside. Just 4 kms from Cheffes sur Sarthe, you can visit the very elegant castle of Plessis Bourré with its moat. Near Sablé, the imposing Benedictine abbey of Solesme is a by-word for Gregorian chant. Malicorne, further North, is well-known for its fine earthenware. Finally, everyone knows about the Le Mans 24-hour races, but do you know its delightful old quarter?

Land of King Henri IV and D'Artagnan musketeers, a large circuit combining the serenity of the Deux Mers canal and the wild charm of the river Baïse, the beauty of the Lot (downstream portion) and the splendour of the Garonne will lead you to regional curiosities such as artistic glassmaking at Vianne, Nérac Castle, Flaran Abbey, cloisters of Moissac, Condom Cathedral, canal bridge of Agen, Montech water lift and the Bastille of Villeneuve sur Lot...

The attractions :
Navigation possible on both river and canal
Ideal for novices
Few and automatic locks
The gastronomy of the South-West (the wines of Buzet, Sauternes, Armagnac, foie gras, strawberries, melons, prunes...)

Bretagne : GLENAC

In the heart of Morbihan, we suggest to start out from Glenac, at the crossroads of l'Erdre, la Vilaine and the Nantes to Brest Canal. Land of magic and mystery, rich in colours and traditions, Brittany is yours for you to discover along the canal from Nantes to Brest, historical treasures and remarkable natural sites.On the Nantes to Brest canal, you can visit Josselin, with its magnificient castle reflected in the water, Malestroit and its 15th century houses , the craftsman village of Gacilly. In the opposite direction, the river Vilaine takes you on Rennes, capital of Brittany, or Dinan (13th century fortifications) whilst the Erdre up to Nantes provides an enchanting cruise strewn with castles.

The attractions :
waterways devoted entirely to pleasure cruising
Its traditions
Its seafood, delicious crêpes and traditional cider

Bretagne : SUCE SUR ERDRE

Discovering inland Brittany is a poem in itself. Between land and sea, its vast network of rivers and canals offers a wide range of possible itineraries.
Our departure point from Sucé sur Erdre is perfect either for heading for Nantes, a journey strewn with incomparable castles, or, after only a few kilometers, for negotiating your first lock and joining the Nantes-Brest canal. Pass through Blain and Redon, founded in 832 and rich in history. At Redon the river Vilaine can take you on an enchanting cruise to the Arzal dam (passage forbidden) or perhaps towards Rennes and why not as far as Dinan ? Continuing on the Nantes-Brest canal, a short excursion on the river Aff to La Gacilly is a must.
With its colourful landscapes and its traditions, Brittany is a much-loved destination, perfect for spring, summer or autumn cruises.

Val de Loire et Nivernais : PLAGNY

Leaving from Rogny les 7 Ecluses along the Loing canal, you can explore the Loing valley, land of woods and forests punctuated by charming villages. Along the way, make a halt at Montargis, the capital of the Gâtinais region, and don't forget Nemours with its curiously formed Gréau rocks and Moret sur Loing, a small fortified town with ramparts within which you will find the house of Clémenceau, known as "Grange batelière", or the "Ferryman's Barn". Then you can take a little trip down the Yonne towards Nivernais and Burgundy : Sens, Joigny, Auxerre, Clamecy...

Taking the Briare canal, you can explore Puisaye. At Rogny, wonder at the seven locks built under the reign of Henry IV. Take the time to stop and visit the awe-inspiring sight of the Canal-Bridge built by the great engineer Eiffel. After that, the canal running parallel to the Loire opens out before you the beauty of the Sancerrois region and its charming little towns ; Sancerre, with its narrow streets, is situated on a promontory overlooking the Loire valley (you absolutely must stop here to sample the excellent local wines and goat cheeses !) ; St Satur with its beach on the banks of the Loire ; and the local gastronomic specialities of this region are not to be missed.

Carry on towards Charité sur Loire and visit the basilica, a remnant of Burgundy's Romanesque architecture.
A wonderful way to discover the varied and picturesque canals of the "Val de Loire"

The attractions :
Proximity to Paris
Numerous historical sites
Navigation on canals and on the river Yonne
Variety of circuits and loops available
Internationally renowned Sancerre wines
Gastronomy coupled with history

Camargue : BELLEGARDE

La Camargue is a land of marshes. This formidable nature reserve of 85 000 hectares has the richest fauna and flora in Europe. Remarkable settings of fortified towns, remnants of the past history dating to the first Crusades, Meridional foods, bouziegues oysters, Costières de Nîmes, wines of Frontignan Muscat.

The attractions :
Navigate along the Mediterranean inland waterway with just a single lock on the Rhône to Sète Canal, richness and variety of scenery between la Camargue, Etang de Thau and the Canal du Midi, medieval cities and Gastronomy Meridional, sunny beaches, Le Grau du Roi, Palavas...

Charente : SIREUIL

Large and winding, the river Charente quoted by François the 1st as « the most beautiful stream in the Kingdom », runs through the ancient counties of "Langoumois"and "La Saintonge".
For 171 km, from Angoulême to the Ocean, the Charente is regulated by 21 locks.
The ancient vineyards cover the surrounding hills. Many cellars and distilleries will invite you to taste the famous Cognac or delicious Pineau.
Along your cruise, you will find many villages and towns that are testimonies to a rich past such as Angoulême, Fleurac, St Simeux, Châteauneuf, Saint-Simon, Bassac, Jarnac, Saint-Brice, Cognac, Saintes, Saint-Savinien, and Rochefort.
In the Charente area, the gastronomy based on seafood is waiting for you along the river with many of its restaurants preparing local specialities (“mouclade”, oysters …).
Fishermen will not be forgotten and will find plenty of brown trout, carp, pike, perche, and eels …

The attractions :
Locks operated by yourself, so no restrictions on timings.
Pineau & Cognac
Romanesque art
Fauna and flora, peace and quiet
Jarnac

Franche Comté / Doubs : DOLE

Dole ancient capital of Comté, doorway to the Jura and birthplace of Pasteur, situated in the heart of a marvellous region gifted with one of the most beautiful navigation areas offering a very large choice of cruising: le canal du Rhône to the Rhin (in fact it's the Doubs) with Besançon and citadel of Vauban, Baume les Dames, the charm of Comtois villages and market towns, wild beauty of fauna and flora in the superb deeply embanked valleys. You can cruise upstream one way to Port sur Saône or Champigny-Les-Langres or the Burgundy canals beyond Saint-Jean-de-Losne.

The attractions :
A crossroads of rivers for an exceptional choice of cruises, delicious cheeses and wines, wild beauty of a still intact nature.

Franche Comté / Doubs : MONTBELIARD

In the shadow of its castle, the historic town and region of Montbéliard is made up of brightly coloured houses, giving way here and there to temples, museums or a thousand other treasures.
This ancient capital of a Principality of the Holy Germanic Empire is your setting-off point for exploring the Doubs, a river which has dug its bed out of the chalky Jura mountains. The combination of the two has made for a magnificient, deep valley where you can cruise far from the hectic rhythm of city life and enjoy the wild countryside and wildlife, or the charm of the villages and market-towns.
The Doubs is lined by a string of feudal ruins and keeps, slowing down a bit at Baume les Dames. The town's Benedictine history presents a fascinating tale. Further along, Besançon, set in a bend in the river, offers its own marvellous sights - the Citadelle de Vauban embankments, the museum-town with its lovely fountains, its nobles' houses and the lively town centre. Your cruise will take you as far as Dole, the town with 12 convents, known as "La grande dame comtoise (The Great Lady of Franche-Comté).
Heading East, towards Mulhouse and Niffer, you'll leave the wild Doubs valley for calmer waters. In a rural setting, towns and villages bedecked with flowers in the colours of Alsace will invite you to make a halt and taste the local specialities in one of the waterside cafés or small restaurants. Here in Franche-Comté hospitality is a pleasure and a way of life.

The attractions :
Wide choice of cruises
Canal and river cruises
The river Doubs itself !
Full range of boats available
The wines of the Jura

Aquitaine / Lot : BOUZIES

At the foot of its magnificient chalk cliffs, Bouziès is a charming small village from where you begin your great adventure : aboard your boat, let yourself imagine the history of the river, winding its way along the sinuous curves of the Lot through its sumptuous and wild valley. You must not miss the Middle Aged village of Saint Cirq Lapopie, numerous grottoes and pre- historic vestiges (Pech Merle, 30 000 years of History), the narrow streets of Cahors, the villages of Quercy...

The attractions :
Very few locks, a beautiful setting, a wealth of picturesque villages, regional food and wines, temperate climate.