Canals of France

About the Canals of France
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Cruise the canals of France with River Cruise Your Way

Popular Regions for French Canals

Here you can find a list of some of the more popular canal cruise regions of France.  These may be the most common, but there may be others that can be found on select canal barge cruises.  Your River Cruise Artist can provide you with the full itinerary and all destinations and ports for any canal cruise that you may be interested in, on any river cruise operator. Explore the Canals of France further and learn more about the beautiful regions of France.

Alsace-Lorraine

France

The forested and hilly Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was first created by the German Empire in 1871, after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle department of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian region is located in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east of the Vosges Mountains. The Lorraine section was in the upper Moselle valley to the north of the Vosges. Popular sites for canal and river cruisers to the Alsace and Lorraine region of France include the city of Strasbourg and its magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame and atomic clock; the Cathedral of St. Etienne in Metz; the Place Stanislas in Nancy; and the Museum d’Underlinden in Colmar.

Bordeaux

France

Located in southwest France, near the Bay of Biscay, along the Dordogne and Garonne River Valleys, Bordeaux offers more than 100,000 vineyards. Along with vineyards comes historical Chateau, many of which can be visited. Bordeaux is the most famous wine blend in the world. While there are both red and white Bordeaux wines, the name is primarily associated with the red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Bordeaux region is truly a wine lovers paradise!

Burgundy

France

The historic region of Burgundy is in east-central France with capital city of Dijon. Burgundy is of course known for its Burgundy wines as well as pinot noirs, Chardonnay, Chablis and Beaujolais. The region is crisscrossed by a network of canals that are often on the itineraries for enchanting canal barge cruises. You also see a variety of grand châteaux, some now luxury hotels, and quaint French villages. Dijon is famous for mustard and is home to the impressive Palace of the Dukes, where the distinguished Musée des Beaux-Arts was created in 1787.

Champagne- Ardenne

France

Champagne-Ardenne is a familiar region of France since before the revolution. The historic province of Champagne now lies mostly in the Champagne-Ardenne region. The region is about 100 miles east of Paris and is traversed by numerous canals including the river/canal Marne. Along with the historical town of Champagne and the surrounding vineyards and wineries, you may also visit Reims, a popular spot in this region with its famous cathedral, one of the most beautiful buildings of the Middle Ages in Europe that is filled with history. Many of the French kings were crowned here for about 1,000 years. Most of the surrounding old houses were destroyed during World War I, but the city was extensively rebuilt in the 1920’s in a more Art Deco style.

Gascony

France

Gascony is an area in the southwest of France that once was a part of the “Province of Guyenne and Gascony” prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined, and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear to some. The name Gascony comes from the same root as the word Basque. From medieval times until today, the Gascon language has been spoken, although it is classified as a regional variant of the Occitan language. Gascony is the land of d’Artagnan, who inspired Alexandre Dumas’s character d’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers. It is also home to Henry III of Navarre, who later became king of France as Henry IV.

Loire Valley

France

The Loire Valley, spanning 300 mi, is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France, in both the administrative regions of Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire. The Loire Valley is sometimes referred to as the Cradle of France or the Garden of France. There are many winery vineyards, fruit orchards, and vegetable fields along the banks of the Loire River. The region is known for its historic towns, architecture and cathedrals, and wines. In 2000, UNESCO added the central part of the Loire River valley to its list of World Heritage Sites. Don’t miss the many chateaux with their well-manicured gardens that lie throughout the Loire Valley region.

Midi- Pyrénées

France

Midi-Pyrénées is a large inland region in the southwest of France. It is the largest region in France, based on area, and is itself larger than both Denmark and Belgium. It is named for its geographical location – to the north of the great Pyrénées Mountains that form the border of France with Spain and tiny Andorra, and Midi meaning middle or center of the south of France. Although the region is majority rural in nature, there are some notable historic cities and towns worth exploring including Toulouse, the largest city in the region and its economic center. Small towns like Albi, Lourdes, Roquefort, Montauban and others offer visitors a unique look into the history of the region. The Canal du Midi is a central part of the Midi-Pyrénées region and could be your canal barge cruise destination.

Paris & Île-De-France

France

The Île-de-France is a relatively small region of the country that surrounds Paris, the capital of France. The region includes the many suburbs of the Paris metropolis, along with numerous large surrounding towns. The region is not all urban and suburban sprawl, however, as the region is also known for its many natural parks, forests, canals and rivers. There are countless historic and cultural attractions in Paris itself, but be sure to enjoy the surrounding nature as you cruise by beautiful lands on the various canals that cross this region of France.

Provence- Alpes- Côte D’Azur

France

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is possibly the most popular vacation regions in France. The region covers an area from the Mediterranean Sea up to the French Alps. Its identity as a geographical region of France is from the days of the Roman Empire. The region is quite large with its western border the Rhône River and its eastern border Italy. The Provence includes the French Riviera and is famous for its sunny weather, colorful countryside, tradition, wine, and food. Some of its main attractions include the city of Avignon and the wide variety of villages which can be easily explored by canal throughout the countryside.

Your French Canal Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your French Canal Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.