Canals of France

About the Canals of France
Canals of France Regions
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the Canals of France

Along the famed Canals of France and nearby you can find these amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visits to some may be included in your river cruise itinerary, but some may require some creative travel planning by your River Cruise Artist in order to visit.  Learn more below about these UNESCO Sites and the history you can experience when you visit them. Let River Cruise Your Way take you away to the history around the Canals of France.

Chartres Cathedral

Originally built in 1145, and then reconstructed after a fire in 1194, imposing Chartres Cathedral is an architectural example of French Gothic art. The large nave was built in pure gothic pointed style. The porches are adorned with artistic sculptures from the 12th century. The breathtaking stained-glass windows added in the 12th and 13th centuries are all in excellent condition. These architectural elements combine to make the Chartres Cathedral a French masterpiece. Perhaps your barge canal journey will take you close enough for a visit to this amazing structure.

Amiens Cathedral

The grandiose cathedral in Amiens France lies in the heart of Picardy and is one of the largest ‘classic’ Gothic churches constructed in the 13th century. Amiens Cathedral is known for the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation and the very impressive sculpture display on the principal facade at the front of the cathedral, with some also in the south transept. The Amiens Cathedral will be a memorable site to visit as you cruise the waterways of France on your deluxe canal barge.

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims, France, northeast of Paris, is one of the French masterpieces of Gothic art. The cathedral is known for historical use of new architectural techniques during its 13th century construction. The architects artfully and harmoniously blended sculptural art with the building frame itself. The nearby former abbey still features a magnificent 9th century nave that holds the remains of Archbishop St Rémi (440–533 AD), who initiated the Holy Anointing of the Kings of France. The former archiepiscopal palace adjacent to the cathedral is known as the Tau Palace. The Tau Palace played an important role in religious ceremonies and was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century. Reims is a gem of France and a must-see if your canal barge cruise travels nearby.

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars

These sites are where the method of producing champagne was developed by using a secondary fermentation in the bottle. These Champagne sites remain from the early 17th century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is comprised of three areas: the historic vineyards of Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay. The supply basin formed by the regional hillsides, the production sites with their underground cellars, and the distribution centers or Champagne Houses, together illustrate the full champagne production process. Cruises through the Champagne region are available on romantic and luxury canal barges.

Paris, Banks of The Seine

From the Louvre museum to the grandiose Eiffel Tower, from the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its great historical importance are visible from the Seine River. The magnificent Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte Chapelle are notable architectural masterpieces while Haussmann’s wide squares and boulevards influenced late 19th and 20th century town planning around the globe. Although on the Seine, there are numerous canals that wind their way to or near the grand capital of Paris.

Palace & Park of Versailles

In the suburbs of the capital city Paris lies the Palace of Versailles which was the principal residence of the French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Expanded and beautified by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, the Palace and Park of Versailles provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century that was a blueprint for copies throughout the world.

Palace & Park of Fontainebleau

Often used by the kings of France since the 12th century, the medieval royal hunting lodge of Fontainebleau, was improved, enlarged and artistically adorned in the 16th century by François I. The Palace and Park of Fontainebleau stands at the heart of an expansive forest in the Ile-de-France and is surrounded by an immense park. The Italianate palace combines Renaissance and French artistic traditions and treatments.

Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

The historic fortified town of Provins is located in the former territory of the powerful Counts of Champagne. It illustrates medieval developments in the organization of international trading fairs and the wool industry. The urban design of Provins, which was built uniquely to host the fairs and related activities, has been well preserved.

Vézelay, Church and Hill

The Benedictine abbey of Vézelay became the home of relics of St Mary Magdalene in the 9th century and since has been an important place of Christian pilgrimage. St Bernard preached the Second Crusade there in 1146 and Richard the Lion-Hearted and Philip II Augustus met there prior to leaving for the Third Crusade in 1190. With its sculpted capitals and portal, the 12th century Madeleine of Vézelay monastic church is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.

Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay

This uniquely stark Burgundian monastery in the Dijon region of France was founded by St Bernard in 1119. Its church, cloister, refectory, sleeping quarters, bakery and ironworks, are an excellent illustration of the ideal of self-sufficiency that was practiced by the early communities of Cistercian monks. The Abbey of Fontenay is one of the oldest and most complete Cistercian abbeys in Europe.

The Climats, Terroirs of Burgundy

The climats are very precise segmented parcels of vineyards along the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune south of the city of Dijon in the Burgundy region of France. Over the years these vineyards came to be known by the wine the grapes produce. This rich cultural landscape is host to vineyards and associated production sites including towns and the village of Beaune, which together represent the commercial dimension of the wine production. Additionally, the historic center of Dijon illustrates the political regulatory impetus that gave birth to the climats system. This site is an amazing example of how grape cultivation and wine production have developed since the High Middle Ages. Canal cruises through Burgundy may bring you to visit these unique vineyards.

Place Stanislas, Place De La Carrière and Place D’Alliance in Nancy

The town of Nancy was the temporary residence of Stanislas Leszczynski who later became Duke of Lorraine. It is uniquely the oldest and most typical example of a regional capital where an enlightened monarch became sensitive to the needs of the common public. Constructed in 1752 by a creative and innovative architectural team led by Héré, this area of Nancy was a carefully planned development that was successful in creating a capital city that enhanced the sovereign’s prestige and was fully functional.

Canal Du Midi

An actual canal you can cruise on a unique and pleasant barge journey, the Canal du Midi network of navigable waterways links the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 structures that includes locks, aqueducts, bridges, and tunnels. The Canal du Midi is one of the most remarkable feats of civil engineering in the 17th century. Built between 1667 and 1694, it paved the way for the Industrial Revolution in France. The precise care that its architect, Pierre-Paul Riquet, took in the design and planning includes the unique way it blends with its surroundings. The Canal du Midi was a technical achievement as well as a work of art.

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.