Canalboat Hire - Connoisseur

France Region Information

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Connoissuer France Regions:

Alsace-Lorrainne | Brittany | Burgundy | Loire/Nivernais | Lot
Midi/Carmargue

Alsace-Lorraine, France

Connoisseur bases in Alsace-Lorraine: Hesse, Saarbrucken, Toul

Alsace-Lorraine, nestled between the Vosges Mountains, the Black Forest and the River Rhine, is a crossroads of culture, traditions and cuisine. Your cruising holiday will take you past a wealth of historic sites and fortified medieval towns – all set against a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery, rolling hills and dense woodlands. The Canal de la Marne au Rhin, which takes you through to the beautiful and modern city of Strasbourg, is unique in having two summit levels, a number of tunnels and the St Louis d’Arzviller boat lift – a fantastic piece of canal engineering which was designed to replace 17 locks along the canal. Other highlights include the town of Gondrexange, situated where the Canal de la Marne au Rhin and the Canal des Houillieres de la Sarre meet. It is surrounded by water and provides a variety of water-based activities. You must also stop at Lutzelbourg, which easily lives up to its reputation as being the most beautiful canal village in France. The Canal de l'Est is one of the longest French waterways. The northern branch takes you through the beautiful Meuse valley to Verdun, with is citadels, cathedrals and World Peace Centre. The southern branch takes you towards Epinal – the capital of the Vosges region through the valleys and fields of the Lorraine regional park, which is flanked on both sides by the grand Moselle river.

Brittany, France

	Connoisseur bases in Brittany: Messac, Nort Sur Erdre
A land of myths and legends, romantic châteaux and towns full of character, cruising Brittany takes you on a journey through a simply fascinating culture. A Celtic duchy for more than one thousand years, today you will discover a region whose language, customs and dress remain a vivid homage to its past. Boating in Brittany enables you to discover one of France’s most rugged regions. It's a magical land, alive with folklore, festivals and tradition, and the historic Napoleonic canals are lined with flower-adorned locks. History is entwined in the countryside, and amongst the picturesque villages and granite castles that surround the waterways, you will find irresistible spots along the way to moor and take leisurely walks and afternoon picnics. Brittany’s Celtic heritage is evident in many of the villages you will cruise through. Redon, for example, holds a festival at the end of July called Les Nocturiales, a celebration of medieval, baroque and Celtic music and performances around the church of St Sauveur. Situated at the meeting of the rivers Vilaine and Oust, and the Canal de Nantes a Brest, the town is justifiably nicknamed ‘little Venice’, as the town is criss-crossed with waterways and numerous bridges. Best enjoyed with a glass of cider, you will find many creperies in villages along the canal’s borders offering you the very best of Breton delicacies. Seafood is also abundant. Breton oysters, shellfish, barnacles, and crabs are famous throughout France. Enjoy with the popular wine, Muscadet, a dry, fruity white wine that goes very well with shellfish, produced in the extreme southern point of Brittany, near Nantes. Burgundy - France
	Connoisseur bases in Burgundy: Branges, Gray
The beautifully clear waters of the Saone run from Burgundy to Franche Comte and is a region world-renowned for its superb wines, excellent gastronomy and rich architectural heritage. Take your time lingering in this beautiful part of France and enjoy the sights and sounds from your boat along the clear waters and scenic valleys of the River Saone, which runs from Burgundy to France Comte. At St-Jean-de-Losne the waterways cross and the Saone widens out majestically to reveal the medieval towns of Chalon sur Saone and Tournus where you can explore their beautiful chapels and museums. From the Saone runs the Canal du Rhone au Rhin, which has plenty to offer, with a rugged countryside that is quite spectacular when seen from the water. The canal borrows long sections of the River Doubs, winding between steep cliffs, wooded hillsides, and picturesque villages. Similarly, take the opportunity to cruise the Canal du Centre, which runs through some of the finest vineyards and idyllic towns in the region, and is a popular destination with historians. The river Seille is one of the prettiest small rivers in France, where cruising is peaceful and the rural banks are a perfect setting for fishermen and nature lovers alike.
Loire / Nivernais, France
	Connoisseur bases in Loire / Nivernais: Chatel Censoir, Chatillon Sur Loire, Gannay, Migennes
Cruise in the heart of France along a network of waterways that will take you through a region rich in history and culture. You’ll glide through a landscape alive with cultivated valleys, lush grazing pastures and sloping vineyards, with plenty of time to sample the great wines that make the region so famous. Cruising through this breathtaking landscape, there is a wealth of places to moor and savour superb cuisine on what is acclaimed as one of the prettiest routes through the heartland of France. The Nivernais winds peacefully between Auxerre, and Decize, and is one of the most charming and spectacular canals in France. Its overgrown banks are populated with towns depicting picture postcard scenery and unspoilt countryside. Spend some time in Sens where you can visit St Stephens cathedral and glasshouses of tropical plants, or cruise to the renowned cliffs of Saussois, a feast for the eyes and the soul. From Briare in the north to Digoin in the south, the canal Lateral a la Loire follows the route of the river Loire. Glide along beside the soft rolling landscapes as you take in the magnificent view of vineyard covered hilltops. A visit to the summit of Sancerre is a must, where you can sample the wines in the surrounding cellars. Cruise down to Digion, well known for its potteries, where you will drift into the winding waters of the canal du Centre and the canal de Roanne. Try some of the region’s specialities - perhaps Boeuf Bourguignon and a glass or two a robust Nuits-St-Georges, or maybe a chilled Chablis and salmon marinated with hazlenut-scented Burgundy truffles.
Lot - France
	Connoisseur bases in Lot: Castelmoron
Cruise the Lot and the Baise rivers and the Garonne valley and enjoy a gourmet experience against a landscape that is rivalled by food and wine to delight the palette. The river provides the perfect viewing point, cutting a deep path through a region that boasts some of the most fascinating scenery in France. The River Lot is one of France’s best kept secrets and winds its way through a landscape of spectacular natural beauty providing a touch of adventure for the more experienced cruiser. Cliff-top castles, churches and chateaux dominate the route and provide many excuses to stop and explore the surrounding villages. A 6km stretch of the Garonne takes you from the Lot to the River Baise, a beautiful river bordered by delightful villages and towns steeped in history and guaranteed to make this part of your cruise a magical experience. Along the way visit Nerac, set in a meander in the river, a small town with Henry IV’s chateau dating back to Roman times. Perhaps call in at the town of Condom in one of the three Armagnac-producing regions and visit one of the many distilleries to sample this strong brandy highly prized by connoisseurs. The nearby Abbey de Flaran at Valence-sure-Baise provides a tranquil resting place while at Vianne you can see the famous crystal glassworks. Midi / Camargue, France
	Connoisseur bases in Midi / Camargue: Beaucaire, Homps, Narbonne, Trebes
The Camargue is one of the most remarkable regions in France, combining untamed countryside with traditional villages, walled crusader towns, modern resorts and delightful fishing ports. Listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, the beautiful and ancient Canal du Midi with its hump-backed bridges and distinctive oval locks, has cast its spell on travellers for more than 300 years. You can choose to cruise west towards Toulouse, or east along the Mediterranean coast. Experience all it has to offer from the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, to Agde, the ‘black pearl of the Mediterranean’ and the entrance to the Etang du Thau. The many fishing ports here make it impossible not to stop and sample some seafood delicacies. Situated at the southern end of the Canal du Midi, the Canal de la Robine takes you through a landscape full of architectural treasures and canal-side vineyards, the perfect environment for sampling a glass or two of the local vintage from your sun deck when the fancy takes you! The Canal du Rhone a Sete provides effortless cruising between Beaucaire and Sete. Spend a few hours sunbathing on a nearby Mediterranean beach, or visit one of the bustling little fishing ports to taste the local delicacies. Top of Page