Special Places Travel Barges In France:
Canal & River Maps







Barges In France and Europe: Canal and River Maps

 Regions




BURGUNDY

Southern Burgundy is lovely, with rolling, verdant hills. Many of the most famous vineyards are in the Cote d'Or wine region and visits to these vineyards are a real treat. Barges in this area often include a visit to Chateau Clos de Vougeot, where the society of the Chevaliers du Tastevin judge the best wines each year, as well as to the famous towns of Beaune and Dijon. Northern Burgundy is most well known for white wines, in and around the town of Chablis. The canals in the north wind through pastoral countryside with quite a few locks, which allows you to easily step on or off along the way. Barges on the beautiful Canal du Nivernais cruise through sleepy hamlets where time seems to have stood still for hundreds of years.
BURGUNDY

UPPER LOIRE

The barges of the Upper Loire region, located south of Paris in North central France, cruise on the picturesque Canal de Briare and the Canal Lateral a la Loire. Some of the highlights of this splendid region are the famed Sancerre wine region, the exquisite Chateau St Fargeau, Chateau de Fontainebleau and the Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire, where Joan of Arc was imprisoned in the 1400's, and the regional capital of Montargis.
UPPER LOIRE

LOIRE VALLEY

The Loire Valley is referred to as the 'Garden of France' due to its abundance of vineyards & orchards which line the banks of the Loire River. The valley is listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO for its architectural heritage and unspoiled nature.
LOIRE VALLEY

ALSACE-LORRAINE

The cruises in the Alsace-Lorraine region traverse the Canal de la Marne au Rhin passing tidy farms and pasturelands, navigating tunnels and a unique lock which allows a barge to glide effortlessly up or down the mountainside. Enjoy an excursion to Strasbourg, the beautiful Capital city of Europe or Nancy with its elegant Place Stanislaus, considered the grandest squares in France with handsome Baroque palaces.
ALSACE-LORRAINE

PROVENCE

The Provence region covers the area between Lyon and Marseille and barges predominately cruise on rivers versus canals. The region is rich with history dating back to the Roman Civilization with ruins and aqueducts that continue to amaze engineers today along with landscapes that inspired Cézannes and Van Gogh.
PROVENCE

CANAL DU MIDI

The magnificent 300 year old Canal du Midi, in the Languedoc Region in the south, meanders from the Mediterranean through ancient villages and Roman fortifications. It is famous for its beautiful tree lined canopy of 100-year-old Sycamores and beautiful arched bridges. Passengers enjoy the breathtaking views of the famed French countryside and take advantage of the many opportunities to walk/bike along the towpath or venture into a nearby village.
CANAL DU MIDI

SOUTHWEST/BORDEAUX

Located in southwestern France, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the majestic Pyrennees mountains to the south and home to one of the most famous wine-producing areas in France. It is also one of the great historic regions of France with one of the oldest centers of known human habitation in Europe, with prehistoric sites found in the area of Lascaux.
SOUTHWEST/BORDEAUX

CHAMPAGNE

The Champagne Region located east of Paris, between the Ile de France and Alsace-Lorraine Regions with cruises on the Marne (considered one the the most beautiful rivers in France) & Seine Rivers . The Marne River meanders through splendid vine covered hills dotted with small wine villages made famous for the hard fought battles during WWI and cruises along this route include a visit to the vast cellars of Moet Chandon complete with a private wine tasting of the champagne.
CHAMPAGNE

BRITTANY

Brittany tours on the Canal de Nantes a Brest which winds through the center of some beautiful medieval towns such as Malestroit founded in 978. Excursions take you through the picturesque village of Rochefort on Terre, officially listed as "Frances most beautiful village", with its abundant flower displays. See the fascinating megalithic monument ruins of this unique Celtic, northwest corner of France and depending on the route a short excursion to see the prehistoric stones of Monteneuf, a smaller version of the Carnac stones, where a forest fire 30 years ago revealed these 200 stones which predate Stonehenge.
BRITTANY

HOLLAND & BELGIUM

Enjoy a spring tulip cruise exploring the waterways of Holland and witness the dazzling tapestry of color at the renowned Keukenhof gardens showcasing 7 million blooming bulbs. Immerse yourself in the local culture with visits to legendary windmills, clog makers, and historic landmarks as you cruise from the cosmopolitan, bustling and historic city of Haarlam to quaint and serene villages along the architecturally magnificent canals of this lovely country, home to so many artists like Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer. Cruise the Belgian waterways between the historic towns of Bruges and Ghent. One of the best preserved pre-motorized cities in Europe, Bruges is affectionately refered to as the 'Venice of the North' with its abundant, enchanting canals. These charming cities will take your breath away with their architecture and ambiance.
HOLLAND & BELGIUM

ENGLAND

Enjoy a unique cruise that combines bustling, cultural London and the pastoral English countryside with beautiful landsapes of wooded hills and lush green fields. Cruise on the River Thames outside of London visiting Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's home & stunning gardens, Windsor Castle built by William the Conquerer in 1066, home to the Royal family for 900 years, and many other historical landmarks.
ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

Cruise Northern Scotland on the heather lined Caledonian Canal between Fort William and Inverness with magnificent views over Morray Firth. Visit the magical, fairytale castle of Cawdor made famous by Shakespeare's Macbeth, and an ancient burial site dating back to 2000BC. Learn the history of the last Jacobite rising at Cullodon Moor and of course no visit to Scotland would be complete without a tour and tasting at a whisky distillery! This pristine and scenic canal cruise route offers plenty of opportunities to walk and cycle along the bordering towpath.
SCOTLAND

IRELAND

Cruise the mighty River Shannon past lush green meadows unchanged for a thousand years past medieval castles, garrisons and enchanting villages. Learn the ancient mythology and folklore shared for generations since the days of the Druids and Celtics. Immerse yourself in the local culture with visits to famous crystal, craft and linen shops in the bustling cultural center of Gallway to the medieval towns as you tour the ever changing magnificent landscapes Ireland offers.
IRELAND

GERMANY

Cruise the serene and placid waters of the grand Mosel River with picturesque vineyards that cling to the dramatic steep slopes and the magnificent views of medieval castles still guarding the waterways. Enjoy the dynamic diversity of the local Riesling wines produced here.
GERMANY

ITALY

Venice is one of the world's most famous cities and remains virtually unchanged for six hundred years. Magnificent architectural features like St. Mark's Square and iconic gondola rides along the Grand Canal add to its romantic charm. This beautiful cruise route travels past the Po Delta and its wonderful Nature Reserve to the historic city of Mantua, one of the most beautiful Renaissance towns in Northern Italy.
ITALY





Return to TOP of PAGE

Text and images Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 by Special Places Travel, LLC, Edgewater, MD, and by other copyright holders used by permission. Web design by Special Places Travel, LLC. All rights reserved. No further use without express written permission from copyright holders. Contact Special Places Travel LLC, +1-443-321-3614 for further information.

This and all of our web pages are hand-crafted with NO cookies, NO Javascript, NO plug-ins. Compatible with all currently tested mobile, tablet and desktop browsers with equivalent content and information for both mobile and desktop. We value your time, so ALL our barge web pages are designed for one-stop access = no multiple clicks to access barge details such as deckplan, itineraries, cruise routes, and cruise prices. We are by your side as experienced partners -- all the way from initial decision about the best barge cruise for you, through ANY question leading up to your cruise, hotel and rental car recommendations, suggestions for pre- and post-cruise travel, through post-cruise debriefing. We know that you will have the time of your life!



Barges in France, A Division of Special Places Travel, LLC.
Barges in Europe, A Division of Special Places Travel, LLC.

Member: American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Bonded. Founded 1997. American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover accepted.

Member, ASTA, American Society of Travel Agents Affiliate Member, CLIA, Cruise Lines International Association Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted.
Last Update: February 6, 2017