It is time to plan the coming season, cruising through nearly 9000 km of canals and rivers in all parts of France.
Our Practical navigation editor David Edwards-May is busy updating all the waterway pages on this site, adapted from his guide Inland Waterways of France. New versions of all 80 pages will be published before the season gets underway.
We have received reports that the fuel and economic crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine has forced many boat harbours to increase their tariffs, in some cases twofold or threefold, in other cases charging where the service was provided free of charge (usually included in the overnight mooring price).
Understandably, they can no longer afford to offer these services for less than the cost.
The need for up-to-date information is reinforced by the regrettable cessation of activity of the only French waterways magazine ‘Fluvial’, whose editorial team compiled the useful Guide du Plaisancier directory, published every year. That resource will no longer be available.
Recommended French rivers and canals navigation guides
We recommend getting Imray’s Inland Waterways of France (three volumes covering North and Centre, Northeast and Southeast, and South and West), which are ideal for planning, then the Breil guides for the waterways you will be cruising on, then check our waterway pages for updates before setting out.
Towns and villages throughout France are looking forward to welcoming back many boat owners from near and far, after the difficult years caused by Covid and the resulting lack of traffic, hence weed and algae growth, compounded by drought conditions in some regions.
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