French Waterways

18/09/2026

September is the month that books out soonest for barge cruising in France and perhaps you can see why! Glorious weather, warm days and evenings, fewer people around, abundant harvests of fresh produce and the earliest wave of vendanges adds an excitement to the mood in the wine regions.

Ask us about last minute barge availability or secure your preferred barge for September 2027 (or dare we say it, even 2028!).

In the photo: hotel barge Espérance navigating one of famous oval-shaped locks along the Canal du Midi. She’s a 5* Grand Luxe barge with three suites carrying 4-6 guests between Béziers and Carcassonne. Charter only.

15/09/2026

This is Grand Victoria and one glorious blur of a week in Burgundy wine country.

Six guests. A week on the Saône, Auxonne to Mâcon.

Grand Victoria is run in person by Edward and Cindy, captain and hostess.

The week takes in a walking tour of Dijon’s historic market, a private wine tasting at Château du Clos de Vougeot, lunch at a Michelin star restaurant near the Hospices de Beaune, a tour of Château de Rully, and a Pouilly-Fuissé tasting in Solutré.

Open bar, hot tub, and a cellar list running from Premier Cru to Grand Cru including lesser known vintages the locals love to celebrate.

Drop us a message and we’ll match you to your perfect barge.

07/09/2026

Rosie did a thing: listen to her lulling Irish lilt tell Destination Unlocked about hotel barging... https://destinationunlocked.com/episode/luxury-barge-cruising-france-rosie-mansfield/

23/08/2026

Next on the menu aboard Adrien Bramoullé is the fine work of your private chef. Fresh from market, even fresh from the sea, come the quality ingredients that become delectable dishes.
Gourmet dining is part and parcel of barge cruising. Are you on the hunt for a foodie vacation in France?

18/08/2026

Is there enough water to cruise? Yes, there is! Hear from our barge operators as to why barging is largely unaffected by low water levels in some parts of France.

Wherever you are in the world, your news coverage might currently include headlines about France: record drought, rivers at historic lows, river cruise sailings cancelled or restructured across Europe. Those are some of the facts, but not all of them. The majority of inland waterway cruising in Fran...

13/08/2026

50 barges. 7 regions. One unforgettable way to experience France.

Discover France at a slower pace courtesy of the French Waterways hotel barge collection.

From the sun-drenched banks of the Canal du Midi or Camargue to the renowned vineyards of Burgundy, Languedoc, Champagne, Alsace and Bordeaux, our boutique hotel barges offer an unhurried, intimate cruising experience.

>>> Swipe through to explore our fleet by region.

Save this post for planning your French canal cruise - there is a barge and an itinerary for everyone.