BOATING GUIDE 2023 Hotels Afl oat Explore the lush greenery of the River Blavet with Brittany Boating


speaking tour guide. Below deck, a bar, a sound system, and a dance fl oor offer the perfect atmosphere for parties. Day-long or


afternoon cruises start in the town of Saintes and run from April until October. Return trip tickets start at €25.50. www.croisieres-palissy.fr


Brittany Boating The River Blavet fl ows from central Brittany to the coast near Lorient, and has been canalised for most of its length since the days of Napoleon. Winding from Pontivy to Hennebont through landscapes of granite outcrops, wooded hillsides and fertile land, the navigable sections of this charming river are dotted with peaceful spots for mooring alongside bars and restaurants, interspersed with pretty chapels and villages. Brittany Boating offers self-navigated holidays (training is


provided) on the Blavet from the charming village of Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux. It also operates along the Nantes-Brest Canal, starting at its base in Rohan.


140 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Feb/Mar 2023


There are trips available from April to October, with prices starting at €1,184 per week. www.brittanyboating.com


CroisiEurope With 50 company-owned vessels and fi ve chartered vessels, CroisiEurope is one of the largest riverboat owners in Europe. Owned by the Schmitter family, the company offers cruises along many of France’s major river and canal regions, including Paris, the Seine, Normandy, the Loire Valley, the Rhône and Sâone, Bordeaux, Provence and Burgundy. Boat capacities range from 22 passengers on the canal barges up to 170 on the river cruisers. “More than 40 years ago, our founder, Gérard Schmitter, brought


CroisiEurope to life through his trailblazing spirit,” the company says. “Today the Schmitter family continues that legacy.” www.croisieurope.co.uk


European Waterways Since the 1970s, the European Waterways crew have welcomed travellers to


the loveliest corners of rural France, from Burgundy, the Canal du Midi and the Loire Valley to Alsace, Bordeaux, Champagne and Paris. Depending on the number of people in your party, there’s a barge for every occasion, with larger vessels accommodating up to 12 passengers. Included in the price are gourmet meals, regional wines, an open bar, local transfers and the use of on-board facilities such as bicycles, a sun-deck and a spa pool. There are also optional escorted excursions off the beaten track to various wineries, châteaux and open-air markets. www.europeanwaterways.com


Whether you want a hands- on self-drive rental boat, a relaxed half-board cruise with a captain, or a fully- inclusive, luxury hotel-barge cruise, British owner Emma James-Aldridge and her experienced team at Hotels Afl oat will create an amazing holiday for you. Launched in 2003, this Burgundy-based company covers all of France’s navigable inland waterways, including Alsace, Anjou, Aquitaine, the Ardennes, Brittany, Burgundy, the Camargue, the Canal du Midi, Champagne, Charente, the Loire Valley, the River Lot and Île-de- France. There’s a diverse fl eet of modern-style cruisers and traditional barges to suit all tastes and budgets. www.hotelsafl oat.com


Le Boat


This company operates a huge fl eet of boats across Europe and Canada, and offers self-drive boating holidays in nine great French regions: Canal du Midi, Nivernais and the Loire, the Lot, Franche-Comté, Aquitaine, Alsace-Lorraine, Camargue, Brittany and Charente. Whichever waterway you set your sights on, you can trust in the company’s more than 50 years of experience. “Be the captain of your own boat,” the company says. “No licence or experience is required. It’s that simple. You come aboard and we show


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Spoil yourself on one of Hotels Afloat’s varied and stylish vessels


IMAGE © HOTELS AFLOAT, BRITTANY BOATING


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