Activities during your cruise

During your cruise, you will obviously be navigating and thus steering the boat or barge of your choice and participating in maneuvers, which will occupy part of your day. But what to do once moored?

On the banks and towpaths you can walk, run, or cycle for example (you can bring your own bikes or rent them at the base).

You can bring bikes with you on the boat for daily errands, to keep the kids occupied, or to explore the surroundings.

Take advantage of these outings to explore the surroundings, on foot or by bicycle. In the towns and villages bordering the waterways, there is always something to see: a church, a castle, a washhouse, ...
Here are some examples of these nearby architectural treasures:

  • Carcassonne, accessible from the Canal du Midi. The largest fortress in Europe, a beautifully preserved medieval city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes you on a dizzying leap through 2500 years of history.
  • Guédelon, accessible from the Burgundy Canals. An experimental castle construction site, using techniques and materials from the Middle Ages.
  • Citadelle de Besançon, in Franche Comté. A stronghold overlooking the town of Doubs Besançon, it is one of the masterpieces of Vauban, architect and engineer of King Louis XIV.
  • Abbaye de Cluny, in the Saône Valley. For a long time, it was the largest religious building in the world. Thanks to its independence, it quickly became the center of the cultural and religious world.
  • Taizé, also in the Saône Valley. About a thousand years after Cluny, Brother Roger Schütz founded the ecumenical monastic community of Taizé a few kilometers away, which built a church designed by the architect Le Corbusier.
  • Not far from there, the St Philibert Abbey of Tournus attracts visitors from around the world. It is very easily accessible on foot from the river stop at Tournus.
  • Let's not forget the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial, on the banks of the Canal du Centre, which was once one of the most frequented pilgrimage sites in France.
  • In another region, in a different style, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg, in Alsace-Lorraine, is also very accessible from your boat.
  • ...
The Vauban Citadel of Besançon, a place to discover on the Rhône-Rhine Canal in Franche-Comté. The city of Carcassonne, a must-see on the Canal du Midi.

For dining, no problem, there is an equipped kitchen on board. But you can also enjoy the local gastronomy. Most of the regions you will pass through are renowned and offer countless restaurants, some of which are must-visits, such as:

  • Troisgros in Roanne, accessible from the Burgundy Canals. Ranked as the best restaurant in the world by Christian Millau (Gault and Millau).
  • Lameloise in Chagny, also ranked three stars, easily accessible on foot from the Canal du Centre.
  • L'Auberge, the gastronomic restaurant Paul Bocuse. This restaurant is located right on the banks of the Saône, a few kilometers from Lyon. It is here that Paul Bocuse, considered the best chef in the world, built his legend.
  • Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne, accessible from the Canal du Midi, invites the public to relive a disappearing experience: the classic French feast, in the form of buffets brimming with exceptional dishes.

And for the more adventurous, you can fish for your evening meal! Fishing is allowed in most rivers and canals. However, you must remember to get a fishing license.
In some waterways, you can even swim.

And finally, you can also do nothing, sit on the boat's deck with a book, a drink, and contemplate the surrounding nature. Sometimes, it's nice to do nothing and just relax.
That's the advantage of river tourism, it gives you the choice. You are free.

Once moored, it's time for total relaxation for some and fishing for others.

Photos: Nicols, Le Boat, Les Canalous.