France remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and there are many ways to discover it. While many do not hesitate to take the car, train or motorcycle to travel through the regions, it should not be forgotten that the country is crossed by important and imposing rivers, which open the way to navigation, including for individuals. Thus, river tourism has developed and is today an original and soothing way to explore the cultural, historical and gastronomic riches of France. A journey along the water allows you to take the time to better contemplate the landscapes and to live in harmony with nature and heritage that are exceptional in many ways. The Petit Futé La France au fil de l'eau guide (published on 13 March 2019) will be a precious companion to help you find the river cruise that best suits your desires and once you are there, to discover the most prestigious sites and some of the best gourmet addresses

Why is France the ideal country for a river cruise?

Tourists like to come to France, because the country is famous for the variety of its landscapes. Thus, in just a few hours, one can move from plains and open fields to much higher and hilly areas, including high mountains. The country has many rivers, each unique and with its own specificities. The Garonne, Loire, Seine and Rhône rivers cross regions that present different environments, rich fauna and flora, as well as a historical and architectural heritage so unique to each of them. They also make it possible to reach the French coasts with a few moments of focus on the wild beaches of the Atlantic, on the coasts of the Channel or along the Big Blue. Of the 8,500 km of navigable waterways available in France, 6,700 km are managed by the Voies navigables de France. You can thus embark on board a boat for several days, and set off to discover the most beautiful regions of the territory. Alsace and its dense forests at the foot of the Vosges, Brittany and its marshes, Burgundy and its vineyards, the Camargue and its wild fauna and flora, the Pays de la Loire and its castles or the Saône Valley to name but a few. These are all regions that also house small villages with an exceptional heritage, in which people take the time to wander around the squares and contemplate the architecture, pass by the markets and sit at the table in a restaurant to taste the local specificities and the best wines. For foreign visitors, river tourism is an atypical and remarkable way to conquer gastronomy and discover the wines that have made the country's international reputation

River tourism: opting for a unique holiday

River tourism is very different from the image that can be obtained from cruises on a liner. Where cruising at sea evokes a grandiose and often oversized character, it is here that a much more intimate character is proposed with the rental of small but comfortable pleasure boats, as can be found in many French ports. There is everything you need to welcome couples, groups of friends or families with children on board. We also note the diversity of the formulas offered with the possibility of escaping for a weekend, a week or up to two weeks for those who wish to enjoy the experience to the fullest, during a stay that allows you to travel up to several hundred kilometres. We also appreciate very much the calm on board the boats. The canals and rivers are much less agitated than the sea, which removes any apprehension. Sailing on the most beautiful rivers in France means taking the time to discover or rediscover its most beautiful landscapes and stopping whenever you want to enjoy the elements that challenge you. Enjoy the sun from the front of the boat, go for a hike or bike ride in the surrounding countryside or head for a historic village to visit the monuments or stop at good gastronomic addresses, all this is possible during a river trip. Where holidays can be synonymous with crowds, noise and finally, a kind of stress, river cruises plunge you into the heart of a peaceful and relaxing experience. For people who want to escape everyday life and all the activities that characterize an urban lifestyle, this is a great opportunity to disconnect, including technologies, and slow down to focus on the landscapes and what they are made of. In short, we are returning to the most enjoyable sources without having to travel thousands of kilometres. River tourism is within reach and makes it possible to rediscover regional specificities, both in terms of nature and architectural and cultural heritage and local products

Focus on the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Among the various canals where it is possible to carry out a river cruise, there is one that is known worldwide and which stands out particularly: the Canal du Midi. Linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, the diversity of the landscapes crossed and the many exceptional points on which it is possible to stop over have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heading west, we cross the vineyards of the Bordeaux region and stop for a tasting. Heading east and south, you can enjoy must-see sites such as the medieval city of Carcassonne or the Malpas tunnel. During the trip, restaurants with terraces on the water pass by and it is pleasant after the gastronomic breaks to rest in the shade of a plane tree or a parasol pine tree. The engineer who designed the canal, Pierre-Paul Riquet, thought of all the necessary elements to make the crossing as smooth as possible, in a sunny region over a very large part of the year. Then you can set yourself a few hours on a beautiful Mediterranean beach, sailing due south towards Narbonne. Enjoy some seafood after a time of idleness under the marine sweetness. After a period of work due to bad weather in the department of Aude, navigation on the Canal du Midi will reopen from 17 March 2019. With the arrival of spring very soon, it is time to think about rest, sunshine and relaxation, the inseparable elements of the world of river cruising in France.