(coming soon)
Touring Central France
and the Upper Loire Region
The Loire — called “the last wild river in France” — wends its way among the last country estates of French kings. Given that the river is wild, it can rise to the brims of its levees in the wet season and shrink to a shallow stream in the dry. Because of its mercurial nature, cruises in the Upper Loire region take the Canal Latéral à la Loire, typically beginning at Briare. Barge tours which originate at Auxerre on the nearby Yonne River in western Burgundy (above), travel on that river or its alternate route, the Canal du Nivernais.
These converted cargo haulers can offer quite a luxurious experience: floating hotels that drift peacefully through the beautiful French countryside with its picturesque villages and grand châteux. The passenger is well attended. Aboard one 100-foot barge, for example, eight passengers are tended to by a crew of five.
Although the barge tours offer superb passenger comforts, many people prefer to rent/hire a self-drive boat, regardless of the sacrifice in luxury. They would simply rather have the opportunity to be captain of the craft and set the course and timetable as their own plans, whims and happenstance dictate. On top of that, there usually is a decided cost advantage.
In every direction there are plentiful opportunities to cruise Central France’s canals and rivers. A wealth of châteaux, museums, quaint villages and pastoral countryside await you on land. On barge tours, it is often possible to get off the boat and stretch your legs walking or riding a bicycle for a while while they go through the locks or slowly meander along the canals. It would be a good idea to do a little advance Web research to determine which craft and itinerary suites your needs and desires best. To get a glimpse of what the region has to offer, click the text links or the thumbnail images below.
