I can't seem to find anything about self-guided barge trips in France. I've found lots of info on the tour types but not what I am looking for.

Interested in renting a barge for a week next summer. Not sure where - suggestions would be great.

Info on this? Costs? Websites that specialize in this type of barging?

Thanks.

We used to do this about once a year, picking a different area of the country each time. Some day when we win the French lottery we'd love to buy one and spend weekends and vacations doing it.

I believe this is the web address for Locaboat.
www.locaboat.com

PB

My friends and I self-guided a barge in Burgundy from Crowne Blue lines...
GREAT trip and I want to do it again someday, but through another part of France.

We used Rives de France (they must have a web site) about 10 years ago. Our itinerary was from St. Florentin to Monbard. I suggest that you go upstream to save time because the locks are normally kept open and you would have to wait for them to be filled if you went downstream. With 50 locks in a week, the time adds up. Because of the slow speed, not more than 5 kmh on canals, I strongly urge a one-way trip.

I had a fascination about doing this a few years ago, but "half" of us voted against it.

Do a search here for Canal Midi. That was my preferred area and I know I posted a number of things about it as did others including names of rental companies. We spent half a day looking at rental barges in Narbonne where many of them are docked.

Two major pieces of advice. Think about one where you can go one way. And definitely get one that you can pilot from outside or that has a slide back top. Otherwise you'll be cooped inside all day, which really defeats the purpose in my opinion.

We were tempted by Crown Blue, very popular as evidenced by the # of their boats on the canal, but ended up using Locaboat. We had a fantastic time and the crew at Lutzelbourg was most amenable.

Gotta leave for work, but if you don't get any more info, I'll check in again tonight. A bientôt!

We spent a week on a self-guided Crowne Blue boat,picking it up in Castlenaudry, and debarking at Bezier on the Canal du Midi. It was a fantastic trip. We took the TGV from Paris to Toulose- then a local train to Castlenaudry. We would dock along the canal each evening- the boys rode into a village to the patisserie each morning, while we made our coffee. Lunch along the canal every day (is there a bad restaurant in France???), so inexpensively, and dinner each evening usually a cab ride or walk into town, close to where we would dock. The
quick learning video, and advice from the Crowne Blue people were more than sufficient to maneuver the locks, of which there are many!!Scenery, people, food and sights made it an unforgettable trip.

I truly wish we could find the old elvira thread on her self-driven barge trip in France, title had to do with 'sucking mud" and "tacos". I've tried finding it many times and it appears to be gone, but it was hilarious.

Elaine, that Elvira post was actually about Elvira and her friends, "the Loons" renting a houseboat on the lagoon in Venice -- not self-barging in France. I can never find it either, but every now and then someone manages to bring it to the top. It is still here somewhere I'm sure, just really hard to find. Yes, it is hilarious.

We've self-barged the Burgansy, Nivernais and the Canal Midi twice (last time this past spring. Always used Rive de France.

We've gone uphill and downhill. Going downhill is way easier because you cruise into the lock and step off the boat for rope work, rather than having to debark ropers or climb the nasty ladder. The locks are open from the top about half the time.

On one trip, we were going downhill and we told the first lockkeeper (eclusier) that we were in a mad dash to catch a train, and he called ahead to make sure all the locks were open and waiting for us (I'm sure to the frustration of those waiting to go uphill).

Each trip seemed better than the last, though Nivernais seemed to be lees populous, meaning more meals on the boat aln less in villages.

There's no better way to 'feel' the counrtyside and meet the people.

If you want specifics, please e-mail me.
http://www.barginginfrance.com/rdfhome.htm

thanks Patrick, my folklore memory failed me

We took two of Crowne Blue "Classique" class boats. They allow the "captain" to steer outside or inside. We left from St. Jean de Losne (about 20 minutes south of Dijon) and went east towards the Cote d'or and Macon. We went half way up and came back down again. It felt "new" both ways.

We did part of the Canal de la Marne in the Alsace/Lorraine area and it was just magical. After seeing the manual locks in the Burgundy area, we really appreciated the electric automatic locks.

Now we have to decide between La Charente (Saintes/Cognac/Angoulême), a larger waterway, or the Canal du Midi (Near Toulouse to Béziers). Does anyone know if they are both human powered or electric powered?

Klondike: If you go from Toulouse to Beziers you will go through locks that are either handoperated, or electric, or automatic, and it's all a bit random. There is also a very long section after Homps where there are no locks at all.
Tango: All the barge companies mentioned have web sites. Just Google the various names. I have always booked via the web.

Thanks Adeben. We are wanting to bring our young adult sons to do the ropework/climbing/gate opening. We thought it would be a nice bonding family experience before they marry and can't get away.

We have done 2 trips with the houseboat in Burgundy and south of France. We are a family of 4 and we rented the boat sleeps 6 and it was very comfortable and affordable. The company name is CrownBlueLine.com out of New York. They offered a complete trip (include fuel and linens) for US travelers. My husband has no experience of driving boats and were doing fine.

just want to add that our 2 daughters (11 and 12)had a great time. When we go into locks that are manual, they usually help the lockkeeper open and close the gates. We also rented bikes with the boat so we can ride into town. In the evening, we play cards and boardgames. It is a great family bonding time with no cell phones and TV

I would highly recommend a barging trip--last October we rented one of the smallest boats and toured the Saone River in Burgundy from St. Jean de Losne using Crown Blue Lines out of Annapolis, MD. It was the most serene trip I've ever experienced...I cried when it was time to leave the boat! I could have spent many more weeks doing this. This October we are using Locaboat (bigger boat) and touring the Camargue region for a week. I expect it to be just as relaxing.