France Boating Holidays in Alsace

Alsace, bordered by the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest of Germany, offers the visitor magnificent forests and spectacular mountain scenery. This area is famous as a wine making region, as well as French country beers.

Lorraine boasts a host of historic sites with beautiful medieval fortified towns and citadels set in a landscape of rolling hills surrounding your cruising routes.

Travelling east towards Strasbourg and the Rhine valley, you will disappear into the forested hills, and descend France’s most spectacular boat lift at St Louis-Arzviller. This example of modern canal engineering was completed in 1969 to replace 17 locks along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. The inclined plane lifts boats 150 feet in just 20 minutes.

Strasbourg, home to the European Parliament and often referred to as the ‘crossroads of Europe’, is on your route as you cruise eastwards.

The best way to see Strasbourg is by boat as the waterways take you through the very heart of the city. Enjoy the experience - you have the best seat in the house!

Just south of Strasbourg, the Canal du Rhone runs parallel to the vineyards of Alsace - the perfect opportunity to sample the different white wines for which the region is renowned.

The Riesling is the ideal accompaniment for the local tarts (known as ‘flambees’) and sauerkraut.

Our 4 bases in Alsace give you a choice of one-way and out and back routes. A circular two week route takes you from Alsace into the Moselle River, Germany and Luxembourg (licence required).

Locks are automatic, so easy to operate except on the Canal des Houilleres de la Sarre where you will be helped by a lock-keeper.