France’s navigable waterways reflect a part of our economic history and are an important part of regional planning. Here is a focus on these unique waterways, the history and management of this network, river transport and tourism, and its present and future potential.

France’s waterways

France’s waterways play a historic role in the country’s economic development.

With a rich and diverse history, canals, rivers and streams have been at the heart of industrial growth and are now seen as valuable assets for the ecological transition of transport.

History of waterways

The history of commercial waterways in France dates back to Roman times, with barges, for example, leaving from the port of Arles on the River Rhône.

But it was between the 17th and 19th centuries that canal building really took off, with a heyday between 1815 and 1860. French engineers sought to link the main river basins to facilitate the transport of goods and support the nascent industrialisation.

Many emblematic canals such as the Canal du Midi, the Canal de Garonne and the Canal de Bourgogne were built during this period.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1912 to be precise, the Office National de Navigation (ONN) was created to coordinate the technical and economic aspects of inland navigation.

Nearly 70 years later, it was succeeded by Voies Navigables de France (VNF), with the ambition of reclaiming the river network by distributing water, increasing transport and developing tourism.

France's waterways: the Rhône

The river network today

France’s waterways are used for a variety of activities, including :

  • Freight transport: agricultural products, building materials, fuels, etc.
  • River tourism: cruises, boat hire, hotel barges, etc.
  • Water sports and leisure activities: fishing, rowing, kayaking, etc.

As mentioned above, the management of France’s waterways is primarily the responsibility of Voies Navigables de France (VNF), a public body under the authority of the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. VNF ‘s missions include maintaining and developing infrastructure, preserving the environment and promoting river transport.

There are around 8,500 kilometres of inland waterways in mainland France, of which almost 6,700 are navigable by gauge. In 2021, river freight transport will account for 6.8 billion tonne-kilometres, with almost 50 million tonnes transported in 2022.

This network is organised around the main river basins, which are the main routes for river transport:

The Rhine-Meuse basin, the Seine-Normandy basin, the Loire-Brittany basin, the Adour-Garonne basin and the Rhône-Méditerranée basin, corresponding schematically to the major national drainage basins (French).

They connect the main regions of France, the coastlines (Mediterranean, English Channel, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean) and neighbouring countries such as Belgium,Germany and the Netherlands.

Europe's waterways: The Rhine Photo Tamal Mukhopadhyay

Economic and environmental benefits

River transport offers a number of advantages over other modes of transport.

More economical, it allows large quantities of goods to be transported over long distances with low energy consumption. Statistically, this means 4 times fewer CO2 emissions per tonne transported by water and almost 4 times less oil costs per tonne*.

As well as limiting air pollution, it helps to reduce road congestion, with a much lower noise, odour and visual impact than lorries or even trains. It also reduces the risk of accidents, particularly involving hazardous materials.

By 2022, this will mean 2.5 million lorries off the roads and 602,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 thanks to this mode of transport, even though it accounts for just 2% of domestic goods traffic in France*.

Lastly, waterways provide natural habitats for biodiversity and are a lever for the development of green tourism around cycle paths and tracks.

navigable waterways in France: Rhône river

The challenges facing river transport in France

Despite its strengths, inland waterway transport in France must overcome a number of obstacles if it is to develop fully, in the face of a fall in volume of almost 7% between 2021 and 2022.

The state of river infrastructure, such as canals, locks and dams, can act as a brake on the development of this mode of transport. Their maintenance and modernisation are essential to guarantee safe and efficient navigation in the face of a generally ageing fleet and the challenges of intermodality.

Added to this is competition from other modes of transport, particularly road and rail, and the need for inland waterway transport to improve its competitiveness by offering innovative services tailored to the needs of businesses and private individuals.

Projects to renovate the river network are underway to improve the safety and quality of navigation. They also aim to increase transport capacity and facilitate access to ports and multimodal terminals.

A number of projects aim to enhance the attractiveness of France’s waterways. These include

  • The Seine-Nord Europe* project, which aims to create a wide-gauge canal linking the River Seine to the northern European networks.
  • The development of renewable energies, with the integration of floating solar panels or wind turbines along the canals, to complement the hydroelectricity from the dams.

Intermodality, i.e. the combination of several modes of transport to move goods, is also encouraged to promote the use of river transport. Partnerships between players in the sector and local authorities are being developed to put in place effective intermodal solutions.

France’s waterways are an invaluable part of the country’s economic and sustainable development. They offer major opportunities for environmentally-friendly transport and the preservation of natural resources. It is therefore important to continue to enhance the value of these waterways in order to boost their appeal and meet today’s environmental challenges .

navigable waterways in France: Rhône à Sète canal

France’s canals were built mainly between the 17th and 19th centuries to facilitate the transport of goods by river and stimulate the economy. Today, they represent an exceptional historical and cultural heritage, testimony to human ingenuity in promoting trade.

A symbol of regional development, they have now become a major feature of river tourism, with many greenways and footpaths running alongside them.

Let’s explore together the potential of river tourism in France, the key regions, attractions, popular itineraries and practical information to help you plan your next trip.

Key elements of river tourism

River tourism in France offers a unique experience, with the chance to discover sumptuous landscapes and a rich natural and cultural heritage that is attracting more and more travellers.

This booming tourism sector showcases France’s waterways and offers an ecological and sustainable alternative to traditional travel.

As we have seen, France has an exceptional network of waterways, made up of rivers, canals and rivers that stretch over 8,500 kilometres across the regions. This dense network represents a major reserve for the development of river tourism.

The various players involved are gradually investing more in improving port infrastructure and services for yachtsmen, to make the areas they pass through more attractive to national and international tourists.

Pleasure boating attractions

River tourism has a lot to offer in terms of freedom of navigation and a leisurely pace, allowing you to take full advantage of the landscapes and heritage along the various routes.

Hiring a boat, which you don’t need a licence for, offers an immersive experience in the heart of nature, away from the stresses of everyday life and at a different pace. Another option is hotel barges or staycruises, where you can cruise along the water in comfort and complete peace of mind.

What’s more, the river routes offer a wide range of activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing and discovering the local gastronomy and historic buildings, with many dedicated facilities.

Royal canal of the Thau lagoon
On the Rhône-Sète canal

Canals to discover in the regions of France

Popular river cruise routes include the Canal du Midi, the Canal de Nivernais in Burgundy, the Canal de l’Est in Alsace and the Lot Valley. These routes offer a wide range of activities to enjoy during your stopovers: visits to châteaux, wine-tasting in the vineyards, cycling along the riverbanks or exploring picturesque villages.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the main navigable canals in France for river tourism:

Canal du Midi, a must-see

It is the only canal that crosses France from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, between the Pyrenees and the Massif-Central.
240 kilometres long, from the Etang de Thau to the gates of Toulouse, the Canal du Midi is the most famous navigable canal in France. Linking the Garonne to the port of Sète, it crosses the diverse landscapes of Occitanie, with the Canal de la Robine (French) linking it to the Mediterranean.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this masterpiece of engineering offers visitors a unique journey through the vineyards, picturesque villages and majestic châteaux that line its route, shaded by plane trees and other species.

waterways in France: Canal du Midi

Nivernais Canal

Stretching for almost 180 kilometres in Burgundy, the Canal du Nivernais has a peaceful atmosphere and lush green landscapes. It links the Yonne to the Loire basin and offers sailors an authentic experience, far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. Its picturesque locks and stone bridges add to the bucolic charm of this waterway.

Nivernais Canal

Canals of Brittany

A region rich in navigable canals, Brittany offers a wide range of itineraries for river boating enthusiasts. These include the Nantes-Brest canal, which stretches for more than 360 kilometres and passes through a variety of landscapes ranging from small Breton mountains to deep forests.

Canal de Bretagne

Burgundy Canal

Mooring between the Seine and Rhône rivers, it links the towns of Dijon and Auxerre over a distance of 242 kilometres. A firm favourite with river cruise fans, it winds its way through prestigious vineyards, historic châteaux and medieval towns, offering a journey through history, gastronomy and local produce.

Canal du Rhône à Sète

Less well known than its predecessors, the Rhône à Sète canal runs between Beaucaire and the Sète urban area, passing through Aiguës-Mortes. An essential link between the Rhône (French) and the Etang de Thau, it continues on to the Canal du Midi. The latter passes through wild landscapes on the banks of the Camargue and the agricultural plains of the Languedoc before joining the Mediterranean coast and the Royal Canal at Sète.

waterways in France: Canal du Rhône à Sète

Other channels in France

There are many of them, criss-crossing the regions of France unevenly, along the 5,065 kilometres of canals accessible to river navigation, with a heritage of 1,782 locks, 559 dams, 74 canal bridges and 35 arches recorded by VNF.

Canal de la Sambre à l’Oise, de la Marne au Rhin, de l’Ourcq, de la Garonne in the continuity of the Canal du Midi, as well as less famous, more modest and just as beautiful like the Canal de l’Adour in the Basque country, the Canal de la Robine in Narbonne or the Canal de la Savière between the Rhône river and the Lac du Bourget (French).

Béziers locks and waterways in France

Maps of France’s waterways and canals

And for a geographical overview of these developed waterways, you will find on this page two maps of navigation on canals, rivers and rivers in France (French), with some additional links and practical advice for river tourism and the greenways that follow them:

Web link

Travel+

  • Competitiveness and potential of fluvio-maritime transport, RSE news (French)
  • Overview of river transport, VNF (French)
  • Key transport figures, Ministry of Territorial Cohesion (French)
  • Inland waterways, European Commission (French)
  • Observatory of the inland navigation market in Europe
  • EVE, the eco-calculator by VNF (French)
  • French waterways network, Wikipedia (French)
  • History of French waterways, OnTheRhone