French Canal Life – Living and Cruising the French Canals
Does living on a barge on a French canal appeal to you? Would you like to give it a try? I love walking along the tow paths of canals and often wonder what it would be like to live on one of the barges I see tied up along the grassy banks.
Our French holiday home is within a short driving distance to a couple of canals and we often take the children for a walk or bike ride along the canal towpaths.
One day when it was only about 2° we ventured for a ride along the Nantes-Brest Canal (Canal de Nantes à Brest). After hibernating indoors for the morning at our friends’ home and gîte complex, and eating an early lunch of belly warming cassoulet, we came to the decision (although not before some lively debate) to head out for some fresh air.
The fire had done its thing though and mesmerised us into lethargy, so after much ado about warm jackets, scarfs and a few “don’t forget your gloves”, we made our way out to the car for the short drive to the canal near their home.
Canal de Nantes à Brest
Canals in winter are a quieter place to visit with less activity than in busy summer months and a great choice for outdoor activity. Walkers and bike riders have the tow paths to themselves and there is almost non-existent water activity happening. Who wants to freeze to death if you fall in?!
Nothing quite wakes you up like a temp change of 21° (warm toasty lounge room at 23° to outdoor temp of 2°). We did all love our bracing walk though and knowing that we were going back to a cozy fireplace and red wine we didn’t mind the icy cold at all.
On this very chilly day however, I decided that as much as I liked the idea of living on a canal boat, I did not envy the life of a canal boat dweller in winter. Going on a barge cruising holiday and floating along the canals would have to be a perfect holiday outside of the winter season though.
If you are interested in cruising the French canals then read our related article Cruising the French Canals to find out more.
French Canal Facts
- The Canal du Midi is also called the Canal du Languedoc and is a system of navigable waterways in southern France.
- The Canal du Midi links the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean and is about 360 km long.
- It is said that the project of building the Canal du Midi was the first to use explosives to blast rock.
- The Canal du Midi is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s still in operation today.
- Canal du Midi water level rises 63 metres via 26 locks over 51.5 km from Toulouse to its 5 km long summit.
- The water level of the Canal du Midi falls 189 metres over a distance of 183.5 km and via 74 locks to Étang de Thau.
- Canal du Midi is extremely popular for its tourist cruises on specially converted barges.
- Canal du Centre is the name of two separate canals in Europe, one in France, the other in Belgium.
- The French Canal du Centre is 118 km long in Burgundy between the Saône River at Chalon-sur-Saône and the Loire at Digoin.
- The Canal was designed by French engineer Emiland Marie Gauthey and built between 1783 and 1802.
- Building Canal du Centre completed the final link in the first inland waterway route between the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.
So with so many canals in France to cruise on, and tow paths to enjoy, exploring the French canals and breathing in the sweet country air could be your next holiday idea.
