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Stop in Avignon on your cruise of the Rhône river.

French Barge Cruising

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Experience France from a new perspective - along the canals and rivers from the unique vantage point of a barge cruise! Enjoy luxury and gourmet, locally sourced food as you travel through seldom visited regions and really get to know the regions on these slow and relaxing cruises. Great views, visits to historic sites, and an intimate atmosphere await on your French barge cruise. Contact our European cruise specialists when you're ready to start planning your barge cruise of France!
Best French Cruises

Best France Barge Cruises for 2025-2026

Best French Cruises
Panache cruising through a beautiful Europian village

Private Charter - European Classic Cruise - Alsace & Lorraine Aboard Panache

7 Days from $79,500
Panache’s 7-day voyage through Alsace & Lorraine allows you to appreciate the very best of the region. Pass through storybook villages along the way, visiting places such as Strasbourg, renowned for their Baroque and Romanesque architecture, and Route des Grands Vins, where the finest wines of Alsace are produced.
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L'lmpressionniste cruising through beautiful landscapes

Private Charter - Southern Burgundy Cruise Aboard L'Impressionniste

7 Days from $77,000
L'Impressionniste embarks on a 7-day cruise through Southern Burgundy's Ouche Valley, renowned for its history and vineyards. Visit the Château de Commarin to see a regal falconry demonstration, Bouchard Père et Fils in Beaune, the region's wine capital, and the exquisite city of Dijon.
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La Belle Epoque cruising

Private Charter - Historical Burgundy Cruise Aboard La Belle Epoque

7 Days from $77,000
Join La Belle Epoque on a 7-day private cruise through the Burgundy Canal, taking in stunning countryside, abundant vineyards, and medieval towns. Meet a de Vogue family member at Château de Commarin, witness the Cistercian life at Abbaye de Fontenay, and tour Les Riceys, the only Champagne wine region with three Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées.
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Delight yourself with the breathtaking views aboard the Finesse

Private Charter - Southern Burgundy Cruise Aboard Finesse

St-Julien-sur-Dheune to Saint Jean de Losne
7 Days from $67,500
Finesse is the perfect vessel for a 7-day private cruise to the meandering waterways of Southern Burgundy past vineyards and charming canal-side villages. Discover the history, architecture, and culture of the spectacular villages in this French region, such as Autun, Beaune, and Dijon.
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Renaissance Aqueduct

Private Charter - European Classic Cruise - Upper Loire & Western Burgundy

7 Days from $67,500
Board the luxury hotel barge Renaissance and take a 7-day private cruise through the rivers and canals of France. Cruise across the Loire River on Gustav Eiffel's famous aqueduct. Take some time to explore Montargis's picturesque village and canals on foot or by bicycle.
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Enchante Sundeck and Spa Pool

Private Charter - Canal Du Midi Voyage - Salleles d'Aude to Trebes Aboard Enchante

7 Days from $60,000
Enjoy an exciting 7-day southern France private cruise along the 330 years Canal Du Midi. Visit the 8th-century Benedictine Abbey in Lagrasse, the medieval city of Carcassonne, and wine tasting and tours in Minervois. The Enchanté makes afternoon stops for walking and bicycling and evenings spent relaxing on the deck with dinner under the stars.
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L'Art de Vivre cruising through France

Private Charter - Burgundy Cruise Aboard L'Art de Vivre

7 Days from $45,000
Discover the charming villages and centuries-old history of Burgundy aboard the L’Art de Vivre on a 7-day adventure starting and ending in the city of love, Paris. Journey back in time along a magical waterway, exploring the medieval town of Auxerre, the wine village of Chablis, and the canalside village of Chevroches.
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Anjodi Sundeck

Private Charter - Canal Du Midi Voyage - Le Somail to Marseillan Aboard Anjodi

7 Days from $45,000
Board the Anjodi on a 7-day private cruise along Canal du Midi, offering the very best of the South of France. From Le Somail to Marseillan, visit the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, enjoy private wine tastings at 14th-century Château de Perdiguier, and tour Bagnas nature reserve, home to flamingos, white egrets, and other migrating birds.
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La Belle Epoque sailing through and european landscape

Historical Burgundy Cruise

7 Days from $6,850
Spoil yourself by joining a 7-day round trip cruise aboard La Belle Epoque as it sails through wonderful places in Burgundy. Experience a wine tasting of high-quality wines from the cellars of a renowned Domaine and be amazed at the beautiful structures throughout the tour.
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Pastries at Les Halles Market in Dijon, France

Southern Burgundy Cruise

St-Julien-sur-Dheune to Saint Jean de Losne
7 Days from $9,090
Delight yourself with a 7-day trip on the Finesse while cruising around Southern Burgundy. As you sail, you will get to explore and discover the history, architecture, and culture of the spectacular villages this French region.
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All Europe Articles

French Barge Cruise Travel Guide

Stroll through charming Strasbourg

All you need to know about Barge Cruising

Barge cruises are one of the most unique ways to explore France, Central Europe, and the United Kingdom. Intimate accommodations, great food, and focused experiences are part of the excitement of a barge cruise.
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What to expect on a barge cruise

On your European barge cruise, you can expect a leisurely pace, an intimate atmosphere, and great, locally sourced food.
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Canal du Midi in France

Best Destinations for European Barge Cruises

Barge cruising in Europe is nothing new, but it is certainly a trending option for avid travelers hoping to experience something different. The top destinations for barge cruising are France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
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Barge Cruising in France
No country does barge cruising better than France! France was one of the main destinations where the art and experience of barge cruising was pioneered. No matter where you want to explore in France, there is a barge cruise destination for you - Canal du Midi, Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy, Champagne, and even Paris.

Relax with the slower pace of the barge cruises as you navigate canals built over a hundred years ago as major arteries through France.

Along the way, you will certainly stop in the vineyards that speckle the countryside which have given France its reputation, and have plenty of opportunities to sample the local gourmet cuisine. 

Barge cruises are a great way to get to know the local culture as well as you stop in small towns and villages and meet the locals. 

Check out all the other great destinations for barge cruising in Europe:
Cruise through the canals of Amsterdam

Barge cruise vs. River cruise

What is the difference is between a European barge cruise and a river cruise? The relaxed and intimate atmosphere onboard is similar, and destinations are often largely the same as well, visiting many of the same major ports. The main difference between a barge cruise and a river cruise in Europe is the size of the boat and hence the number of passengers onboard.
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Romantic evening light on the Rhine

When to take a Barge Cruise in Europe

The best time to take a barge cruise through Europe is probably the autumn season, between September and October. Summer can also be an enjoyable barge cruising season if you don’t mind hotter temperatures and bigger crowds, and the start of the river cruising season in late spring (April-May) can be a good time to see Europe coming back to life after winter.
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Barge Cruising

Top France Barge Cruising Destinations

Historic old town Strasbourg

Canal du Midi

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Explore Paris, the legendary city of light

Seine River Barge

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The Palais des Papes dominates the Avignon skyline

Rhone River Barge

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Visit charming villages in France

Moselle River Barge

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Stop in Avignon on your cruise of the Rhône river.

French

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TrustScore 4.8 | 456 reviews
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Based on 456 reviews on
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1 week ago
Jane Packer, our advisor, took care of all of our questions and our booking details. Great job!
Joe Swety
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3 weeks ago
I am travelling alone on Bordeaux river cruise. Very prompt and informative responses. No issues.
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3 months ago
Careful service
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7 months ago
Good understanding and careful service. Utter approach
older gentleman
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8 months ago
My experience with Sandra at Adventure Life was wonderful. She was very thorough, not only emailed me cruise information to review, she followed up with phone calls to answer any questions. We also received a couple of discounts which helped with our decision. I would recommend Adventure Life to my family and friends.
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