Cruising Guides - France - Rivers and Canals

The Canal du Midi - A Cruiser's Guide

The Canal du Midi is probably the most popular canal in France. Linking the Bay of Biscay with the Mediterranean, it is not only renowned for its beauty and picturesque sights, it also performs the invaluable service of saving boaters the long (and arduous) trip around Portugal and Spain to reach the Med.

This handy-sized guidebook has all the information boaters need to navigate the canal, and is packed with cruising and background information about each stage. There are enticing colour photos and distance maps of each section, showing locks, bridges and yacht havens.

This book will accompany sailors and motorboaters all the way, enabling them to make the most of their journey down one of the most famous canals in the world.

The chapters cover the following: Technical data on the waterways - Canal d'Arles a Fos-sur-Mer - Petit Rhone - Canal du Rhone a Sete - Lez - Etang de Thau - Canal du Midi - Herault - Canal de la Robine.

Product details

Details:	144 pages, 8.7 x 4.7 x 0.39 in (22 x 12 x 1 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (GB, 2009)
ISBN:	9781408112731

Canal du Midi : The Ultimate Guide

This is a must-have compact travel guide to the Canal du Midi, a picturesque waterway in Southern France, popular for boating trips and holidays. The Canal du Midi is recognised as one of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe. It is an Unesco world heritage site and attracts many visitors every year.
It's widely regarded as the perfect boating region for wine tasting, sightseeing at medieval villages and cities, and visiting cafes and restaurants.

This up-to-date, comprehensive travel guide covers all the practical information and sightseeing opportunities boaters need to know about during their holiday on the canal, including:
- Highlights and itinerary for Canal du Midi trips for easy planning
- Insider travel tips for your boating holiday: where to stop off, sightseeing highlights, recommended restaurants to visit along the way
- Essential practical nautical information such as how and where to charter, locks, bridges and berths and so on
- Concise English-French dictionary with the most important vocab
- Fantastic photography and useful route maps.

Product details

Author:	Andrea Hoffmann
Details:	208 pages, 8.7 x 4.9 x 0.75 in (22 x 12.5 x 1.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (GB, 2021)
Series:	Adlard Coles
ISBN:	9781472980038

Inland Waterways of France (Volume 1) - North and Centre

The ninth edition of Inland Waterways of France is the ideal guide for planning cruises in and through the most fascinating and diverse waterway network in Europe. This edition takes a new paperback format, split into three volumes.
Author David Edwards-May presents a detailed overview of the waterways extending from the English Channel through Northern France, Picardy and Paris to Central France and Burgundy.
This system totals 2700 kilometres of waterways that are as vibrant as ever, and include the new Seine-Nord Europe Canal, now under construction, to be completed by 2028. Recreational use is growing alongside the commercial traffic on the busier waterways, while Champagne, Burgundy and Central France have become cruising destinations in their own right.

This first volume of the new edition sets out the current state of the network in 200 pages in full colour, with detailed maps of junctions and other key sites on the network, overview maps for each waterway, and route descriptions. It is a unique blend of practical information, maps, background historical notes and colour photographs.

Product details

Author:	David Edwards-May
Details:	200 pages, 11.6 x 8.5 x 0.59 in (29.5 x 21.5 x 1.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781786793041

Inland Waterways of France (Volume 2) - Northeast and Southeast

The ninth edition of Inland Waterways of France is the ideal guide for planning cruises in and through the most fascinating and diverse waterway network in Europe. This edition takes a new paperback format, split into three volumes.
David Edwards-May has investigated the many developments that have taken place during the last 10 years and presents a detailed description of the extraordinarily diverse system of navigable rivers and canals in France.
With the restoration of historic navigations, the system now totals 9000 kilometres, and has become a favourite destination for tens of thousands of boaters from Europe and the rest of the world.

This volume will serve to plan ongoing or future cruises through the 2500 kilometres of waterways from the northeast - the cross-border rivers Meuse, Moselle, Sarre and Rhine - to the Mediterranean.
On the busier waterways recreational use is growing alongside the commercial traffic, but there are many places where boats can moor safely. Waterways are an important part of the appeal of France as a tourist destination.

This new edition sets out the current state of the network in 126 pages in full colour, with detailed maps of 40 key sites, towns and junctions, and overview maps for each waterway. It is a unique blend of practical information, descriptions of places, maps, background historical notes and colour photographs.

Product details

Author:	David Edwards-May
Details:	126 pages, 11.6 x 8.25 x 0.39 in (29.5 x 21 x 1 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781786793065

Inland Waterways of France (Volume 3) - South and West

The ninth edition of Inland Waterways of France is the ideal guide for planning cruises in and through the most fascinating and diverse waterway network in Europe. Author David Edwards-May has researched the many changes that have taken place during the last 10 years, and presents a detailed overview of the waterways extending throughout the South ('Midi'), the Southwest and Western France.
This system totals 3000 kilometres of waterways that are maintained and developed almost exclusively for recreational navigation.

This third volume of the new edition sets out the current state of the network in 146 pages in full colour, with detailed maps of junctions and other key sites on the network, overview maps for each waterway, and route descriptions.
It is a unique blend of practical information, maps, background historical notes and colour photographs. It also highlights ongoing waterway restoration projects, in which the author has been personally involved for many years.

Product details

Author:	David Edwards-May
Details:	146 pages, 11.6 x 8.25 x 0.47 in (29.5 x 21 x 1.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781786793089

Map of the Inland Waterways of France

First published in the 1950s under the editorship of EE Benest and later Konrad Nussbaum, the Imray map of the French inland waterway system has always been regarded as the essential reference for planning a visit to France by boat.
It is now superseded by this completely recompiled and redrawn edition by David Edwards-May, the leading authority on World canals and waterways.

The new cartography includes improved detail and presents essential information concerning distances and dimensions with a greater clarity than on previous editions.
The map continues to cover the Low Countries and the western part of Germany and now also includes large scale insets of the Paris region and northeast France. The scale remains at 1: 1 500 000

Product details

Author:	David Edwards-May
Details:	11.2 x 7.7 x 0.43 in (28.5 x 19.5 x 1.1 cm), map (folded)
Illustrations:	many color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd (GB, 2019)
ISBN:	9781786790644

Through the French Canals : The Complete Planning Guide to Cruising the French Waterways

"Through the French Canals" has probably tempted more people to explore the beautiful waterways of France than any other book. First published in 1970, it's been the key authoritative title on cruising the French canals ever since.
The revised new edition is the essential comprehensive planning guide for anyone wanting to cruise through the French waterways or take their boat from the English Channel through to the Mediterranean via the inland route. It includes over 50 routes fully described and illustrated, with positions of locks, towns and villages through routes from the English Channel and Atlantic to the Mediterranean, plus distances, and assessment of suitable boats for the canals.

The book also provides dimensions of locks and operating times, details of bridge heights, canal depths, fuelling points, waterway signals, a guide to the cost of living, shopping and stores, sources of weather information, haltes for overnight stops, and ports de plaisance.
As well as new photography, the new edition is updated throughout with new information on local facilities, new haltes and ports de plaisance, new VNF License fees, revisions to cruise hire companies, updated references to holding tanks, the availability of diesel and costs of cruising and much more.

Product details

Author:	David Jefferson
Details:	328 pages, 8.25 x 5.9 x 0.75 in (21 x 15 x 1.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	100+ color photos and maps
Language:	English
Publisher:	Adlard Coles (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781472981769

Canaux et rivières de France - Histoire, patrimoine, navigation (Guide Imray Vagnon)

This book is a tourist guide for boaters navigating on the French inland waterways. It contains essential navigation data (maps, location of locks, mileage of waterways, drafts and air, boat rentals, etc.), but also a lot of information on places to stop, sites to visit or even the history of the regions crossed...

Illustrated with magnificent photos, full of useful information and fascinating anecdotes, here are more than 200 pages that will certainly delight all lovers of beautiful sailing!

Product details

Details:	215 pages, 9.8 x 8.1 x 0.75 in (25 x 20.5 x 1.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	Editions Vagnon (F, 2014)
Series:	Guide Imray Vagnon
ISBN:	9782857259237

Maas - Mosel - Saar - Mit Rhein-Marne-Kanal bis Straßburg

NEW

Explore the waterways of the Meuse, Moselle, and Saar - rivers flowing through Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They connect romantic wine villages, medieval castles, and striking landscapes. Manfred Fenzl's cruising guide is the perfect companion for boaters exploring these inland waters.
The sixth revised edition offers all essential nautical details for a safe and enjoyable journey. Routes cover the Moselle Valley, the Saar, the Meuse, and the Rhine-Marne Canal.

Includes:
- Bridges, locks, water levels, moorings, and supply points
- Legal information for recreational boating and VHF channels
- Tips for trailer boaters, including slipways and campsites

With 150 illustrations and 135 color maps, navigation is made easy. From the Moselle between Nancy and Koblenz, to the Meuse and its canal, or the Saar loop - this guide ensures smooth and safe cruising. An indispensable guide for planning routes and unforgettable river journeys across Europe.

Product details

Author:	Manfred Fenzl
Details:	272 pages, 9.7 x 7.1 x 0.98 in (24.5 x 18 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	150 color photos, 135 maps in color
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Maritim (D, 2025)
ISBN:	9783667122728

Hausbooturlaub Canal du Midi

Houseboat holidays are becoming increasingly popular in Germany. One of the most attractive destinations is the Canal du Midi in southern France. This 300-year-old Unesco World Heritage waterway stretches for 240 kilometers through Languedoc, from Sète via the Canal de la Robine, Narbonne and Carcassonne to Toulouse. A major advantage: houseboats can be rented and driven here without a license.

Author Andrea Hoffmann shares her knowledge and passion for the Canal du Midi in this richly illustrated book. She presents an eleven-stage route for easy planning, along with travel tips, nautical details about locks, bridges and moorings, and advice for excursions.
A small German-French vocabulary supports communication, while Hans Zaglitsch's evocative photos inspire wanderlust.

Whether for a short trip or a longer journey, this guide is the perfect companion for an unforgettable houseboat holiday in France.

Product details

Author:	Andrea Hoffmann, Hans Zaglitsch
Details:	208 pages, 8.7 x 4.7 x 0.67 in (22 x 12 x 1.7 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	159 color photos, 13 maps
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Maritim (D, 2023)
ISBN:	9783667120656

Reise durch Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi, which is almost 350 years old and around 240 kilometers long, is a technical masterpiece of engineering, which brought it onto the Unesco World Heritage List in 1996.
The canal connects the charming port town of Sète on the Mediterranean with Toulouse, the "pink city", crossing the picturesque hilly landscape of the southern French regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées and leading through sleepy villages and historically important cities with impressive buildings from many centuries.

Since the transport of goods on the artificial waterway was stopped, the Canal du Midi has become increasingly popular with leisure boaters who cruise along the water in peace and quiet in their motorboats or rented houseboats. Cyclists and long-distance hikers have also discovered the canal for themselves and use the shady towpaths on which horses once pulled the heavy transport barges.

Around 180 images show the gently undulating landscape characterized by vineyards and fields, highlight the most outstanding technical structures on the canal and take a look into the charming villages and towns and behind the thick walls of fortresses, monasteries and cathedrals that have largely survived the ravages of time.

Product details

Author:	Hans Zaglitsch, Linda O'Bryan
Details:	140 pages, 11.8 x 9 in (30 x 24 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	184 color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Stürtz Verlag (D, 2018)
ISBN:	9783800343003