France » Canal du Rhone au Rhin

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Canal du Rhône au Rhin, Jura, Franche-Comte, Alsace

Suitability for houseboating & canal holiday****
Length: 236 km, Looks: 114

Description to the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, Jura-Franche-Comté et Alsace
The "Canal du Monsieur" was ready in 1843. Once, this very proud waterway went from St. Symphorien at the Saône over Mulhouse to Strasbourg. When the motorway was built, unfortunately the stretch between Strasbourg and Mulhouse was destroyed. The northerly part is now redone and at least the part between Strasbourg and Colmar will be navigable again. 

Information:
A house boat holiday from the Burgundy through Franche Comté to the Alsace.
Advantages: Very beautiful surroundings, the change between the river Doubs and the canal brings a lot of variety.
Disadvantages: Infrastructures are over long distances rather bad, some crossovers river/canal and passing at weirs are difficult.
Length: (From St. Symporien to Mulhouse) 220 kms, locks: 112, boat hirers: see under “Infrastructures”.
For people with some experience a very interesting waterway, not really recommendable to beginners.

Tourism
Since this waterway keeps changing between the Doubs and the canal, one has to be very concentrated when navigating. But for this reason it also offers a lot of variety. It passed first the fertile plain of the Saône to Dôle, then it gets hillier and soon you will find yourself in the narrow valleys of the Jura. Here you will sometimes feel that it can’t go any further. Soon the Doubs leaves in direction of the Suisse Jura and we pass now, the again gentle hills, between Montbéliard and the south of Belfort. We finally reach the summit and at its end the flight of stairs of Valdieu, this takes us down to the blooming Alsace with its vines and lovely food. Mulhouse is the final point for house boat tourism. Afterwards on the Grand Canal d’Alsace a valid license is essential. Also hired boats are not enough motorised for the Rhine.
Places along the canal: Dôle: Once the capital of the French Jura and birth place of Louis Pasteur, belongs surely to the more beautiful towns of France. Gourmets will stay here over night. (The Rhône – Rhine canal is not really famous for its kitchen). Also a walk through the picturesque old town with the superb gothic collegiate church, the steep small lanes and the romantic mill by the river is highly recommended.
L’Isle sur Doubs: Small, picturesque town with all shopping possibilities.

Montbéliard: A big, not very attractive industrial city, car fans find here the biggest Peugot museum.

Besançon’s exceptional beauty filled Caesar with awe. Located on the way to the Alsace, between the Burgundy region and Helvetia, Besançon is a European crossroads, standing majestically behind ramparts built by Vauban. Both, a river city and a spa; as if the city alone were not delightful enough Besançon is also the starting point for historical and nature jaunts, from the Joux Castle to the Vouglans Dam, from the Jura Massif to the Ognon Valley.

Belfort: This city with its hugh fortification can be reached by a side canal, the southerly part of the old “Canal de la Haute Saône”. With the boat one can only reach the port of Botans. Then the city can be reached by bus, after about 2kms.

waterways, for house boat & canal holidays in France and Europe.