Highlights along the Marne-Rhine Canal

Houseboat cruise on the Marne-Rhine Canal:  Discover the hidden treasure along its banks

The 313-kilometre Canal de la Marne au Rhin runs through some magnificent regions of eastern France, offering a panorama rich in hidden treasures and places of interest. Make the most of your next river cruise in Alsace with our list of must-sees during your stay! Shall we?

Towns and villages not to be missed

To start with, along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, you'll find a whole host of villages and towns that are well worth a visit. You won't be disappointed!

• Lutzelbourg: Among them is the village of Lutzelbourg, perched on a hill overlooking the canal and offering exceptional panoramic views. Take time to wander through its cobbled streets, visit the ruins of the medieval castle and discover the history of this small Alsatian village.
• Saverne : During your river cruise in Alsace, your arrival in Saverne will be sumptuous. Imagine the famous Château des Rohan in front of you, just waiting to be admired from all angles. River cruises offer the privileges of nature! To round off your visit in style, why not take a stroll through the town's magnificent rose garden? More than 1,300 varieties await you!
• Strasbourg: Strasbourg, a City of Art and History and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see destination during your river trip in Alsace. There's so much to see in Strasbourg: Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Palace of the Cardinals of Rohan, the flower-filled alleyways and its many museums. To round off your day in Strasbourg in style, why not take a magnificent walk across the 20 bridges spanning the Ill river?

Remarkable engineering structures to cross

During your houseboat cruise on the Marne-Rhine Canal, you can cross some remarkable engineering structures! Have you heard of the Réchicourt lock or the Inclined Slope of Arzviller? The Plan Incliné d'Arzviller was brought into service in 1969 after 4 years' work, enabling a 350-tonne houseboat to be hoisted over a 44.5-metre drop in just 4 minutes. This monumental work, a must on France's waterways, replaced 17 traditional locks in the nearby Vallée des Eclusiers. We recommend stopping off for a stroll through this pretty valley. The Plan Incliné is an industrial site open to tourists, welcoming around 70,000 visitors and seeing some 8,000 pleasure boats pass through every year - a real spectacle!

Discover regional gastronomy

River navigation has always been a privileged means of transporting local produce and regional specialities. Take advantage of your houseboat trip along the Marne-Rhine Canal to sample the culinary delights of the different regions you pass through. There's no time like the present to sample a genuine Alsatian sauerkraut or to discover baeckeoffe accompanied by a glass of wine from the Marne valley. Alsace is also renowned for its many sweet culinary specialities, so which is your favourite?

Here are just a few of the places where you can sample these specialities:

• Le Baeckeoffe: At the Baeckeoffe d'Alsace restaurant in Strasbourg. 14 rue des moulins, 67000 - STRASBOURG - 03 88 23 05 40
• Le Kougelhof: Christian (Meyer), one of Strasbourg's emblematic patisseries, where you can sample this delicious, fluffy brioche. With two addresses right in the city centre, you can't leave this beautiful region of Alsace without trying this classic local delicacy. 12, rue de l'Outre 67000 STRASBOURG - 03.88.32.04.41 & 10, rue Mercière 67000 STRASBOURG - 03.88.22.12.70
• Flammenkueche: To enjoy a flambé tart in the Bas-Rhin, we recommend the Made In Franz restaurant in Plobsheim, where you'll find it every evening from Friday to Sunday from 6.30pm, or the Brasserie du Tigre in Strasbourg. 3 rue de la ville 67115 Plobsheim - 03.88.25.51.59 / 5 rue du Faubourg National 67000 Strasbourg - 03 90 23 21 58
• Cottage cheese tarts: We recommend the Salon de Thé Grand'Rue for these. 80 Grand Rue - 67000 - Strasbourg - 03.88.32.12.70
• Sauerkraut: If you're passing through Saverne, try the sauerkraut at Taverne Katz. 80 Grand'rue - 67700 Saverne - 03.88.71.16.56
• Munster cheese: For a taste of this cheese, go to the Marché Central in Nancy. Place Henri Mengin - 54000 NANCY - 03.83.35.03.50

The Marne-Rhine Canal is full of treasures to discover, so it's hard for us to tell you everything! These suggestions will help you prepare for your next river cruise in Alsace. But don't worry, there are plenty more, so it's up to you to discover them by hiring a houseboat in Saverne and sharing your adventure with us! Did you know that you can navigate a houseboat without a licence on the Canal de la Sarre as far as Sarreguemines? Discover all our houseboat offers for cruising in Alsace!