Rent a boat to navigate on the Canal des Ardennes
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Boat rental on the Canal des Ardennes. Discover the highlights of this river cruise between Pont à Bar and Reims
From Pont à Bar, there are many routes available to you. You can leave for Namur to discover an exceptional natural heritage, for Verdun to navigate on a houseboat between nature and history or for Reims for a river cruise between city, forest, countryside and lakes. This is the direction in which we propose to take you.
Let's go for 95 km of waterways. On this navigation area you can start your cruise at Pont à Bar. Don't forget to take your bikes with you on your houseboat, the towpath follows the Canal des Ardennes, short walks or more sportive tours, it's up to you!
Cities and villages to discover during your cruise
Navigation conditions for licence-free boat hire on the Ardennes Canal
The Canal des Ardennes is a canal that offers easy and stress-free navigation. There are several mechanised locks without the assistance of a lock keeper. Passing through a lock usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes.
To navigate the Canal des Ardennes by licence-free boat, you can start your cruise at Pont à Bar. Before you leave the base, you will receive a training session of about 1 hour to introduce you to the operation of the boat and the manoeuvres.
- Close to the Champagne vineyards
- Passage through Reims, a UNESCO listed city
- Ideal for sportsmen! Water activities in the vicinity
The locks are manned by lock keepers. They are closed on some bank holidays.
Navigation on waterways in the Ardennes is quite easy and perfect for your first experience of boating.
You can moor anywhere along the banks in the heart of the countryside, except on the River Meuse where you have to use the designated moorings.
Be aware of navigation restrictions, which often occur in October.
VNF notice: from August 19, 2025, navigation will be suspended due to drought on the Meuse Canal towards Sedan (formerly the Canal de l'Est, northern branch) between km 241.610 (lock no. 10 at Saint Mihiel) and km 99.611 (lock no. 39 at Donchery). .
VNF information: Work scheduled on the downstream section of the Meuse from November 13 to 21, 2025. The work will take place on the downstream section from lock 43 at Montcy-Notre-Dame to lock 58 at Les 3 Fontaines.
The Canal des Ardennes - our suggested cruises
Pont à Bar
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Pont à Bar
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Pont à Bar
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Pont à Bar
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Pont à Bar
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Monument
River constructions
Gastronomy
Pont à Bar
round trip
Monument
Vineyard
River constructions
Gastronomy
Pont à Bar
round trip
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Travelling with CrisBoat
Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.
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"Very pleasant, beautiful natural surroundings."