Canal and River Routes Through France

This is an approximate, rule of thumb, comparison, guide. It may be possible to do these passages faster or be obliged by circumstances to do them slower. Distances are approximate. No allowance for un-masting or re-masting or similar operations. No allowance for sightseeing stops, which are of course, almost essential . . .

North-South Passages, Channel to the Mediterranean

Depending on the route, the controlling dimensions are those common to the various 'central' canals - 1.8m water draft, 3.5m air draft, 5m width.
Journey time between 24 and 34 days.

1a From Calais to Pont l'Eveque

• Travel on the Canal de Calais, the River Aa, the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut and the Canal du Nord to the Oise Lateral junction at Pont l'Eveque.
  3 days travel - a total of 138km, 20 locks and 2 tunnels (one 4.4km long).
  

1b From St Valery-sur-Somme to Pont l'Eveque

• Travel on the River Somme and the Canal du Nord to the Oise Lateral junction at Pont l'Eveque.
  4 days travel - a total of 184km, 24 locks and 1 tunnel.
  

There are also options to cross the English Channel to Gravelines or to Dunkerque (Dunkirk) both of which connect to the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut (Grand Gabarit) canal.

From Pont l'Eveque to Chalon-sur-Saone
At this point there are two alternatives -

2a Paris and the 'Bourbonnais' Loire-Centre route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• 2 days on the Oise, south to Conflans, 2 days through Paris on the Seine, 12 days south-east on the Canal de Loing, the Canal de Briare, the Loire Lateral and the Canal du Centre, to Chalon.
  16 days travel - a total of 688km and 167 locks
  

2b The 'Champagne' Marne-Saone route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• 4 days on the Oise Lateral, the Oise a l'Aisne, the Aisne Lateral and the Aisne a la Marne to Conde sur Marne. 8 days on the Marne Lateral, the Marne-Saone and the Saone, to Chalon.
  12 days travel - a total of 509km, 170 locks and 2 tunnels (one 5km long).
  

From Le Havre (or Honfleur) to Chalon-sur-Saone

3 Le Havre or Honfleur to Paris (Charenton)

• River Seine
  5 days travel - a total of 218km and 6-10 locks (depending on details).
  

4 From Paris to Chalon-sur-Saone
At this point there are two alternatives -

4a The 'Bourbonnais' Loire-Centre route to Chalon-sur-Saone

• South-east on the Haute-Seine, the Canal de Loing, the Canal de Briare, the Loire Lateral and the Canal du Centre, to Chalon.
  12 days travel - a total of 495km and 155 locks
  

4b The Eastern 'Champagne' Marne-Saone route

• 5 days on the Marne and Marne Lateral. 8 days on the Marne-Saone and the River Saone, to Chalon.
  13 days travel - a total of 545km, 148 locks and 1 tunnel (5km long).
  

5a From Chalon-sur-Saone to Arles (or Saint-Gilles if heading west)

• 8 days travel on the River Saone and River Rhone (and Petit Rhone) to Arles/Saint-Gilles - a total of 413km and 15 locks.
  

5b From Arles/Saint-Gilles to the Med - options

• 1 day (40km, 1 lock) to Port St Louis.
  
• 2 days (81km, 1 lock) to Grau du Roi/Port Camargue.
  
• 2 days (128km, 1 lock) to Frontignan/Sete.
  
• 3 days (158km, 3 locks) to Grau d'Agde/Cap d'Agde**
  
• 6 days (260km, 28 locks) to Port la Nouvelle**
  ** Canal du Midi draft restrictions

East-West Passages, Mediterranean to the Atlantic

The controlling dimensions are those of the Canal du Midi - 1.5m* water draft (*theoretical), 3.3m air draft, 5.4m width.
Journey time between 14 and 18 days.
 

6a From the Mediterranean ports to Port la Robine (Canal du Midi)

• From Port St Louis
  5 days (220km, 15 locks) to Port la Robine
  
• From Grau du Roi/Port Camargue
  4 days (100km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine
  
• From Frontignan/Sete
  2 days (53km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine
  
• From Port la Nouvelle
  1 day (39km, 14 locks) to Port la Robine
  

6b From Port la Robine to Pauillac (Bordeaux) - The Canal des Deux Mers

• 6 days travel on the Canal du Midi to Toulouse - 151km and 36 locks.
• 7 days travel on the Canal de Garonne, the River Garonne and the River Gironde from Toulouse to Bordeaux, then Pauillac (for re-masting) - 268km and 53 locks.
• A 13 day total of 419km and 89 locks.