European Waterways launches new route “Hidden Heart of France” on board Hotel Barge L’art De Vivre | News

European Waterways invites travelers in 2026 to slow down, unwind and explore the beauty of La France Profonde – the ‘hidden heart of France’. With a new ‘off the beaten track’ route, guests are welcomed aboard L’Art de Vivre to explore the upper reaches of the Nivernais Canal and the surrounding hills of the Morvan, a national park known as the ‘green lung’ of Burgundy. Cruise the winding waterway through narrow tunnels, manually operated bridges and staircases of locks with ivy-covered lock houses on a journey rarely undertaken by modern travelers.

“There are places where time slows down to the rhythm of the water,” says Derek Banks, founder and chief executive of European Waterways. “On this canal, every turn of the wheel, every lock we pass, invites us to leave the world behind and really breathe.”

Cruising in the “Little Amazon”

The Canal du Nivernais is often called the most beautiful canal in France and it is easy to understand why. Overhanging trees form tunnels of green light, while silent forests, meadows and small hamlets create a magical, intimate world. Along the way you can observe herons, kingfishers, swans and even small creatures on water lilies. One feels at home with nature.

“La Petite Amazonie” is like stepping into a living painting. Every bend in the canal feels secret, every lock a pause in time. It is a place where nature and history meet, and where guests can truly unwind and reconnect with the simple beauty of life,” says Banks.

Forts, ruins and timeless views

Excursions go to Château de Bazoches, once a 12th-century fortress and later home to Louis XIV’s military engineer. Guests can explore the armory, historical maps and panoramic views over the Morvan Hills, giving them an insight into life in historic France.

In Compierre, an almost two-thousand-year-old Gallo-Roman village, the main street, the foundations of shops, houses and a temple remain remarkably intact and offer a glimpse into Roman life in the countryside.

“You don’t just see history here, you also experience it,” Banks explains. “From ancient ruins to grand castles, every moment reminds us that the past is alive if you take the time to notice it.”

From cobbled streets to historic cellars

Explore Avallon, with its Romanesque church of Saint-Lazare, medieval ramparts and terraced gardens running over the hill. Wander through the winding streets of the pilgrimage site of Vézelay and admire the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene.

At Domaine Laroche in Chablis, guests can enjoy a private tour of the cellars and learn how medieval monks perfected the craft of winemaking. This will be followed by a private lunch in the thousand-year-old monastery crypt, where the Premier and Grand Cru wines are still maturing.

“Walking through these historic towns and old cellars, you see how past and present coexist,” says Banks, “how something as simple as wine can connect us to centuries of craft, culture and life in Burgundy.”

Available departures for 2026

The following departure times for the new L’Art de Vivre route are now open for booking:

July 19, 2026
July 26, 2026
If you would like information about alternative dates, please contact the European Waterways reservations team.

“This route is an immersion into a bygone era of landscapes unchanged for centuries, traditions kept alive by the people who inhabit them and the captivating simplicity of life along a tranquil Burgundian canal,” said Banks. “It is literally “L’Art de Vivre”, the art of living.”

For more information and to schedule your private charter, visit www.europeanwaterways.com