Barge Cruises in Alsace-Lorraine
Half-timbered towns, Riesling, a boat lift on a hillside — and fewer barges competing for your booking.
Get Free Barge Cruise QuotesWhy Alsace-Lorraine Is a Smart Choice
Barge cruises in Alsace-Lorraine do not have the instant name recognition of Burgundy or the Canal du Midi, and that is part of their appeal for value-minded travelers. The scenery is varied — forested Vosges hills, river valleys, canal-side villages — the food is some of the most distinctive in France, and the wines of the Alsace wine route are a short drive from the canal. Because fewer barges sail here, it is worth asking about this region when the famous canals look full or pricey.
The Marne–Rhine Canal
The main barging route, linking Lorraine with Strasbourg and the Rhine through the Vosges.
The Arzviller boat lift
The Saint-Louis–Arzviller inclined plane, opened in 1969, carries boats up a hillside in a water-filled tank.
Saverne and Lutzelbourg
Canal towns at the foot of the Vosges; Saverne has a grand sandstone château.
Strasbourg
Petite France, the cathedral and the canals of the Alsatian capital, at the eastern end of many routes.
Which Barges Sail Here
CroisiEurope runs one of its 22-passenger canal barges on a port-to-port week from Strasbourg along the Marne–Rhine Canal to Lagarde in Lorraine and back, calling at towns such as Saverne and Lutzelbourg. Larger, mainstream barges like this tend to sit at the more accessible end of barging. Smaller hotel-barge operators, including European Waterways, also list Alsace and Lorraine among their regions. Our cruise advisors will tell you who is sailing which weeks.
Alsace food is a reason to come on its own: tarte flambée, choucroute, kugelhopf, and Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer from the wine route.
Planning Notes
- Strasbourg has fast trains from Paris, which makes getting to and from the barge simple.
- Spring blossom and autumn colour in the Vosges are both lovely; summer is the busiest time.
- If you also want the Rhine itself, river ships calling at Strasbourg are covered on Rhine Riverboat Cruises.
- For the full Champagne-to-Alsace barging picture, see Barge Cruises in France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do barge cruises in Alsace-Lorraine sail?
Mostly along the Marne–Rhine Canal between Lorraine and Strasbourg, crossing the Vosges hills. CroisiEurope, for example, runs a round trip from Strasbourg to Lagarde with stops such as Saverne and Lutzelbourg.
What is the Saint-Louis–Arzviller inclined plane?
A boat lift opened in 1969 that carries vessels up and down a hillside in a water-filled tank, replacing a long flight of locks on the Marne–Rhine Canal. It is a highlight of many Alsace-Lorraine barge routes.
Can I combine an Alsace barge with a Christmas market trip?
Barge seasons generally end before the Advent markets open, so the two rarely overlap. Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar are usually visited on Rhine river cruises instead.
Price a Barge Cruise in Alsace-Lorraine
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare the barges on the Marne–Rhine Canal for your dates.
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