winter in france

[pipersdream]

any ideas where we can winter in the canal system have heard the canals can freeze over in some parts we will eventually make our way down to the med. would we be better going round and into the midi all help apprieciated
thanks

 

[Sea Devil]

Have a look at this web site- http://www.h2ofrance.com/index2gb.html - it is a big marina in St Jean de Losan and there is another not too far away but the name escapes me - both are good for liveaboard in winter with power on the pontoons etc.

 

[LadyInBed]

Which bit of France do you expect to be in?
Marina's in Chalon sur Saone and Avignon on the way down or if you don't mind not being in a marina, I like Lyon.

 

[PeterStone]

You might be thinking of Seurre - next marina downstream of St Jean. We are wintering there at the moment and returning next week to get the boat ready for the next stage south.

We had a look at St Jean de Losne, spoke to the harbour master and tentatively booked into there last autumn. It would have been fine but we preferred the look of Seurre, which is smaller, cheaper, equally well protected and has a live in harbour master who walks all the pontoons every night checking the boats.

Chalons was our first choice - we spent a couple of nights there - but it was fully booked for the winter. That situation might be improved this coming winter because I understand more pontoons were being installed.

 

[saskia]

I have based my boat at the H2O base at St Jean de Losne for a few years and have been very happy with the way they have looked after her. The yard does repairs etc, winterizes and all the usual stuff. I think there are quite a few liveaboards there, and the small town has all the amenities you want - including an excellent restaurant, La Marine. Also a good rail link to Dijon, where you can get the TGV to Paris. Of course, it does get cold in that part of central France: there was snow on the ground when I visited in February!

 

[Grehan]

St Jean de Losne can and does freeze, as can practically any marina in inland France. H2O at St Jean de Losne usually has a big liveaboard community (although not, I gather this last winter). H2O do not have a good reputation for repairs. Blanquarts (the adjoining marina) have a better reputation.
Forget Avignon - pontoons are often washed away in winter and I gather have yet to be renewed from 2 years ago. St Gilles, Beauclaire and . . . rats, that place near Beauclaire on the Rhone-Petit Rhone whose name I can't remember . . are also possible stops, down south.
Toulouse has a brilliant inland marina and is a great place. Does get cold though.

Loads of info on our website.