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River Vacation

We have checked out France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Ireland and Poland, and have selected Europe's very best cruising areas, positioning our bases so as to give you the best possible experiences, the best places to see, the best gastronomic adventures. Boating is a great holidays for families, with something of interest for all the children, young and old! And it's such good value, especially when taking up the attractive family prices offers - just compare the price person pro day. Our exclusive Penichettes have been specially designed for cruising on canals, lakes and rivers. They offer you safety, reliability, comfort and style, and are built by our own craftsmen in our own factory in Brittany.

The Europa models are another exclusive design, offering choice to complement the Penichette range, and are available at a selection of our bases. The Europas are very spacious, have a very high specification, and are well adapted for pleasure cruising.

The pleasures of the Penichette®

To hire a Penichette® is to switch to a slower speed of life where you can enjoy nature all around you, stop off as you please and enjoy true moments of tranquillity. Go for a bicycle ride, explore a castle or enjoy a local speciality in a bankside village. Fish maybe, or bathe, relax on deck, pick up a good recommendation from a lock keeper.

Discovering the past

From the Chateau de Tanlay on the Canal de Bourgogne to the Canal du Midi, from the Reichstag to Venice, there is so much to see. Every cruise has its spectacular highlight, its special secret. The Pénichette® is not just a form of transport but is your passport to the history and culture of your destination.

Gastronomy

From delicious market produce to rustic inns or acclaimed gourmet restaurants, every sort of gastronomic experience can be yours when you explore the canals and rivers of France, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Italy and Poland. Make the most of the choice!

Swimming Added pleasure

As you cruise you'll come across many places where you can go swimming. On some of the more remote lakes and lagoons that you come across, you can even dive in from the boat.

Fisherman's Paradise

Whether it's gudgeon or pike you're after, your Pénichette® is the perfect fishing lodge, and we can point you towards a number of cruises which offer fantastic fishing. Our bases will tell you how to get your fishing licence. May the fish bite!

On your Bike

A bicycle is the ideal partner to your Pénichette®. You can hire bikes at the base and explore away from the water or cycle along the towpaths which run alongside canals and are the perfect cycling environment.

Making the most of Locks

Going through a lock is a chance to relax and make friends; once your Pénichette® is moored up you can exchange stories with other boaters. If the lock has a lock keeper, he (or she) too will be delighted to chat and answer your questions.

Life on board

Whichever type of Penichette® you select, its magic works swiftly, and when you've been at the wheel for an hour or so you will be perfectly relaxed about driving your boat. From the steering position in the saloon to the sundeck on the forward cabin each area is cleverly thought out to keep you in contact with your surroundings and to make the most of the varied landscapes you will be cruising through. Make the most of it!

Eating on board

On board, in the well fitted kitchen you'll find everything you need either to prepare a gourmet meal, whether in town or in the open countryside, or to put together a meal to eat on deck. Just despatch a "deckhand" by bike for your fresh bread or breakfast croissants!

Comfort

Whichever Pénichette® model you choose, we have done our best to look after your comfort and well-being: interiors are bright and light, there is ample storage, cabins are roomy, the saloon is cosy and the kitchen area as practical as it is pleasing.

Steering a Penichette®

You'll be shown at the base just how simple and enjoyable it is to drive a Pénichette®. Once you have got the hang of it, you'll relish going through locks and other manoeuvres. The Navigation Guides show you where to find villages, shops and services, and all the sight seeing attractions along your route.

Lazing on deck

The deck is one of the best features of a Pénichette®. Spacious, flat and under the captains eye, it can act as a reading room, sundeck, living space or picnic area. Moving around the
boat on deck is simple and safe; nothing easier than to arrange a game of cards, drinks for friends or a romantic dinner for two.