| The river Seine is probably one of the most well | | | | And going on a mini tourist cruise on the Seine around |
| known rivers in France and has been made even | | | | Paris on what are known as bateaux-mouches is one |
| more popular as a tourist attraction within the city of | | | | of the most relaxing ways to get to see some of the |
| Paris. | | | | most famous historical buildings and other monuments |
| Dating back to when the Parisii tribe first established | | | | that the romantic city has to offer. |
| fishing villages along its banks, the waters of the River | | | | It was actually after World War II that sight seeing |
| Seine have always been the heart and soul of Paris | | | | vessels really flourished in Paris on the original |
| and although this river is not used much today as a | | | | longboats called bateaux-mouches that were |
| commercial waterway, it is used extensively for | | | | converted into tourist boats. And today, there are now |
| cruising. | | | | more and more tour operators that also have similar |
| Yet ocean going vessels can still get down the river | | | | boats, yet the name bateaux-mouches has become |
| Seine from The Havre down to Rouen, which is about | | | | synonymous with a tour around Paris on the Seine. |
| 120km, although river boats which cruise up and down | | | | The choice of short cruises available is absolutely |
| the Seine can navigate approximately 560km and the | | | | incredible from a one hour short jaunt, to having a |
| river extends right through to Dijon in the Alps. But | | | | pleasant lunch, or a full dinner cruise for a romantic |
| because the river is slow flowing it makes it easy to | | | | gourmet French meal, while drifting past the sites all lit |
| navigate and a very pleasant trip for those on a cruise. | | | | up by glowing lights in the evening. |
| When Paris prospered through its river trading back in | | | | Some of the cruise operators even offer complete |
| the days of the Romans, canals were put in place to | | | | packages so that you can disembark to physically visit |
| link other major rivers such as the River Loire and the | | | | some major attractions, or even go to a cabaret such |
| River Rhine. Then in the eighteen hundreds locks were | | | | as the Moulin Rouge, before getting back on board to |
| installed to make life a lot easier as the water levels | | | | finish the tour. |
| varied quite dramatically, especially around the Paris | | | | However, we would strongly recommend that you |
| area, which are now very tightly controlled today. | | | | thoroughly check on what type of cruise you are |
| When you are cruising down the river Seine you | | | | booking as the costs can vary immensely. In fact, on |
| cannot help but notice the many bridges that span this | | | | particular cruises there may even be a dress code of |
| river, with some of them being centuries old, one in | | | | cocktail dresses or dinner suits and evening wear, so |
| particular called the Pont-Neuf had its first stone laid by | | | | of course these do tend to have a price tag to match! |
| King Henri III in 1578. However the newest addition was | | | | But rather than a short cruise, you could even book to |
| built in 1996 to accommodate more traffic, especially | | | | travel from Paris through to Normandy or other areas, |
| for the new football stadium built for the FIFA world | | | | where you can glide past storybook chateaux and |
| cup. | | | | medieval towns and discover the character, soul and |
| Did you realise that the River Seine actually forks and | | | | people of France. |
| cuts Paris in half? Well, that has now become a great | | | | So as part of your holiday to France, a trip on the |
| advantage for the tourists who travel here from all | | | | River Seine is always an unforgettable experience and |
| over the world, as you can get to see many famous | | | | you will be able to find many travel agents who can |
| monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and | | | | help you book your perfect River Seine Cruise. |
| Notre Dame to name but a few. | | | | |