Guide n°08 - Champagne/Ile de France

The River Marne, the Parisian canals, the Marne lateral Canal, the river Aisne, the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne, the Canal des Ardennes.

With this guide you will discover three rivers : the Marne, the Ourcq and the Aisne, all part of the vast Seine river basin.

The Marne is the main tributary of the Seine. Close to Paris it is an urban waterway heavily used for leisure and transport but a few kilometres further upstream it changes character becoming much more peaceful and rural. Above Épernay, it is extended by a series of canals to form "the Marne route", the most attractive waterways itinerary between Paris and Lyon.

The river Ourcq joins the Marne near Lizy after only 80 km. With its canals it forms the navigable network of the city of Paris. Its navigability is limited by the dimensions of its smallest locks but it offers interesting possibilities for boaters in search of an unusual and little frequented waterway right next to the French capital.

The river Aisne is mainly used for transporting cereals and other produce from the region of Soissons towards Paris. It is an attractive river, well equipped for navigation and deserves to be better known to the boating fraternity.