France can be discovered by France can be discovered by water, thanks to its 6,700 km of water, thanks to its 6,700 km of developed rivers and canals. It developed rivers and canals. It has the largest network of has the largest network of waterways in Europe.waterways in Europe.

Mountains dominate eastern, Mountains dominate eastern, south central and southern south central and southern France, including the France, including the snowcapped Alps that stretch snowcapped Alps that stretch along its border with Italy, then along its border with Italy, then on into Switzerland and across on into Switzerland and across southern Europe.southern Europe.

The country is drained by The country is drained by dozens of rivers which largely dozens of rivers which largely reflect this geography, and flow reflect this geography, and flow from the mountains towards the from the mountains towards the sea - usually flowing north and sea - usually flowing north and west to the Atlantic. west to the Atlantic.

SeineSeine

RhineRhineLoireLoire

RhoneRhone

GarroneGarroneDordogneDordogne

The Loire river is the longest in The Loire river is the longest in France, covering a length of France, covering a length of around around 1,012 kilometers.1,012 kilometers.

It drains an area of about It drains an area of about 45,000 square miles (117,054 45,000 square miles (117,054 square kmsquare km)),, which represents which represents more than a fifth of France's land more than a fifth of France's land area. area.

This river rises from the This river rises from the CévennesCévennes mountain range in the mountain range in the south-eastern part of the country south-eastern part of the country and carves out a big chunk of and carves out a big chunk of area from north Alps to Orleans. area from north Alps to Orleans. On its course, it flows west and On its course, it flows west and reaches thereaches the Bay of Biscay Bay of Biscay at St. at St. Nazaire.Nazaire.

The Loire river is the The Loire river is the 170th longest river in 170th longest river in the world. the world.

This region is also known as This region is also known as “The Garden of France”“The Garden of France”, , because of the fertility of land because of the fertility of land along the course of the river. along the course of the river.

The main tributaries of this The main tributaries of this river include the river include the AllierAllier, , IndreIndre, , CherCher and and VienneVienne on the left on the left and the and the NiévreNiévre and and MaineMaine on on the right side, which flow the right side, which flow along its course. along its course.

The region flaunts a number The region flaunts a number of wine sub-regions held of wine sub-regions held together by the Loire river.together by the Loire river.

The mesmerizing beauty of The mesmerizing beauty of Loire river valley exhibits the Loire river valley exhibits the land of rich vineyards and land of rich vineyards and magnificent châteaux like magnificent châteaux like ChinonChinon, , AngersAngers, , ChambordChambord, , ChenonceauChenonceau and and VillandryVillandry. .

The waters of the River Seine The waters of the River Seine have constantly been a part of have constantly been a part of the evolution of the city of the evolution of the city of Paris, and is still the heart and Paris, and is still the heart and soul of it. soul of it.

It is used by commercial It is used by commercial boats from boats from Bassur-SeineBassur-Seine to the to the river mouth and the river ends river mouth and the river ends in the Atlantic ocean covering in the Atlantic ocean covering a basin area of around a basin area of around 78,650 78,650 square kilometerssquare kilometers. .

Besides Paris, three other Besides Paris, three other cities namely cities namely La HavreLa Havre, , RheimsRheims and and RouenRouen are also covered in are also covered in the course of this river.the course of this river.

The Seine river is The Seine river is 482 miles 482 miles (776 kilometers) (776 kilometers) long, and long, and winds its way from Paris to winds its way from Paris to the English Channel.the English Channel.

The Seine is one of Europe’s The Seine is one of Europe’s great historic rivers, and its great historic rivers, and its drainage network carries most of drainage network carries most of the French inland waterway the French inland waterway traffic.traffic.

The Seine river flows through The Seine river flows through the middle of Paris and divides the middle of Paris and divides the city into the the city into the Left Bank or Rive Left Bank or Rive GaucheGauche, , and the and the Right Bank or Right Bank or Rive DroiteRive Droite..

The Seine is known for its The Seine is known for its romantic sightseeing boats, romantic sightseeing boats, called called "bateaux mouches,""bateaux mouches," that that drift up and down the river in drift up and down the river in Paris. These flat boats are a Paris. These flat boats are a don’t-miss for many Paris don’t-miss for many Paris tourists.tourists.

TheThe Rhone river rises in the Rhone river rises in the Swiss Alps in Arles and covers a Swiss Alps in Arles and covers a length of approximately length of approximately 505 505 milesmiles. .

At Arles, the Rhone divides into At Arles, the Rhone divides into two major arms forming the two major arms forming the Camargue deltaCamargue delta, both branches , both branches flowing into the Mediterranean flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, the delta being termed the Sea, the delta being termed the Rhone FanRhone Fan. The larger arm is . The larger arm is called the called the "Grand Rhône""Grand Rhône",, the the smaller the smaller the "Petit Rhône”"Petit Rhône”..

Out of the complete length of Out of the complete length of this river, the navigable portion this river, the navigable portion covers only covers only 300 miles 300 miles and all its and all its branches merge into the branches merge into the Mediterranean sea. Mediterranean sea.

The Rhone is one of the The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and rising in Switzerland and running from there through running from there through southeastern France. southeastern France.

The Rhone river was used to The Rhone river was used to provide an important medium for provide an important medium for inland trade connecting the cities inland trade connecting the cities of of Valence, Vienne, Arles and Valence, Vienne, Arles and LyonLyon, to the Mediterranean ports , to the Mediterranean ports of of Marseille, Fos and SéteMarseille, Fos and Séte..

AtAt Lyon, which is the biggest Lyon, which is the biggest city along its course, the Rhone city along its course, the Rhone meets its biggest tributary.meets its biggest tributary.

When carrying large quantities When carrying large quantities of water, the current can speed of water, the current can speed up to up to 6 mph6 mph, making the , making the transportation unsafe.transportation unsafe.

The river is Alpine in character, The river is Alpine in character, and its valley in south-eastern and its valley in south-eastern France is famous for producing France is famous for producing red wines.red wines.

View over the Rhone flowing View over the Rhone flowing from Valais into Lake Genevafrom Valais into Lake Geneva

Garonne is a river in southwest Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with France and northern Spain, with a length of a length of 602 km602 km. The area . The area covered by its basin is covered by its basin is somewhere around somewhere around 21,600 21,600 square milessquare miles..

From its source in the From its source in the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, the Garonne river flows the Garonne river flows northeastward to northeastward to ToulouseToulouse and and AgenAgen towards towards BordeauxBordeaux where it where it joins the Dordogne River to form joins the Dordogne River to form an estuary called the an estuary called the GirondeGironde..

It is joined by three major It is joined by three major rivers namely rivers namely TarnTarn, , AriégeAriége and and LotLot, along its course, and it flows , along its course, and it flows into the into the Bay of Biscay Bay of Biscay (Atlantic (Atlantic Ocean). Ocean).

The Garonne river at The Garonne river at ToulouseToulouse

It also forms part of the It also forms part of the Canal des Deux Mers,Canal des Deux Mers, linking the Mediterranean linking the Mediterranean sea to the Bay of Biscay sea to the Bay of Biscay thus allowing a shorter and thus allowing a shorter and safer way for goods to pass safer way for goods to pass from the agricultural areas from the agricultural areas of the south of France to of the south of France to the Atlantic. the Atlantic.

The Dordogne is a river in The Dordogne is a river in south-central and southwest south-central and southwest France.France.

The Dordogne river rises on The Dordogne river rises on the flanks of the flanks of Puy de Sancy Puy de Sancy and and covers a length of around covers a length of around 300 300 miles miles along its course with a along its course with a drainage basin of drainage basin of 9300 square 9300 square milesmiles..

It flows westwards until it It flows westwards until it joins the Garonne, the joins the Garonne, the mightiest river in the South-mightiest river in the South-West of France, and together West of France, and together they form the they form the Gironde estuaryGironde estuary, , on which stands the city of on which stands the city of Bordeaux.Bordeaux.

The river is formed by two The river is formed by two merging torrents namely the merging torrents namely the DoreDore and the and the DognDognee. .

The Dordogne valley flaunts The Dordogne valley flaunts its powerful aura of brave its powerful aura of brave knights from the middle ages. knights from the middle ages.

One of the largest medieval One of the largest medieval fortresses in the South of fortresses in the South of France, the castle of France, the castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux , Castelnau-Bretenoux , stands stands guard over the river.guard over the river.

The lifestyle and culture of the The lifestyle and culture of the Dordogne valley attracts both Dordogne valley attracts both visitors and incomers from all visitors and incomers from all over France, but also from many over France, but also from many other countries, particularly other countries, particularly Britain and Germany.Britain and Germany.

The main season for tourism in The main season for tourism in this valley starts from June and this valley starts from June and continues till late September.continues till late September.

The Rhine is one of the longest The Rhine is one of the longest and the most important rivers in and the most important rivers in Europe and is Europe and is 1,230 kilometres1,230 kilometres long.long.

The Rhine flows through six The Rhine flows through six countries - countries - Switzerland, Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France Austria, Germany, France and the and the Netherlands before flowing into Netherlands before flowing into the North Sea at Rotterdam.the North Sea at Rotterdam.

It is also the border between It is also the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein Switzerland and Liechtenstein and also the border between and also the border between Germany and France.Germany and France.

The river Rhine begins The river Rhine begins at at TomaseeTomasee, a lake in , a lake in the canton of the canton of GraubündenGraubünden in in SwitzerlandSwitzerland..

Northeastern France drains Northeastern France drains to the Rhine via the to the Rhine via the MoselleMoselle; ; smaller rivers drain the smaller rivers drain the VosgesVosges and and JuraJura mountainsmountains..

The Rhine is heavily The Rhine is heavily populated. Around 50 million populated. Around 50 million people live along its banks in a people live along its banks in a number of major cities.number of major cities.

The major cities are all The major cities are all situated on the Rhine or on its situated on the Rhine or on its larger tributaries and the larger tributaries and the development of these cities is development of these cities is strongly dependent on water. strongly dependent on water.

The Rhine is an important The Rhine is an important waterway. Every year the river waterway. Every year the river transports transports 40 million tons 40 million tons of of cargo by barge and ocean-cargo by barge and ocean-going vessels. going vessels.

Rhine is navigable by Rhine is navigable by pleasure boats right up to pleasure boats right up to RhinefeldenRhinefelden in Switzerland. in Switzerland.

The Rhine valley is also an The Rhine valley is also an important wine producing important wine producing region. region.