5 minutes to book. Best day of our entire trip. Everything felt effortless from pickup to sunset.
Saverne — at a glance
30 boats are available to book in Saverne from Saverne. The fleet is 29 motor boats and 1 houseboat. The most common models are Nicols Confort 1350 (2), Nicols Sedan Primo (2), Nicols Sedan 1160 (2), Nicols Estivale Duo (2), Nicols Estivale Octo (2) — 19 models in all. Built 2001–2025, 8–15 m long, 1–5 cabins, up to 12 guests. Day rates start from €130; the typical boat here is around €376 per day, and every price on this page is the boat’s own listed rate before extras.
Saverne is the Alsatian town at the foot of the Vosges where the Canal de la Marne au Rhin passes under the Rohan palace, and its port is a hire base for the canal in both directions: west up the Zorn valley to Lutzelbourg and the Arzviller boat lift, east across the plain to Strasbourg. Strasbourg airport is 45 minutes away.
Getting there
By air. Strasbourg Airport (SXB) is about 45 km — 45 minutes by taxi; Basel-Mulhouse (BSL) about 150 km. By rail. Saverne station has TGVs from Paris in under two hours and trains from Strasbourg every half hour; the port is a five-minute walk. By road. The A4 motorway exit Saverne; free parking at the base.
Saverne before you cast off
The Rohan palace faces the canal port; the old town’s half-timbered houses and the rose garden are a walk away, the ruined castle of Haut-Barr on the hill above. Strasbourg’s cathedral and Petite France are 30 minutes by train.
Supermarkets in the town within walking distance of the port; the base has water and fuel.
A week from Saverne
Day 1 — Saverne → Lutzelbourg (12 km, 4 locks). Up the wooded Zorn valley to the village under its castle.
Day 2 — Lutzelbourg → Arzviller lift → Niderviller (14 km). Up the inclined plane and through the two tunnels to the pottery village.
Day 3 — Niderviller → Hesse / Sarrebourg (12 km, 2 locks). To the port at Hesse or the town of Sarrebourg.
Day 4 — Hesse → Lutzelbourg (26 km). Back through the tunnels and down the lift.
Day 5 — Lutzelbourg → Saverne → Hochfelden (32 km, 12 locks). Down the valley, past the base and onto the plain.
Day 6 — Hochfelden → Saverne (20 km, 8 locks). Back up to the town.
Day 7 — Saverne. Return the boat by mid-morning.
Types of boats in Saverne
- Motor boats 29 boats · from €130 per day
- Houseboats 1 boat · from €562 per day
Ports near Saverne
Lutzelbourg (23 boats · 9 km) · Niderviller (5 boats · 20 km) · Hesse (69 boats · 24 km) · Mittersheim (6 boats · 34 km) · Port-sur-Saône (10 boats · 153 km) · Scey-sur-Saone-et-Saint-Albin (18 boats · 159 km) · Savoyeux (12 boats · 178 km) · Pont a Bar (6 boats · 212 km) · All boats in France
What a charter in Saverne actually costs
Adriavela lists 30 boats leaving from Saverne. What separates one price from another is the type of boat, its size, and the base it leaves from — not the month you go.
The average week is €2,446 and the cheapest boat on the list is €913. Figures are list prices for a 7-night bareboat charter, refreshed nightly; the exact total for your dates is confirmed on the boat’s own page before you book.
| Boat type | Boats | Guests | From | Average | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor boat 8–15 m · 3 cabins · built 2014 | Boats29 | Guests4–12 | From€913 | Average€2,395 | |
| Houseboat 13.5–13.5 m · 3 cabins · built 2025 | Boats1 | Guests6–6 | From€3,934 | Average€3,934 |
| Budget / week | Boats | Sleeps | Typical size | Mostly | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under €1,500 | Boats4 13% | Sleeps4 | Typical size8 m | Mostly4 motor boats | |
| €1,500 – €3,000 | Boats21 70% | Sleeps8 | Typical size13 m | Mostly21 motor boats | |
| €3,000 – €6,000 | Boats5 17% | Sleeps8 | Typical size15 m | Mostly4 motor boats, 1 houseboat |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yacht charter in Saverne cost?
Day rates on the boats listed here start from €130 and the typical boat is around €376 per day; a week (7 nights) starts from €913. Prices are the boats’ own listed rates; fuel, marina fees on the route and local taxes are paid separately.
What kinds of boats can I charter in Saverne?
30 boats are available to book in Saverne: 29 motor boats and 1 houseboat. The most common models are Nicols Confort 1350, Nicols Sedan Primo, Nicols Sedan 1160, Nicols Estivale Duo.
What is not in the price?
The figure is for the boat. Transit log, tourist tax and the APA are mandatory, set per boat, and paid at the base. Skipper, hostess, extra equipment and other services are optional and also settled at the base.
How far is the airport from Saverne?
The nearest airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH), about 170 km away as the crow flies. Transfer times by road are longer; most charter companies arrange a transfer to the base on request.
Do I need a licence for a canal boat in France?
No. Licence-free river cruisers can be hired by anyone over 18 on the French waterways; the base gives an hour’s instruction on steering, mooring and the locks before you leave.
How do the locks work?
Most locks on the Canal du Midi and the Burgundy waterways are worked by a lock-keeper or are automatic; the crew handles the ropes. Locks are closed at lunchtime and overnight, so a day’s cruising is about six hours.
What day do charters start?
Weekly hires usually run Saturday to Saturday or Friday to Friday, with handover in the afternoon and return by mid-morning; shorter breaks of three or four days are common — the exact times are on each boat’s page.