Anjou Valley Boating Holidays. This region offers some of the most typical aspects of France with spectacular sceneries. The easy to navigate rivers of La Mayenne and La Sarthe meander through ideal settings, pretty countryside dotted with ancient woodland and of course the reputed vineyards. Explore the perfect waterside towns and villages and marvel at the numerous castles as you float by at your own pace – great for first time skippers.The Mayenne river is a wild and unspoilt waterway that is popular with fisherman and nature lovers. Bike hire is recommended to take advantage of the excellent towpaths along the Mayenne, a large part of which links up as part of the EuroVelo cycle route.

The base at Sablé-sur-Sarthe is located a short walk from the town centre.It’s and idyllic setting overlooked by grand houses with cafes and restaurants nearby. There’s a small supermarket with all the essentials to prepare you need to start your cruise. Heading east the canal takes you past the grand riverside Benedictine Abbey at Solesmes, the picturesque villages of Avoise, Parcé-sur-Sarthe and Malicorne. From Sablé you can do a one way cruise all the way to Laval on the Sarthe and Mayenne rivers that will take you 1 week.

The marina on the river Mayenne is on the opposite side of the main town where you’ll find a good selection of shops. There are cafes and restaurants within walking distance. From here you have the choice of cruise routes. Heading south will take you to the city of Angers where the Sarthe & Mayenne meet before flowing into the Loire river.

There are some great moorings from where you can discover the city on foot. Known as the city of art & culture, Angers was once seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the dukes of Anjou. It’s a lively university city and the centre is mostly pedestrianised with a thriving cafe culture. Discover the two sets of amazing 14th and more recent 20th century tapestries – both depicting the Apocalypse and the final battle between good and evil, can be found in the city’s Chateau. The relatively short yet delightful stretch of the Oudon river leading through quiet countryside is calm and easy to navigate.

The river port of Laval is located close to the city centre where we recommend exploring before starting your cruise. It is rich with art and history – must sees are the castle, the church of Notre-Dame d’Avesnières, the Saint Julien boat wash-house museum, and Lactopôle (the largest dairy museum in the world). Cruising south along the river Mayenne (south) towards Angers and discover the abbey and famous cheese of Port du Salut, the prehistoric megalith monuments at Baronnière, the baths and Roman settlements at Entrammes and the ancient city of Château Gontier and its pretty half-timbered houses.

The northbound route from Laval to Mayenne is a bit more challenging with a few more locks to negotiate however the locals will tell you that it is worth the effort for the beautiful landscapes that can be enjoyed in this more secret part stretch of the river.

Local tourist offices

The Anjou Loire Valley Tourist Board has a useful map of the area that you can view by clicking this link.

The are some good itinerary ideas to investigate in advance that you can find from following this link.