We're going to be in France in August. We'd like to explore the Loire River valley, and are thinking of a river cruise, except that we're not cruise people, and all we're finding are traditional cruises. Is there a company that just offers hop-in and drop-off boat rides down the Loire? Maybe a larger-scale version of Paris' Bateaux Mouches? In essence, is there a "water bus" along the Loire?
Max D.
CroisiEurope is good boat company to use to cruise the Loire.
https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/cruiseline.cfm?CruiseLineID=175
You can't cruise along the Loire River itself - there are stretches you can take a boat ride, but all "Loire " cruises actually use the Loire Canal around Sancerre and head south, or just do the short stretch between Nantes and the confluence with the Sarthe river.
River traffic had just about died out by the start of the 20th century, because the river is shallow with shifting sands, and the railways were quicker and more reliable. After the second world war the rubble from destroyed bridges (and that was most bridges aross the Loire) was left in the river, and the river was allowed to become a long nature reserve.
A few miles upstream from the Chenonceaux chateau you can take a short boat ride on the Cher River with a good guide/narrator; they take you under the iconic arched bridge of the chateau. I think the time was about 1 hour round trip, plus having to be at the dock a certain time ahead of departure. There's a small convenience store across from the dock, as I recall. The company is called Le Belandre.
https://www.labelandre.com/en/index.php/boat-trip/
To get to the dock from the chateau you will need a car or else a taxi -- it's too far to walk.
