Travel with Amateur Traveler · Saturday, July 11, 2026
The luxury hotel barge 'Renaissance' that Chris and his wife cruised on the Briare Canal is 128 feet long and 16.5 feet wide, the maximum size that can fit on the canal. The boat was originally a barge for hauling goods but was converted into a luxury hotel barge in 1997.
“The whole total length of this boat is 128 feet or 39 meters. And the total width is about 16 and a half feet or 5.1 meters. And the reason why it is that size is that is the size of the locks on the Briare Canal. This is the maximum size boat you can fit on this canal.”
“while this was originally a barge for hauling goods in 1997, it was converted into a luxury hotel barge.”