The French waterways travel through some of the most varied countryside in Europe, with each region steeped in its own particular culture, history and architecture.

The real France is found on a leisurely cruise along the French rivers and canals. See vineyards, chateaux and quaint villages far from the usual tourist haunts

Holland's extraordinary network of rivers and canals offers excellent cruising - the ideal way to see the very best Holland has to offer.

The joy of a boating holiday on the Dutch waterways can easily be attributed to the hospitality of the welcoming people.

Since the renovation of the 76 kilometre long link between the Shannon and the Erne in 1994, Ireland's two main waterways are now one, offering a veritable choice of lakes and rivers stretching almost 540 kilometres between Belleek in County Fermanagh and Killaloe in County Clare.

No other country in Europe has such an expanse of water dedicated to the pleasures of cruising, angling and holidaying on the water in total tranquillity, far from the stress and noise of our modern day lives.

Although boating holidays are in their infancy, Italy is home to some superb inland waterways.

South of Venice in the Po Delta, is a myriad of rivers and lakes mainly in a nature reserve passing within a few hundred metres of the sea.

You can cruise round Venice and the famous islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

To the west of Venice there is the River Brenta to the historic town of Padua, to the north-west, the River Silé to Treviso.