Hesse RETURN 3-Night Itinerary
Discover a short but unforgettable escape on the canals of Alsace. This three-night return cruise from Hesse takes you through peaceful stretches of countryside, remarkable engineering feats like the Arzviller boat lift, and charming villages such as Lutzelbourg, where castles and cliffside walks reward you with sweeping valley views. With time to enjoy authentic regional food, a little shopping, and the simple pleasures of life on the water, it’s the perfect itinerary for a weekend on the water.
Suggested Itinerary
Arrive at base
2pm-5pm
After you have arrived and checked-in, we’ll show you to your boat as quickly as possible. Spend time settling in, freshen up and await your pre-departure briefing which will be given by one of our base technicians. They will familiarise you with the boat’s domestic systems and give you a hands-on demonstration of the boat controls and how to operate it. They will make sure you are comfortable and confident controlling the boat, as well as navigating the waterway, before you set off.
Food for the journey: Stop off in Sarrebourg, just a 10-minute drive from our base, to stock up on groceries for breakfasts and a scenic dinner on board. Here you’ll find supermarkets such as Lidl, Intermarché, Grand Frais and ALDI. We recommend doing your shopping before check-in to ensure you can set off on your cruise as soon as your pre-departure briefing is complete.
Hesse > Niderviller
5pm-6pm
Approx. 1 hr
Make your way to your first overnight mooring at Niderviller Marina, just a short 5km cruise from the Emerald Star base. This gentle stretch of canal is ideal for getting into the rhythm of your cruise. Continue along the waterway until your mooring appears on the right. With no locks or lifting bridges to navigate along the way, it’s a relaxed and scenic introduction to your holiday. Moor up and settle in for your first night on board.
*Please note: Departure depends on daylight and briefing completion. If you’re running short on time and won’t make it all the way to Niderviller Marina before dark, simply spend your first evening on board at the Hesse base in our marina.
Dinner on board
7pm-9pm
As it’s your first night on board, we recommend enjoying a cosy dinner in your new floating home. With a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips, the possibilities are endless. Unpack the groceries you picked up in Sarrebourg and treat yourself to your very own canal-side dinner party – relaxed, scenic, and all yours to enjoy.
Overnight in Niderviller
Breakfast on board
8am-9am
Niderviller > Arzviller
9am-10am
Approx. 1 hr | 2 tunnels | 1 boat lift
Just before you get to the Arzviller boat lift, you’ll go through two tunnels. The first is 475 meters long and the second is 2306 meters long. The tunnels are too narrow for two boats to pass each other, so they are controlled by lights – only proceed when the light is green.
- Tunnel: Niderviller tunnel (475 m)
- Tunnel: Tunnel Niderviller – Arzviller (2306 m)
- Boat Lift: Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
Descend the boat lift
10am – 11:30am
Approx. 1hr 30mins
More accurately known as the ‘Inclined Plane of St. Louis’, there is nothing else like it in Europe. It came into service in 1969 and replaced a chain of 17 locks, which took an entire day to pass through. Nowadays, the descent of 44.5m is traversed in just seven minutes, allow 40 to 90 minutes, including possible waiting time if there are many boats needing to use the boat lift.
Lunch at La Brasserie des Eclusiers, Arzviller
12:00pm – 1:30pm
We recommend having lunch at La Brasserie des Eclusiers, which is located 800m along the canal from the bottom of the boat lift. Enjoy delicious local fare along with an impressive wine menu. Reservations are recommended: brasserie-eclusiers.com | +33 (0)3 87 25 48 66
Boat mooring available – closed on Tuesdays | +33 (0)3 87 25 48 66
Explore Arzviller
1:30pm – 4:30pm
After lunch we recommend you head back to the boat lift by foot – its approximately a 15 minute walk from the restaurant. Guided tours of the Arzviller boat lift are possible, which include the machine-room. They are led by qualified guides who provide a full explanation of how the lift works. If you’re interested in its history, a little train can also take you upstream to explore the beautiful “Valley of the Lock-keepers” to experience the early days of navigation. Visit plan-incline.com for tour information and to book. The tour that includes the train departs at 2:30pm – you should arrive 30 minutes prior.
Alternatively, if you decide not to take the train to the Valley, you’ll have time to visit an amazing shop directly at the bottom of the boat lift, called Cristal Lehrer. It offers handmade and mouth-blown crystal glasses, vases, decorations and more and they do regular glass blowing demonstrations. It’s the perfect spot to pick up a gift or two to remind you of your travels.
Arzviller > Lutzelbourg
4:30pm – 6pm
Approx. 1hr 30mins | 4 locks
Take a leisurely cruise up to Lutzelbourg for a memorable dinner and evening ahead. You’ll pass through four locks along the way before reaching your mooring at Port de Lutzelbourg on the left.
- Lock: n°18 de Henridorff
- Lock: n°19 de Lutzelbourg
- Lock: n°20 Lutzelbourg (Canal de la Marne au Rhin)
- Lock: n°21 de Lutzelbourg
Dinner at Brasserie Chez Elise, Lutzelbourg
7:30pm – 9:30pm
In the heart of Lutzelbourg, Chez Elise is the perfect spot for a warm and relaxed dinner. With a menu full of authentic French dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, it’s a place where tradition meets generous flavours. Elise and her friendly team welcome you like family, creating a cozy setting for a memorable evening.
Make a reservation: Brasserie Chez Elise | +33 (0)3 87 07 00 08
Overnight in Lutzelbourg
For families with younger children
Arzviller boat lift: Little ones will love the summer sled tucked away in the wooded part of the inclined plane. It runs in the afternoons during the high season. Info & prices: luge-plan-incline.com
Breakfast at Fournil des Éclusiers bakery, Lutzelbourg
8am-9am
Start your morning with a short walk to this artisan bakery and pastry shop. Enjoy a coffee alongside a buttery croissant, pain au chocolat, or one of their tempting pastries, all baked on site with natural ingredients. For those with dietary needs, the bakery is also renowned for its gluten-free baguette. Take a seat outside and soak up the village atmosphere. Closed on Mondays.
Top tip: Grab one of their famous baguettes for lunch on board before your journey back to Niderviller.
Explore Lutzelbourg
9am-12:30pm
Explore Château de Lutzelbourg by foot. Begin with a short climb from the canal to the medieval ruins of the12th century’s castle, where the towers and walls overlook the village and canal below. This stop alone is a rewarding outing with wonderful views, but if you’re keen to continue, follow the forest paths a little higher into the hills to reach Krappenfels, a striking sandstone outcrop with sweeping views across the Zorn Valley and back toward the château itself. Many visitors enjoy combining both stops on a gentle circular route that brings you back down to the canal in about an hour to an hour and a half. Walking shoes are recommended.
Afterwards, treat yourself to something sweet at Douceurs des Rohan, a delightful stop to enjoy for yourself and to pick up a few treats for loved ones back home. You might also like to visit the Brasserie des Éclusiers in nearby Henridorff, where you can taste their craft beers and join a short guided tour of the brewery.
Lunch on board
1pm-2pm
Lutzelbourg > Niderviller
2pm-6pm
Approx. 3 hrs | 4 locks | 1 boat lift | 2 tunnels
Pass back through the four locks and ascend the impressive boat lift before continuing on towards Niderviller. Along the way, you’ll cruise once more through both tunnels – a truly memorable part of the journey! Spend the evening in the Niderviller marina before returning to the Emerald Star base in Hesse the following morning.
- Lock: n°21 de Lutzelbourg
- Lock: n°20 Lutzelbourg (Canal de la Marne au Rhin)
- Lock: n°19 de Lutzelbourg
- Lock: n°18 de Henridorff
- Boat Lift: Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
- Tunnel: Tunnel Niderviller – Arzviller (2306 m)
- Tunnel: Niderviller tunnel (475 m)
Dinner at Auberge du Tannenheim, Niderviller
7pm-9pm
This welcoming country inn is a favourite with both boaters and locals, thanks to its relaxed setting just a short stroll from the marina. You’ll find a cosy dining room and a spacious terrace where you can enjoy wood-fired flammekueches and pizzas. Closed on Mondays (all day) and on Thursdays (until 6pm).
Make a reservation: +33 3 87 23 79 41
Overnight in Niderviller
Breakfast on board
7am-7:30am
Niderviller > Hesse
7:30pm – 8:30am
Approx. 1hr
Be sure to set off early towards the base to arrive in time for checkout at 9am sharp. As you glide back towards base, take time to soak in the scenery and capture your last memories on the water.
Depart Hesse
9am
4 or 5 night alternative
If you’ve booked extra nights, we highly recommend extending your cruise to Saverne. With more time, you can enjoy a leisurely journey along one of the most scenic stretches of the canal before mooring right in the heart of this lively town. Explore the grand Château des Rohan, often called the “Little Versailles of Alsace,” and step inside the Saverne Museum, the oldest municipal museum in the region after Strasbourg and Colmar. Garden lovers will be enchanted by the Saverne Rose Garden, where 8,500 roses bloom across 550 varieties, giving the town its title of “City of Roses.” Stroll through cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses, pause at a café terrace, or browse small shops for local delicacies. Dining here is a pleasure too, with plenty of brasseries and winstubs serving hearty Alsatian fare.
This itinerary is a suggestion only
This suggested itinerary is an indication of what could be accomplished, and your ability to accomplish it, is not a contractual obligation of Le Boat. Le Boat is unable to guarantee when your pre-departure briefing will take place and in some cases it will not be given until the morning after your arrival. In these instances, you will need to adapt the itinerary outlined to accommodate a later departure. All cruising distances and times are approximations and are subject to local navigation restrictions at the time you cruise, planned or otherwise, which may also require you to deviate from the itinerary shown. Please check advertised opening times of sights, attractions and restaurants to avoid disappointment – some may need to be booked in advance. All meals, entry fees and tour tariffs are payable at your own expense. Attractions, restaurants and even locks and/or stretches of the waterway may be closed or can close without notice.
We’d love to hear from you
We’ve tried our very best to ensure the accuracy of the information we’ve provided. If you have followed all or some of this itinerary and have found something isn’t quite right, or perhaps you have some helpful tips and pointers that we could add which might be useful to your fellow boaters, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at: itineraries@leboat.com
Image credits
Arzviller Boat lift: Moselle Attractivité | La Brasserie des Eclusiers, Arzviller: Brasserie des Eclusiers website.