A VALLEY FOR INVESTING IN TOURISM

THE SEINE-NORTH EUROPE CANAL: A PROJECT OF EXCEPTIONAL POTENTIAL

A new fluvial tourist route linking Paris and Amsterdam.

The Seine-North Europe Canal will connect the Seine River with the North Sea.

This large-scale project is already underway, with the canal’s effective launch planned for 2030.

This route will occasion fascinating prospects and potentials for fluvial tourism, by linking 3 great European capitals: Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

With its modern locks and water-provision system, designed to resist the vagaries of weather, this new canal will offer tourist-boat operators (river cruise ships, hotel-barges, etc.) optimal and consistent navigational conditions.

Cruise passengers will pass through territories steeped in history, from the Kingdom of France’s earliest monarchs to the First and Second World Wars (notably the WWI battlefields). Not to mention the great painters who drew inspiration from the landscapes of the Oise River Valley, such as Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise and also Pissarro.

The Seine-North Europe Canal will also allow fluvial travellers, who enjoy a bit of shopping and are keen to bring back some lovely souvenirs, to stroll about the bustling cities typical of northern France, such as Compiègne, Arras, Lille and Amiens.

The canal will itself serve as a tourist attraction with the possibility of visiting three of its giant locks (including that of Noyon) and of admiring the landscapes from the spectacular canal-bridge straddling the Somme River Valley.

In addition to visiting the many museums, towns and historic monuments along the way, the canal’s travellers will also be able to discover the regional gastronomy, including the world-renowned Chantilly cream, Maroilles cheese (‘the cheese of Kings, the king of cheeses’), and artisanal breweries warmly welcoming visitors.

The Seine-North Europe Canal represents the opening of a new fluvial tourism route through France and Europe.

Combining the discovery of historic sites and the savouring of local specialities during relaxing canal cruises, this waterway will represent, within less than 8 years, a unique opportunity to renew and diversify the region’s fluvial tourist itineraries.

Professional contact:

Stéphane Rouziou – Agence Oise Tourisme stephane.rouziou@oisetourisme.com

Discover a territory home to a thousand treasures

Heritage and history, culture and nature… The Oise River Valley is a veritable treasure trove.
The territory’s sites offer a journey through European and world history, as well as an immersion in art history and the valley’s many local crafts.

A verdant setting home to a rich local culture on the outskirts of Paris.
The valley’s wonderful potential eagerly awaits your project. All you need to do is share it with your clients !

Stroll, savour, discover, and fill your lungs.
Share lovely experiences with your clients in the Oise River Valley.

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good reasons to develop your tourist activity on or along the Oise River

1. A major route for northern Europe

For over 120 km, the Oise River Valley links Paris and the Seine River to northern Europe, via first the Canal du Nord, then Belgium (Bruges) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam).
Still under-exploited by tour operators, the Oise River Valley offers a rich variety of tourist stay possibilities – not only in France, but also linked to the neighbouring countries.

2. An easily accessible valley

Thanks to the territory’s well-developed road and railway networks, the Oise River Valley is easily accessible along its entire length.
Its proximity to Paris also allows for easy international connections via the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly Airports.

3. Internationally renowned heritage treasures

The territory is home to world-renowned sites and heritage, such as the Domaine de Chantilly and Vincent Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise.
Other wonderfully rich sites await to captivate your clients, notably the Imperial Palace of Compiègne, Pierrefonds Castle, and the Royal Abbey of Royaumont.

4. A journey through history

Setting out to explore the Oise River Valley is embarking upon a journey through fascinating French history: the Middle Ages with the valley’s royal abbeys, the Napoleonic Period in Compiègne, Impressionism in Auvers-sur-Oise, the First World War in the Armistice Clearing, and the Belle Epoque in L’Isle-Adam.

5. A top bike-tourism destination

Several long-distance bike routes ( notably the Avenue Verte London – Paris and the Scandibérique) follow the Oise River Valley, passing through forests for a refreshing pedal.
These routes are ideal for creating such fluvial-tourism offers as ‘Boat & Bike’ excursions. They allow cyclists to take their time to explore and intimately discover the valley’s various sites of interest.

6. Local crafts and specialities

The Oise River Valley can also be explored through its local crafts and specialities, with visits to convivial workshops and studios, and tastings of the local produce (artisanal beers, cheeses, honeys, and Chantilly creams).
The territory’s history is also brought to life by its traditional production sites: a nail factory, a stone quarry, a stained-glass workshop, etc.

7. A dynamic territory

The Oise River Valley’s various stakeholders (its local authorities, tourist offices, and tourist professionals) are actively committed to developing the territory’s tourist offers and its fluvial infrastructures.