The city of Orléans(45, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire) hosts the Festival de Loire every 2 years in September (20 – 24 September 2023), a celebration of the river in all its forms- “the biggest gathering of river-going vessels” with guests including Canada and the Basque Country.
In 2011 the special guests were the Dutch who are arrived via canals, the Seine and Loire to participate with traditional vessels and local food, For 2017 the special guest country was Poland.
More than 200 traditional boats (sailing boats, barges and other river and canal craft) will moor alongside the banks of the river in the City with demonstrations, regattas, trips, music , food and fireworks.
It is free – and promises to be a great spectacle.
For more info seewww.orleans-metropole.fr
hotels, B&Bs and self-catering in Orléans including as Les Trois Maillets B&B, a 16th-century house, classified as a historical monument, just 30 metres from the Loire in Orléans city centre.
Orléans is about one hour south of Paris on the A10 autoroute and has good rail connections to the capital and other major cities in France
By Train TGV to Orleans 
with Rail Europe
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