See a Slice of France Along Its Canals

Gliding through the Loire region on a slow-moving luxury barge is a perfect way to combine fine food and wines.

Scenic Montargis is one port of call during a barge cruise with French Country Waterways. Photo courtesy of Kloeg008/Dreamstime

I recently took a stroll through a charming town in France that, because of its many canals and bridges—I was told it has 131 overpasses—is known as the Venice of the area. While some neighborhoods of Montargis (population about 15,000) have a modern feeling, its downtown area retains an inviting medieval allure.

Overlooking the Loing River and Briare Canal, the village has a history that includes a castle, originally built in the 12th century, and remains of a church that predate a fire that destroyed most of the town in 1525. Some ancient half-timbered houses in central Montargis also escaped that blaze.