Port

Rethel

1.5Son, France

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Maximum length: 98 ft

Ten-berth river halt on the Canal des Ardennes, at the edge of Rethel in the Aisne valley, 2.2 NM east of Nanteuil-sur-Aisne.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Access via the Canal des Ardennes, Freycinet gauge. Halt located between locks on the canal reach through town. No tidal constraint. Low-wash speed required within the urban section.

Practical

Ten berths along a clean quay. The water, electricity and toilet points are out of order, so arrive self-sufficient; bins and picnic tables remain, and a food truck and beer bar stand on the quay. A Volvo Penta certified mechanic works nearby. Full range of shops, supermarket, bakeries and restaurants in the town centre within 500 m.

Ashore

Church of Saint-Nicolas, a twin-nave listed monument rebuilt after 1940, in the town centre 400 m from the quay. Voie verte Trans-Ardennes cycle path along the canal. Rethel is also known for boudin blanc, a local charcuterie speciality since the 17th century.

History

Rethel was heavily damaged in both World Wars and rebuilt in the 1920s and 1950s. The town was the seat of the duchy of Rethel held by the Gonzaga and later the Mazarin families.