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Houseboat Living Along Paris Canals and Seine River

Houseboat Rentals Paris Seine River

The fact that Paris property prices are so astronomical doesn't necessarily mean that you can't afford to live right in the middle of Paris, in fact in the middle of the Seine River! The Seine River runs through Paris, France crossing the 16th, 15th, 7th, 8th, 1st, 6th, 4th, 5th, 13th and 12th arrondissements. A number of lucky and adventurous people have made their homes in anchored vessels on the river. In all there are about 1,000 houseboats in Paris, their postal addresses are written on the boats!

Living in a Paris houseboat means you get the prime real-estate location, conveniently located near to the city center; when you get bored you can move without leaving your home; unique accommodation surroundings and usually a more laid back and stylish lifestyle than land bound residents. And let's not forget that if you get tired with the scenery you can also set sail to another location along Paris canals and rivers or beyond.

Just think no neighbor problems, no one telling you can or can't have pets or to keep the noise down and all while you enjoy one of the world's most exciting and romantic cities. Living on a houseboat in Paris gives you a feeling of freedom and a rural feel even though you're in the heart of an urban jungle. You can have a barbeque and even sunbath. The wonders of Paris don't really need to be expounded, you have the art, the architecture, the café culture, the cuisine, the markets and that certain je ne sais quoi which makes Paris magical.

The most common kind of Paris houseboat is the peniche or barge. This is a flat bottomed vessel specifically designed for narrow canals or rivers. The peniche are not necessarily cramped living spaces as you might have imagined a boat to be, in fact a peniche can cover 220m² and include outside terraces and spacious interiors. Some peniche include more than one bedroom, a living space, bathrooms and even individual studio "apartments" as well as the rooftop terraces. A huge luxury peniche of this kind can cost up to €980,000. Or you could have a more modest 40 meter long, 176m² peniche moored near the Eiffel Tower!

There are cheaper options, smaller peniche, older ones, Paris houseboat hotels and barges for rent. You can even stay in an historic Peniche that was build 100 years ago, or buy an old houseboat and spend your time renovating it. These vintage barges have been refurnished and restored to their former glory and you will still feel the style and luxury with all the modern conveniences. You could also buy your own canal boat in Paris and turn it into a unique B&B or floating restaurant!

Of course not everyone can afford to "live the dream" and actually buy a houseboat in Paris but it doesn't mean you can't at least enjoy the experience for a little while. You can always rent a houseboat in Paris on the canals or Seine River, it may even be cheaper than a hotel and you'll definitely have a more unique and memorable experience.

France Homestyle has several Paris houseboat vacation rental options.  Moored on the Seine and located in the heart of Paris the newly renovated Houseboat Concorde is a spacious floating home with hardwood floors, sundeck, three bedrooms, 2 baths, office space and fully appointed kitchen area.  There's not much missing in this houseboat with high speed internet, flat screen TV, and washer dryer.  Another option is Houseboat Louise situated in the heart of Paris on the Seine within walking distance of the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées complete with sundeck and two bedroom with sleeping room for up to 5 persons.