The Saarland and Lorraine have a long inland navigation tradition. Wood was rafted on the Saar as early as the 17th century. Napoleon I had the Saar canalized in 1806 so that Saar coal could be transported to France on ships. The beginning of the 20th century was the peak of Saar shipping. The vessel used was the péniche, a type of ship optimized for the entire canal network in France. Until the sixties, they were located in up to 5 rows in Saarbrücken. At that time, around 270 péniches were registered in Saarbrücken. Today there are still 13 péniches on the Saar and they will present themselves together with sport and leisure boats on the Saar from August 25 to 27, 2023 in Saarbrücken.
Traditional Ship Festival Saarbrücken 25-27.08.2023
