Audio GuideBateaux-Mouches
Glass-roofed riverboats offering iconic Seine cruises with landmark views and enchanting cityscapes.
Point Of Interest
Paris, France
Bateaux Mouches began in the shipyards of the La Mouche area in Lyon, where skilled craftsmen built sturdy boats originally meant for shipping and transport. These early steamers gained attention during the Exposition Universelle in eighteen sixty-seven, when they served both as practical vessels and as a taste of modern innovation for visitors. After the hardships of World War Two, entrepreneur Jean Bruel breathed new life into the service, transforming these boats into a leisure attraction that offers gentle cruises along the Seine.
Today, modern boats feature glass-covered areas, sliding canopies, and flexible deck layouts designed to welcome up to one thousand passengers. Live and recorded commentary on each one-hour cruise guides visitors past remarkable landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Pont Neuf, and more. Evening cruises enchant guests with illuminated cityscapes while daytime trips and dining cruises provide varied experiences.
Beyond Paris, similar services have become icons in cities like Montreal and on scenic routes such as the Saint Lawrence River. Bateaux Mouches also grace film and literature, solidifying their role as symbols of romantic urban river journeys. Notably, they carried athletes during the opening ceremony of the twenty twenty-four Summer Olympics.
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