From the Sénang to Parisian Barges: The Art of Living on the Water in Paris
In Paris, the Seine is not just a river: it is a neighborhood in its own right. For decades, hundreds of péniches (traditional barges) have lined its quays, housing residences, restaurants, concert halls, and artists’ studios. This art of living on the water is an under-appreciated yet deeply rooted Parisian tradition. At the heart of this floating culture, the Sénang carries on the spirit of the great Dutch barges while offering a unique private cruise on the Seine experience.
Parisian barges: a century-old floating culture
The history of Parisian péniches begins in the early 20th century, when the first bargemen’s families settled permanently on their boats, converting old cargo barges into year-round homes. After World War II, the decline of river freight freed up many vessels that found a second life as floating residences.
In the 1960s and 1970s, péniches attracted a bohemian, artistic crowd. Painters, musicians, and writers moved into these unconventional spaces, drawn by the ever-changing light on the river and the freedom of waterside life. The Quai de la Tournelle, the Quai de Jemmapes along the Canal Saint-Martin, and the Bassin de l’Arsenal became creative enclaves where art, conviviality, and a unique relationship with the city intertwined.
Today, there are approximately 1,000 houseboats in Paris and its near suburbs. Life on the water remains as appealing as ever, despite the challenges: humidity, regular hull maintenance, and sometimes precarious moorings. For those who live on them, the daily spectacle of reflections on the water and the gentle rocking of the boat are more than worth the trade-offs.
Floating restaurants and party venues: the Seine as a stage
Parisian péniches are not just homes. Since the 1990s, a thriving cultural and gastronomic economy has developed on the river. Barge-restaurants like the Pavillon Puebla and legendary venues like the Batofar, a former Irish lightship converted into a nightclub, have turned the riverbanks into hubs for nightlife and fine dining.
Floating restaurants have multiplied, offering a unique culinary experience with views of Parisian landmarks. Dining on a barge moored opposite Notre-Dame or sipping a cocktail while watching the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower: this is the promise behind the success of gastronomic life on the Seine. Péniches also host private events — weddings, corporate seminars, and birthday celebrations — continuing the centuries-old tradition of festivities on the water.
This vibrant scene has given rise to a true Parisian art de vivre, where the river is no longer merely a backdrop but a central player in the experience. Enjoying an apéritif at the water’s edge, feeling the river breeze, hearing the water lap against the hull — these are the sensations that define a distinctly Parisian way of enjoying life.
The Sénang: a Dutch barge in the heart of Paris
Within this floating world, the Sénang holds a special place. This Dutch tjalk, a type of traditional flat-bottomed sailing vessel from the Netherlands, was built to navigate the canals and estuaries of Northern Europe. Tjalks were used from the 17th century onward to transport goods across the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, recognizable by their rounded hulls and their leeboards, the distinctive lateral keels.
The Sénang has been fully renovated to begin a second life as a private cruise boat on the Seine. While preserving its authentic character as a traditional Dutch barge, it has been fitted out to welcome up to 12 passengers in a warm, elegant setting. Its open deck offers a 360-degree view of Parisian landmarks, while its wooden interior preserves the cozy atmosphere of boats from a bygone era.
Moored at the Port de l’Arsenal, in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, the Sénang enjoys an ideal location. This marina, situated between the Place de la Bastille and the Seine, is itself steeped in history: a former basin dug under Charles X in the 1820s, it once connected the Canal Saint-Martin to the Seine before being converted into a marina in 1983.
The art of living on the Seine: apéritifs, sunsets, and private moments
What sets a private cruise on the Seine apart from any other Parisian experience is the intimate connection with the river and the city. Far from the large tourist boats and their hundreds of passengers, a private cruise recreates the atmosphere of a gathering among friends or family, at the peaceful rhythm of the water.
Picture a sunset apéritif, a glass of champagne in hand, as the Sénang glides silently past the Île Saint-Louis bathed in golden light. Or an intimate birthday celebration, with the sparkling Eiffel Tower as the backdrop. This is the art of living that makes private navigation magical: time stands still, the city reveals itself in a new light, and every moment becomes a memory.
This experience is part of a deeply Parisian tradition. From the bals musettes (accordion dance halls) along the banks of the Marne to the guinguettes (open-air riverside cafés) of Nogent, from royal nautical festivals to jazzy evenings on the péniches of Quai de la Gare, the French have always celebrated the art of living by the water. The private cruise is the most refined and intimate expression of this tradition.
Live the experience: board the Sénang
With Un Bateau à Paris, this art of living on the Seine is accessible to everyone. The Sénang offers private cruises lasting two hours, departing from the Port de l’Arsenal, five times a day. Whether for a romantic cruise for two, a family gathering, a corporate event, or a celebration among friends, the boat adapts to every occasion.
Every cruise includes a glass of champagne or a welcome cocktail, and the route takes you past the most beautiful monuments of Paris as seen from the river: Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides. On board, you are at home, with the Seine as your garden and Paris as your backdrop. Book your private cruise and experience this unique art of living, inherited from centuries of Parisian river tradition.
