Bateaux Mouches

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A "Bateaux Mouches" excursion boat on the Seine, with the embarcation point in the background, looking east

"Bateaux Mouches"® (pronounced "bato moo-sh"}} in French) are open excursion boats that provide visitors to Paris, France with a view of the city from along the river Seine.

The term is a registered trademark of the "Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches"®, the most widely known operator of the boats in Paris; however, the phrase is also used colloquially to refer to all such boats operating on the river within the city. "Bateaux Mouches"® literally translates into "fly boats" ("fly" meaning the insect); however, the name comes from the fact that they were originally manufactured by boatyards in the Mouche area of Lyons.

These boats are popular tourist attractions in Paris. Many seat several hundred people, often with an open upper deck and an enclosed lower deck; some have sliding canopies that can close to protect a single open deck from rain in inclement weather. Most boat tours include a live or recorded commentary on the sights along the river. A typical cruise lasts about one hour. Many companies offer lunch and dinner cruises as well. Most boats are equipped with lights to illuminate landmarks in the evening.

Since the Seine is centrally situated in Paris, a boat tour covers a great deal of the city. Both the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and the Right Bank (Rive Droite), are visible from the boat. Passengers can see, among other sites, the Eiffel Tower, "Notre-Dame" Cathedral, the Alexander III Bridge, the "Pont Neuf", the Orsay Museum, and the Louvre Museum. Passengers can also see the "Les Invalides", where Napoleon's tomb resides.

Boat tours in Paris have flourished since World War II, and the "Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches", still the oldest company operating boat tours, has significant competition. Other large companies operating excursion boats on the Seine include the "Bateaux Parisiens" and the "Vedettes du Pont Neuf". On busy days in high season, boats constantly move up and down the river.