The France was the last French boat equipped with paddle wheels measuring 47.5m in length and 12m at the beam. She was powered by a steam engine that developed 350hp propelling her to a maximum speed of 15 knots. She could carry up to 700 passengers.

Built in Zurich by Escher Wyss she was fitted at the shipyard of La Puya (Annecy) and launched on the 13th of Mai 1909 from the hangar of the Compagnie des vapeurs du lac. During the evening high class customers from all over Europe would cruise at moonlight and at daytime the lakeside residents would use the vessel as their main transport mean. On Tuesdays (market day), the farmers would invade the decks with vegetables, poultry and even some times cows. During the second world war she was transformed into a floating jail and went trough a very dark period that many resistant will never forget. In 1962 the steam boat company announces the that the France will soon be sold as scrap but Mr Bruel, the owner of the Société des bateaux-mouches de Paris purchased her for 28'000 francs and saved her from the blowtorch. During over a year, the workers, painters, engineers, carpenters, calkers, all worked together to give to the France a second youth in a style "début de siècle". She is equipped with cabins and showers and a billiard table is installed in the lounge and wicker armchairs on the deck. In 1965 she looses her navigation certificate and is immobilised off the coast. On the 27th of Mai 1965 Mr Bruel tours her round the lake for the last time ... in total illegality. The France sunk mysteriously in 1971.

The France is probably one of the best wrecks in the region. She enlightened the life of local divers who set the mast and wheelhouse upright, once sunk in the silt. She lies straight on her hull in a good state of conservation. The dive usually begins with a stroll through the gangways. The divers can then enter the lounge to see the billiard table and a big mirror. Penetration in the engine room is a more delicate operation. The structures are now collapsing and the silt is very thin. Don't forget to inspect the paddle wheels, trace of older times.

The main difficulty reside in the lake conditions. Water temperature is never higher than 4º celcius and the visibility can become extremely low. The gas of choice is a Nitrox 30 giving us over 20 minutes without leaving the NDL.