Bordeaux recently, I have already discovered the city of Bordeaux, the Bordeaux Wine Routes, Arcachon bay and the Atlantic coast, without paying attention to those rivers that surrounded me: the Garonne and the Dordogne and their mouth on the Estuary, yet the largest in Europe. I take you to discover it, and what better way to discover it than to embark on a sightseeing cruise?
1. Island of Patiras, a cruise for the most gourmet
I embark on the boat trip of the "Compagnie des Deux Rives" from Blaye (in Haute-Gironde) or Cussac-Fort-Médoc (in the Médoc) and we go up the Estuary. After having seen the castles and squares during the hour of navigation, we stop at Patiras: relaxation on a deckchair and guided tour of the lighthouse before a return during which we pass between the islands of the Estuary and the Vauban lock.
→ I go there with Bordeaux River Cruise !
2. Île Nouvelle, a cruise to play Robinsons with the family
I embark on a 15-minute cruise by boat from Blaye (in Haute-Gironde) or Cussac-Fort-Médoc (in the Médoc) and here I am on the New Island, the feeling of being at the end of the world! I play the explorer and set off to discover the biodiversity of the island: reedbeds, marshes, migratory birds, before returning to the village which gives us a moving account of life in the past.
→ I go there with Bordeaux River Cruise !
Good plan : lNew Island puts on a show all summer long : spectacular evenings, poetic and musical readings, quirky site visits, street performances or conferences on the history of the island. Make your choice
3. Tasting cruise on the Garonne: with friends for an afterwork
Boarding at the pontoon of the Cité du Vin for this 1h30 tasting cruise around Bordeaux, to appreciate the most beautiful views of Bordeaux on the right bank and its UNESCO facades, from the Garonne. The opportunity to taste two Bordeaux wines while discovering the fascinating history of the river and the wine trade. Good plan : I had started the walk by visiting the City of Wine !
→ I'm going there with Bordeaux River Cruise!
4. Sailboat cruise attacking the Cordouan lighthouse
On the Atlantic side of the Estuary, 7 km out to sea, stands the majestic Cordouan lighthouse, the oldest of the French lighthouses still in operation, it is nicknamed the “Versailles of the sea”. I decided this time to take a cruise on a sailboat to discover this historic monument, 6 hours of navigation (departing from Port-Médoc) where I have nothing else to do but marvel at the coast of Médoc, the Estuary, its islands and... the Cordouan lighthouse. Cordouan deserves! Visits are possible from April to All Saints Day and only at low tide! But at the top of the 311 steps that lead to the lantern, a spectacular panorama awaits me over the Gironde Estuary, the beaches of the Médoc and the Atlantic Ocean.
→ I go there with “La Galantaise”
Good plan : At the mouth of the Estuary, between Le Verdon and Royan, there is a ferry that operates all year round to connect the Charente maritime and the Gironde, saving time for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists who want to avoid the detour. by Bordeaux. All timetables on TransGironde
5. Gabare cruise on the Dordogne
Cruises are not only done on the Garonne and I suggest you discover the Dordogne, the "Rivière Espérance" with a "gastronomic" cruise this time. I'll take you on a barge, a typical Dordogne boat, for a 15 km loop along the banks of Cabara, Vignonet, Sainte-Terre and Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac. I taste authentic 100% local flavors!
→ I go with Barge-restaurant “La Lamproie”
Bonuses. A “cruise” in which you are the pilot: did you know that you can surf the river?
And yes, the tide is felt on the Garonne and as far as Bordeaux, yet 100 km from the mouth of the Estuary. The level of the Garonne varies between 2 and 6 meters. During high tides, it is even possible to surf on the Garonne and the Dordogne, it is the tidal bore. During the high equinox tides (April and September), a long wave goes up the Estuary at almost 30 km/h inland. Do not miss in September, in Vayres, at the Port of Saint-Pardon, on the Dordogne river, the biggest tidal bore spot!
And you, what cruise are you going to embark on?