Destination Bordeaux Gironde

Our river cruises embark you on a unique experience of Aquitaine’s remarkable highlights. Discover a fascinating universe, rich in history. Its natural, pulsing environment - which has taken centuries for man to tame. Join us on a cruise and get to feel the heartbeat of the outstanding natural landscapes.

Bordeaux

Unesco World Heritage and architectural innovation.

Bordeaux has been coined around the river, strongly identified in XVII century’s architecture, now a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site. A vast and ambitious reconstruction program for the Quays has finally moored the city to its river. River cruises have now become the hippest way to discover Bordeaux. Our boats navigate on the half-moon shaped river bend between the Napoleon built Pont de Pierre and the new drawbridge, a technological masterpiece indeed. At sundown the waterfront lights up and shines a spotlight on the Place de la Bourse and its reflection in the famous water-mirror.

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The Gironde

Wine and gastronomy : references of the French South West.

Bordeaux, the capital of the French South West, is synomymous with « art de vivre ». The Aquitaine gastronomy is just as varied as its landscapes : traditional meat products, typical cheese, Arcachon oysters, cannelé de Bordeaux, Gironde caviar, etc. Wine-lovers will appreciate the variety of Bordeaux wines and their uniquely typical « terroirs » - that particular combination of soil, climate, know-how and tradition - and the human experience and the art of assembling various regional grape varieties.

Make a reservation for lunch on board...
Vineyards

Wine tasting in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards.

« There is no great vineyard that does not overlook its river ». The Bordeaux vineyard stretches along the river : 115 000 hectares with 60 appellations, it is the oldest and largest vineyard in the world. Our wine tasting cruises will take you on a discovery tour of the vineyard from the river perspective. Through the Medoc region with its prestigious Grands Crus Classés and their sumptuous architecture. Through the Blaye and Bourg region and its hilly landscapes and cliffs overhanging the Gironde Estuary. Through the Graves and Sauternes regions, birthplace of the Bordeaux vineyards and famous for its sweet wines.

Make a reservation for a vineyard and chateaux visit…
Gironde estuary

Travel along the river at tide’s rhythm.

Named the " Bordeaux river" in the Middle Ages , the Gironde Estuary starts where Garonne and Dordogne meet. Bearing a certain resemblance to the Mississippi here, its brown waters are highly charged with alluvium from the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. Our cruises leave Bordeaux downstream towards the embouchure, the Atlantic Ocean, to meet Europe’s largest estuary: 140 km of untamed shores and landscapes. Among other distinctive features of the river, you will get a glimpse of the “carrelets”: stilted fishing cabins. But still more impressive is the “Mascaret”, a tidal wave surfed by many for several kilometers upstream during Spring.

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The island

A forgotten paradise, now developing « tourism for the curious »

10 little islands can be found in the Gironde Estuary : l’île Patiras, Bouchaud, Nouvelle, Fort Paté, Verte, Nord, Cazeau, Margaux, and Macau have appeared during the XIII century due to sedimentary deposition in the river. These territories had their hours of glory – worked by the hand of man for their great agricultural interest – before they sank into oblivion again. They are now being rediscovered, becoming a privileged terre d’accueil for reasonable tourism. The Refuge de Patiras offers a relaxing stopover and unique restoration, while you can taste the wines of the Île Margaux domain during authentic visits guided by its very own maître des chais.

Make a reservation for a stopover on Patiras...
Vauban sites

Citadelle & fortress, UNESCO World Heritage Site

One of the famous engineer Vauban’s masterpieces, it has been designed as the key lock of the Estuary under Louis XIV to protect Bordeaux against the English. On board our cruises, 50 km downstream you will discover the three fortifications: the right bank Citadelle of Blaye, Fort Médoc on the left bank, and Fort Pâté, built « ex nihilo » in the center of the Estuary. This kind of fortified triptych is unique in France and has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2008.

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