Discover the Touraine region on a traditional boat!
Why not explore Touraine from the water? Whether you’re spotting wildlife, enjoying a drink on the water or taking a sunset cruise, discover the region from a different perspective with over 15 cruises to choose from, aboard a traditional boat on the Loire and the Cher.
Why is a boat trip a must-do?
Because you don’t need to be near the sea to cast off or leave dry land; a trip on a traditional boat is an essential part of a ‘slow travel’ experience in Touraine.
Here, the skippers are passionate, terns skim the rivers, and, to reassure food lovers, fine dining even comes on board in the form of a sunset aperitif! In short, the hardest part will be choosing your trip (we won’t be giving you a top pick this time – we love them all…!).
![Apéro sur la Loire]()
Aperitif on the Loire
![Lectures, coucher de soleil ou balade au zénith]()
Reading, watching the sunset or taking a stroll at the Zenith
Setting off from Rochecorbon: storytelling, sunsets or a cruise at sunset
Fancy a break from the hustle and bustle of city life? From a sandy beach, set off on a guided cruise aboard a traditional barge. Here, there’s no engine, just the sound of the water and the stories told by the boatmen from the Loire La Rabouilleuse school! Choose from a storytelling session, a sunset cruise with aperitifs, or a guided trip in the morning or at teatime.
![Balade découverte et guinguette]()
A discovery walk and open-air café
Departing from Luynes: a discovery cruise and open-air café
Les Bateliers de Saint-Étienne-de-Chigny have cast off from the Bouge au Vin jetty in Luynes. Guided discovery cruises are available from April to October, both during the day and at sunset. To round off the experience, settle down at a table in their open-air café on Île Buda.
![Le Cher en mode slow]()
The Cher region at a leisurely pace
Setting off from Savonnières: the Cher at a leisurely pace
Have you ever been on board a traditional 18th- or 19th-century boat? Now’s your chance! Setting off from the port of Savonnières, embark on a cruise to discover Touraine’s other iconic river: the Cher. The bonus? You can then easily head to the gardens and château of Villandry for a day spent enjoying nature and heritage.![Une toue]()
A flatboat on the Cher
Did you know?
What exactly are a ‘toue’ and a ‘gabarre’?
A flat-bottomed design suited to river navigation, making them less dependent on water levels and preventing them from ‘running aground’ – that’s the defining feature of the famous traditional boats of the Loire! The largest boat on the Loire, the gabare is a white or red-sailed vessel weighing some 22 tonnes that was used to transport goods. Indeed: the Loire was once the ‘motorway’ of trade. Hemp, tuffeau stone, spices and wines were all goods transported from one end of the river to the other, between Orléans and Nantes!
The toue, on the other hand, being smaller, was the typical fishermen’s boat. It may be ‘cabanée’ (featuring a small cabin for shelter).
Find even more experiences in our ‘Water Activities’ section.
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