SMARTguide Nouvelle-Aquitaine

THEMED TOURS
Oenological cruise
on the Gironde estuary
© Alban Gilbert - CRT NA
© Alban Gilbert - CRT NA
OPTIONS
BECOME AN EXPERT
• Visit one of the lock houses: the inn and
guest rooms at La Poule à vélo (Saint-Jeande-Thurac).
www.lapouleavelo.fr
River walk
© Alban Gilbert - CRT NA
Bicycle ride
• Gens de Garonne, a scenovision to
discover the locals’ life
www.gens-de-garonne.com
• Bordeaux celebrates the river every
2 years in June
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
THE CANAL DES 2 MERS BY BIKE OR BOAT
The Canal des 2 Mers by bike is more than 800 km long, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the
Mediterranean Sea along the Gironde estuary, the Garonne Canal and the Canal du Midi (classed by
UNESCO). An outstanding example of “slow tourism” with plenty of cultural and gastronomic stops,
it can be done on two wheels or on the water.
THE GIRONDE ESTUARY
The largest estuary in Europe, the Gironde
estuary is a reservoir of biodiversity with
extraordinary landscapes, including islands, cliffs
and cave dwellings, castles and wine estates.
BY BIKE: Royan - Bordeaux (153 km)
Leave from the seaside resort of Royan to
reach Bordeaux by crossing the river via the
Blaye-Lamarque ferry.
Don’t miss: the Cordouan Lighthouse,
Talmont-sur-Gironde, the Vauban Lock and the
Blaye Citadel, the Gallo-Roman villa of Plassac,
and Bordeaux, the world wine capital.
BY BOAT: the estuary extends more than
100 km inland. It can be explored by taxi boat,
restaurant boat, promenade boat, and top-ofthe-range
cruise boat. Themed visits include
wine, heritage, and nature via companies such
as Bordeaux River Cruise, CroisiEurope, and
Viking River Cruises, to name a few.
THE GARONNE CANAL
Inscribed as a UNESCO site, it links the
Garonne River and the Canal du Midi to the
Mediterranean Sea. It begins in Castets-en-
Dorthe and ends in Saint-Romain-le-Noble.
Either by bike or on the water.
BY BIKE: in two main stages
• Bordeaux - Agen (153 km)
Discover Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the vineyards of Entre-Deux-Mers, then
stop at the walled city of Sauveterre-de-
Guyenne, La Réole, and finally take the green
path along the canal in the shade of centuriesold
plane trees to Agen.
Don’t miss: Abbey of la Sauve-Majeure, Le Mas
d’Agenais, Damazan, Agen and the canal bridge.
• Agen - Toulouse (113 km)
On green roads (without cars), discover
landscapes with an air of Tuscany. From Agen
to Moissac and Montauban, “Cities of art and
history” to Toulouse, the Pink City.
Don’t miss: Agen and the canal bridge,
the archaeological site of Villascopia in
Castelculier, Moissac and its abbey, Gens de
Garonne in Couthures-sur-Garonne (boat trips,
dioramas, treasure hunt in the village, cinema
show where the inhabitants tell their story and
share their experiences and anecdotes around
the river).
BY BOAT: More than 104 km - 22 locks
For a few hours, a day, or much more, become
the captain of a boat without a licence for an
unforgettable river trip! Their speed is limited
to 8km/h and a “pleasure card” for the entire
cruise will be given to you when you leave.
Don’t miss: Buzet-sur-Baïse, cruise in the heart
of the vineyard – Sérignac-sur-Garonne, pretty
medieval country house – Agen, a historical
and gourmet stopover – Valence d’Agen, a
charming medieval village.
Nearby: Moissac, Romanesque art and
crossing the canal bridge – Castelsarrasin,
charming city on the banks of the Garonne
canal – Montech, discover the water slope with
your boat. Possible extension on the Baïse or
the Lot.
From the Canal des 2 Mers, join the Canal du
Midi for an extension towards Carcassonne to
Sète.
Gliding along the Canal de Garonne
Licence-free habitable boats, small
power boats, rowboats, canoeing, stand
up paddle... The Canal de Garonne is
discovered in many ways. Admire its
shores bordered by beautiful plane trees,
its hauling path and its picturesque
bridges. For a weekend or a week, the
Canal de Garonne offers a network of
193 km of inland waterways, with
restored banks, modernised locks and
well-managed jetties and piers.
www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.com
SMART GUIDE ROUTES 21