By Boat
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» By Boat
Ever since earliest times, men have always lived in close harmony with the river Charente. Eaux de vie, stone, paper and cannons were sent down-river to the coast. Fish, cereals, coal and the indispensable salt were sent inland from the sea. All the churches, castles, bridges, canal locks and other buildings are a reminder of the past when land and water brought people together. You have a choice of four boats to explore the river [the gabarre (sailing barge) « Renaissance at Saint-Simon, the gabarre « Dame Jeanne » at Cognac, « le Chabot » at Jarnac and « l'Angoumois » at Angoulême. All aboard !
The « Renaissance » flat-bottomed sailing barge - Saint-Simon
Constructed according to the techniques of the 18th century, it plies up and down the river from spring to autumn from Saint-Simon. It offers a different view of the quays at Juac, the village, the old dry dock and takes you through the locks at Pas du Loup. The best trip is in the morning when you can feel the humidity of the river with its smells and see the moorhens, corncrakes and herons which disappear between the weeping willows and reeds. Length of the trip : about 1 hr 20. Boarding on the village quay.
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The « Dame Jeanne » flat-bottomed sailing barge - Cognac
The Dame Jeanne sailing barge takes its name from the glass demijohns which contain the oldest cognacs. The sailing barge, which is almost 22 metres long, plies up and down the river for over 14 km between Cognac and Saint-Brice. The pace is stately and gives time to discover the unusual fauna and flora on the water's edge. Length of the trip : 1 hr 45. Boarding on the quay close to the towers at St-Jacques.
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« Le Chabot » - Jarnac
Boarding at Jarnac. Follow the salt and cognac route, the cruise enables you to discover the river [its environment, the traces of the boating economy of the past ], guided cruise : length 1 hr 20.
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« L'Angoumois » - Angoulême
At the foot of Angoulême, the Houmeau was an important river port for many years. Nowadays, you can board the lAngoumois for a cruise, depending on your fancy, to explore the river and its ancestral activities.
Choose between the Bacchus cruise with a visit to a vineyard, the paper cruise [visit To the mill at Fleurac and the paper museum], the gourmet cruises, in the morning, in the evening ask for the programme.
Length depending on the visit : 1 hr 30 to 2 hr.
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