River cruise Balade des Gabariers

Boat trips
Temporary closure

Adult €8.00 Child (6 to 11 years old) €6.00 Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) €8.00 Free with the Pass!

A 1-hour river trip aboard a gabare, a replica of a traditional 19th-century wooden flat-bottomed boat. Discover the history of the gabares and their colourful crews, who were essential to trade until the advent of the railways.

Included with the La Rochelle Océan Pass: your pass gives you access to 1 river trip in Saintes to choose from among 2 offered according to the seasonal calendar: Balade des Gabariers; Balade de la Charente. Booking essential.

From the Charente to the ocean, gabares were used to transport precious goods: cognac, stone, salt, wool and cannons were all transported on these wooden boats.

Take advantage of this walk to discover the heritage of the town of Saintes from the river: the Arch of Germanicus, Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the Abbaye aux Dames and the old cognac houses.

Departure from Place Bassompierre, 8km round trip.

Reservation
Reservations must be made by telephone with the Office de l'agglomération de Saintes et la Saintonge: 05 46 74 23 82, giving your pass number. Subject to availability.
Opening hours

From 8 May to 29 June 2025: every Saturday and Sunday at 4.30pm. Plus bank holidays in May and June.

From 5 July to 17 September 2025: every day at 4.30pm. Closed on Sundays.

River cruise Charente cruise

Boat trips

A 1h30 river walk to discover the secrets of the River Charente. Take a trip down the river and back in time on this guided tour on the theme of history and biodiversity.

Included with La Rochelle Océan Pass: your pass gives you access to 1 river trip in Saintes to choose from among 2 offered according to the seasonal calendar: Balade des Gabariers; Balade de la Charente. Booking essential.

  • Access by bus

    Bus connection BUSS :
    Sainte Claire stop - Lines A and C then walk to Place Bassompierre (about 3 minutes).
    BUSS bus routes, timetables and traffic changes 

    PLEASE NOTE: BUSS buses are not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass. You must pay for your tickets when you board.

  • Access by car

    Nearest Q-Park car park :
    Q-Park Centre-ville: 10 Rue Eugène Pelletan 17100 SAINTES

    ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass (adult fare only): get a €10 discount on the hire of a Yélomobile car.
    Reach the sites included in your pass around La Rochelle with the yellow-topped Yélomobile car-sharing car: book in advance for 1 hour or several days and Yélomobile cars will make it easier for you to get around La Rochelle. 

    Details of prices and conditions of access to the Yélomobile service. 

  • Access by train

    The train journey from La Rochelle takes an average of 1 hour to Saintes. The SNCF station is a 15-minute walk from Place Bassompierre, the starting point for the Balade des Gabariers; you can also catch a BUSS bus (not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass). 

    ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Ocean Pass: unlimited access to TER NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE trains between La Rochelle and Saintes.
    In the application, press the ‘TER train transport’ button and then the button for your destination, i.e. La Rochelle < > Saintes. Generate your ticket by pressing the ‘Press here to validate your TER train ticket when boarding’ button. Your e-ticket will appear: it is valid for 2 hours. For your return journey, generate a new ticket by repeating the previous operation.

    Find TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine train timetables easily.

Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office

The Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office invites you to discover the remarkable history and heritage of Saintes, which has been awarded the ‘Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire’ (City and Region of Art and History) label, on water rides and guided tours of the historic town (booking required).