A ride by traditional boat
Discover the Rivers of Western France on a traditional boat cruise. Board a traditional French wooden boat to travel the rivers of the Sarthe, Maine and Mayenne.
Which boats are available?
You have the choice of/between three different types of boat: the “gabare”, the “toue sablière” and the “toue cabanée”. These wooden boats with sails and oars are designed for travelling on rivers with their flat bottoms which facilitate navigation in shallow drafts.
The "gabare"
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the “gabare” was used for transporting goods. They travelled downriver with foodstuffs and construction materials, and travelled back up the river loaded with salt, dried fish and colonial goods.
Set out on the gabares “La Bohème” in Angers.
The "toue"
Smaller than a “gabare”, but featuring a larger bow, “toues” were typically found on the river Loire and its tributaries during the 17th century.
The “toue sablière” (sable = Sand) would load sand from the rivers’ edge while the “toue cabanée” was used for fishing.
Get on board the “Amazone” and the “Libellule” in Angers or the “Rêveuse de Saint-Nicolas” in Le Mans.
Sailing on the Sarthe on board a "toue sablière"
Setting off from Le Mans, discover the river aboard a “toue sablière” from the Loire: the “Rêveuse de Saint-Nicolas”. This replica boat takes you on a river tour of less than an hour or a longer cruise on the river Sarthe.
Three river tours departing from Le Mans
- Le Mans'eau Discovery: see Le Mans from a different perspective during this hour-long cruise.
- Apéro-Mans'eau: this excursion will take you to the heart of Le Mans' river port and its Gallo-Roman ramparts, with the option of bringing your own aperitif basket on board.
- Mans'eau picnic cruise: enjoy a four-hour cruise to the Chaoué lock for lunch by the water.
Sail around Angers by traditional boat
At the starting point in Angers, get aboard the gabare “La Bohème”, the toue sablière “l’Amazone” or the toue cabanée “La Libellule”.
- “Discovering the island of Saint-Aubin”: this cruise by “gabare” will let you discover the historic city of Angers from the river Maine and then sail on to the island of Saint-Aubin on the river Mayenne with its ferry and inn.
- “Pancakes on the river”: this tour between Angers and Cantenay-Épinard on the Mayenne combines a touristic voyage with a culinary one in a “toue cabanée”.