Barge ride in Argentat

Gabarres are traditional boats that traveled on the Dordogne and many other rivers in Aquitaine and elsewhere to transport goods. It was a real epic ! In Argentat-sur-Dordogne , a charming village in the Xaintrie, we recommend you take a trip on a gabarre to learn more about these extraordinary stories of " freshwater sailors ", who have nothing to envy from seafarers! Courage, tenacity and resilience, it took qualities and willpower to do this job and experience these adventures! Let's go, sailor!

Photos from the report: Corrèze Guide

The Argentat barges

Argentat is the stronghold of the bargemen. Here we can still imagine their comings and goings on the quay, to load goods, to take a break... The Dordogne is today classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and a fairly peaceful place, channeled by numerous dams (to regulate its flow and ensure that overflows are controlled), but it was not always like this! This is what the bargemen will tell you, in costumes (some performances dramatized by an actor) and in any case with a smile and many anecdotes.

In the ^17th century, hundreds of barges were present on the waters. Flat-bottomed (for shallow-draft passages), built, sailed, and immediately destroyed and sold for firewood, they were both ephemeral and crucial vessels. In the upper Dordogne, the barges were called Courpet.

Take a trip on a barge in Argentat

The departure will not be from Argentat. You have to take the car and go up the river, for about 5 minutes towards the Chastang dam (place called Graffeuille, look for the gabarre landing stage on Gmap). It is in this steep valley that the gabarre will come and pick you up to take you with an actor , for a very nice storytelling ride ! We advise you to book online in season… The price is also nice and it is a fairly short and pleasant moment to delight young children too.

After boarding, the ride lasts about 1.5 hours. You will mainly go up the arm of the Dordogne, in a very natural environment.

Other things to do in Argentat

Visit the town! It's very cute and will teach you even more about the gabarres and their sailors... Their not-so-easy life and habits at that time when the quays were still marked by their footsteps. Discover Splash if you are with your family, it's a great water park, managed by the Municipality. It's clean and even in high season, it's not too crowded, we have fun! Finally, go for a walk (on a day when it's not too hot) towards the Argentat gravel pits , a pair of binoculars in hand, to enjoy this natural space rich in fauna and flora.

We wish you a wonderful holiday in Argentat and Xaintrie!

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