There are many ways to explore the Gorges du Tarn: on foot, on a road trip, or by water… But the most traditional way to experience them is still the unmissable boat trip with the boatmen! Come aboard with us!
A boat trip down the Tarn
The best way to explore the Tarn Gorges is, even today, to follow the river’s course. Whilst filming in Lozère, Gérard Klein certainly got it right! Amidst these spectacular landscapes, home to kingfishers and red-necked grebes, the boatmen of La Malène offer an unforgettable journey downriver to the Cirque des Baumes and its vertiginous cliffs, in the finest tradition.
Until the end of the 19th century, in fact, mule tracks and boats sailing on the River Tarn were the only means of transport. The opening of the A-road in 1905 brought the first visitors, and the locals began to take them on boat trips along the River Tarn. Using poles to manoeuvre heavy wooden boats, the boatmen in each village were employed by the hotels. The journey took them downstream from Sainte-Énimie to Le Rozier. The boats were then brought back by hand or pulled by horses.
Thematics
