Garonne River Cruises
Dramatic scenery, good food, and great wine are staples of any
cruise along the Dordogne and Garonne. Trickling into
life on the slopes of Puy de Sancy, the highest mountain in central
France, the Dordogne makes its leisurely way through deep-hewn
valleys and sleepy towns in gastronomic Périgord. Much of its route
has been designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, thanks to its
unique and ancient characteristics - people have been living along
its banks for thousands of years, and it is one of the few
freshwater waterways in the world where you can experience a tidal
bore.
A confluence of the Dordogne is the Garonne River, which wends
its way through the wine-rich lands surrounding Bordeaux, past the
ageless landscapes of the Gironde Estuary and out into the Atlantic
Ocean. Wine really is a big deal here, and this corner of southwest
France is renowned as one of the world's top producing areas.
Typical grapes that thrive in its temperate, Mediterranean climate
include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.