The BAC Le Verdon Royan, all you need to know about crossing the Gironde estuary

There are two ferries (or ferries ) that allow you to cross the mouth of the Gironde estuary, in the department: from Blaye to Lamarque and from Verdon-sur-Mer to Royan, in Charente Maritime. The ferry is not only a pleasant boat trip, it is a real means of transport! You can put your car, your bike and even motorhomes and caravans there. Here is all the information you need to organize your ferry crossing from La pointe de Grave, in Verdon to Royan!

Photos of the article © Guide Bordeaux Gironde

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Why take the ferry from Verdon-sur-Mer to Royan?

To save time and energy! Once at the northern end of the Pointe du Médoc, from Soulac-sur-Mer or Le Verdon, there is only 6 km of water that separates you from the Charente Maritime ! The estuary here is wide since it joins the sea (the estuary limit is located in Meschers-sur-Gironde in Charente Maritime. In Royan, we are already talking about the Atlantic Ocean), but this is only a small pleasure cruise for the Bac! On the other hand, if you had to make this trip by road, it would take 228km and 3 hours of road ... You understand why the locals take the ferry regularly, even every day for the inhabitants of Verdon and Soulac, who work in Royan ?

Read our article on the seaside resorts of the Atlantic coast of the Gironde. To find where to spend your next ocean vacation!

The crossing (which has existed since 1930) lasts 25 to 35 minutes. 2 ferries circulate to transport passengers: The Gironde, which is the main ferry in use all year round, is supported by L'Estuaire, its counterpart during summer, so that crossings can be done every 45 minutes. These boats are surprisingly efficient, amateurs will notice their amphidromic nature: they are symmetrical, similar from one side to the other. Commissioned in 2002 and 2009, they weigh an average of 1600 tonnes each and can carry around 600 passengers per trip and 140 vehicles! Their top speed is 14 nautical knots.

You can take the ferry on foot, by scooter, by bicycle (free, without supplement), by motorbike, by quad, by car, by motorhome, by caravan, with a trailer. Buses and trucks can also embark! And even ... the horses (warn beforehand)!

The bins are accessible to people with reduced mobility, there is an elevator to reach the passenger platform. It is necessary to register beforehand, at the counter or by calling, to benefit from this service.

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Where and how to take the ferry to go to Royan?

It is not possible to reserve a ticket in advance to take the ferry. We advise you to arrive 30 minutes before the time chosen for the crossing. Everything is very well organized, in Verdon as in Royan. An ATM allows you to pay (by credit card it's faster) before heading to the demarcated areas so that the vehicles can line up, one behind the other. Vehicles enter the ferry from the rear of the boat and exit from the front! This is the great peculiarity of these new Bins, which considerably accelerates the loading and unloading of cars.

Consult the ferry timetables and prices (in fr) on the website of the Department, which manages this service.

Take advantage of the crossing to see beautiful things!

The boat trip is a moment of relaxation, enjoy the scenery! What to see? From the Verdon-sur-Mer pier and on the boat, you will see the Grave Lighthouse, which can be visited during the summer. The Port Bloc, where the ferry is moored, accommodates pleasure boats. As the ferry sets off, you will distinguish the coastline of Verdon-sur-Mer, which then continues towards Soulac. In the distance, when weather conditions allow, you can make out the Cordouan Lighthouse!

Lighthouse of Verdon and Pointe de Grave with Lighthouse of Cordouan in the distance

Read our report on the most beautiful villages of the Gironde estuary. Several of them offer incredible lights, the spectacle of the tidal bore, a particular flora and fauna ... The Gironde estuary is a unique universe, on both sides!

Approaching the opposite coast, you will clearly see the cliffs of Meschers sur Gironde, old troglodyte dwellings are hollowed out there… It is the tipping point between the estuary and the ocean. As we approach Royan, we see squares, the Devil's Bridge, a strange rock formation, like a bridge over the waves! The various Royan beaches are becoming clearer, including Grande Conche, with its Belle Époque and ultra-contemporary bourgeois houses.

Arrival in Royan

Taking the bac is offering yourself a moment in another department! If you are on holiday in the Médoc, it is very pleasant to spend a day in Royan. The boat will dock you in the city center, the port is charming, extended by a seaside promenade lined with vegetation, then the beach and the city center.

Visit the Coastal Battery Beach of Arros, between Soulac and Le Verdon. Read our report!

We wish you a good ferry crossing from the Verdon to Royan!

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