Food cruises on the Loire
the Maine or the Mayenne
If you’ve already planned to see Angers’ historical sights and to walk in the Angevin vineyards, but are still looking for a way to to discover the region’s famous rivers and traditional cuisine, you can hit two birds with one stone by opting for a food cruise on the Loire, the Maine or the Mayenne (prices range from €15 to €66).
Apéro cruise
With friends or your partner, set sail for a one and a half hour drinks cruise on the Hirondelle. You’ll have enough time on the boat to sample appetizers and enjoy a glass of sparkling or still Loire wine. A wine tasting cruise is another good way to spend an enjoyable moment. For company, you’ll have one of Anjou’s fascinating winemakers. What better than a tasting to learn about Loire wines?
Mojitos by the water
After a busy day exploring, meet up with friends at the Cale de La Savatte riverside café. Tuesday evenings at 7 pm are Mojito time! Vogue en Maine invites you to sample a well-chilled cocktail, with or without alcohol, accompanied by a selection of tapas on board its traditional river boats.
Dinner on the water
Those seeking a gentle moment together, to enjoy the best things in life, should opt for a simple yet delicious dinner cruise. And if you want to laugh, hear music or see a performance, the entertainment cruises run by the Hirondelle company, or the swing-jazz dinner-concert on board the Loire Odyssée will ensure you a great time. For some sailing and dancing combined, let the Loire Odyssée, with its onboard dancehall, take you to an unusual location. You’ll enjoy a picnic of local produce to the rhythms of retro folk music.
All-day cruises
You’re in Angers for the weekend and want a complete change of scene. Nothing could be more original than a full day cruising on the Maine and the Loire beside the beautiful banks of the Basse Vallées Angevines.
Full-day cruise on the Maine and the Loire
Your boat will leave Angers at 10 am. Make sure to arrive 15 minutes in advance to allow time for embarking on the Hirondelle. The price includes the cruise and a delicious meal prepared on board. You will begin with a trip up the Maine in the morning sun, as far the harbor of St. Aubin island. Then you will sail back the other way to Bouchemaine. There you will be free to visit the village on your own before re-boarding the boat for a lunch on the Loire, while sailing to the island of Béhuard. You will arrive back in Angers at approximately 4 pm, giving you time to wander about the quays or the town.
Discovery cruises on the Loire
If you already have a jam-packed schedule of activities planned, a commented discovery cruise is the ideal way to see the treasures of the Basses Vallées Angevines in a short time and without breaking the bank (cruises cost from €10.50 to €16).
For the keen eye...
If you’re fond of wildlife, set off from Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire in search of ospreys, grey herons or even beavers. Loire Odyssée runs a special ornithological cruise. Equipped with binoculars, you’ll enjoy trying to spot the Loire’s bird life.
Angers and the Loire in a day
With the tourist office and the Hirondelle’s ‘City and River’ tour, you’ll start at 3.30 pm with a mini-train tour of the old town, followed by a two-hour river cruise with commentary. The mini train will collect you as you disembark from the boat and take you back to Angers Castle.
A rapid trip on the river
For those with very little time, Loire Odyssée offers a discovery cruise lasting no more than an hour. An enthusiastic guide will tell you stories that you’ll be able to share when you get home. Another quick river excursion is between Angers and St. Aubin island. Every Sunday, Vogue en Maine takes visitors out onto the Maine and the Mayenne to see the town from the water.
Group cruises
For parties of at least eight people, book a two-hour river cruise with Vogue en Maine and discover the Rocher de la Baumette and the stunning mansions along the river between Angers and Bouchemaine.
