Right bank
Blaye and its citadel
A Vauban fortress of more than 30 hectares, UNESCO listed since 2008, free to enter and open all year. The ramp is directly below the ramparts.
Visiting Blaye
Blaye Lamarque ferry, the short way into the Médoc
A 20 minute crossing of the Gironde, or 79 km around Bordeaux. The ferry between Blaye and Lamarque lands you straight on the Route des Châteaux, and it cannot be booked.
Photo: Tangopaso, public domain
There is no reservation. You join the queue, board in order of arrival and pay on board. Turn up 30 minutes before the sailing you want.
20 minCrossing time, 15 to 35 min depending on the tide
4.5 kmBank to bank, against 79 km by road
€31Car and driver in high season, €19 in winter
5 to 9Sailings a day depending on the season, all year round
Why this crossing exists
No bridge between Bordeaux and the sea
The Gironde has no road bridge downstream of Bordeaux. That single fact explains the ferry, the queue and the price.
Blaye sits on the right bank, among the Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards. Lamarque sits on the left bank, on the D2, the road that runs past Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac. They face each other across 4.5 km of water. To drive between them you have to go up to the Pont d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux and come back down, which is 79 km and about 1 hr 15 min.
Wine visitors based in Bordeaux usually meet this the other way round: they want to see Blaye's citadel and a Médoc château on the same day. Without the ferry that is two sides of a long triangle. With it, the two halves are twenty minutes apart. A day from Bordeaux across both banks.
2026 fares
What the crossing costs
Fares are set by the Gironde department and changed on 1 April 2026. The catch is that a vehicle fare never includes the people inside it.
| Who or what | Detail | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Adult foot passenger | 13 and over | €6 |
| Child | 4 to 12 | €3 |
| Bicycle | The bike only, rider pays the foot fare | €3 |
| Motorcycle | Rider not included | €15 |
| Car | Driver not included | €25 |
| Motorhome | Under 3.5 t, driver not included | €40 |
So a car with one person costs €31, not €25. Two adults in a car come to €37. Out of season, from November to March, a car and driver drop to €19. Full fare table with worked examples.
Before you set off
The weight limit that catches people out
3.5 tonnes, checked at the ramp
Since July 2021 this line refuses anything over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight. That covers a good number of larger motorhomes and many car-and-caravan combinations. The check happens as you board, so a refusal costs you the whole wait. If you are over the limit, the Royan to Le Verdon ferry takes lorries and coaches, up to 4.45 m high and 4 m wide.
What can and cannot boardBoth banks
What is on either side
Vauban fortified this stretch with three forts that covered each other by crossfire. The ferry sails straight through the middle of them.
Left bank
Lamarque and the Médoc
The slipway opens onto the D2. Margaux lies south, Saint-Julien and Pauillac north, and Fort Médoc, the third of Vauban's forts, is next door.
The Route des ChâteauxStaying over
Where to sleep on each bank
Around Blaye
The citadel, the town below it and the Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards, minutes from the ramp.
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Along the Route des Châteaux
Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac, with availability for your dates.
External content
This map comes from Stay22 and sets cookies. It loads only when you ask for it.
You book with our partner. We may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Common questions
Can you book the Blaye Lamarque ferry in advance?
No, and nobody can. There is no reservation system on this line. Vehicles board in order of arrival, up to 40 cars per sailing. Tickets are sold online and on board, but neither holds a place on a particular departure.
How long does the crossing take?
About 20 min for 4.5 km. It ranges from 15 min to 35 min depending on the tide, because the estuary current is strong and the ferry has to work against it.
How much does it cost with a car?
€25 for the car plus €6 for the driver, who counts as a foot passenger, so €31 in the 2026 high season. Out of season the same crossing costs €19. Every extra passenger adds a foot fare.
Is the ferry worth it instead of driving through Bordeaux?
For reaching the Médoc from the right bank, yes. Driving means 79 km and about 1 hr 15 min around Bordeaux. The ferry is 20 min, though you should add the 30 min you need to spend waiting at the ramp.
Does the ferry run all year?
Yes, every day including public holidays, with a timetable that changes six times a year. There are 5 sailings a day in winter and up to 9 in high summer.
Updated: September 2026