Right bank
Blaye ramp
Allées Marines33390 Blaye
- Coordinates
45.1230, -0.6655- Approach
- Allées Marines (D22) runs along the estuary below the citadel, 600 m from the centre on the D669.
The ferry from Blaye to Lamarque
A 20 minute crossing of the Gironde, or 84 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
Sailings
From Blaye
From Lamarque
No timetable has been published for this date yet.
Lamarque sails 30 min after Blaye. The crossing takes 20 min.
Full timetableThere 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, compared with 84 km by road
€31Car and driver in high season, €19 in winter
5 to 10Sailings a day depending on the season, all year round
On the map
Where the crossing is
- By ferry20 min · 4.5 km
- By road84 km · via Bordeaux
Addresses of the two ramps
33390 Blaye
Left bank
Lamarque ramp
Le Port33460 Lamarque
- Coordinates
45.0991, -0.6936- Approach
- Route du Port (D5) drops down to the estuary; 3 km from the D2, about 5 min.
Why this crossing exists
No bridge between Bordeaux and the sea
The Gironde has no road bridge downstream of Bordeaux.
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 84 km and about 1 hr 35 min.
Visitors based in Bordeaux usually come at it from the other side: they want to see Blaye's citadel and a Médoc château on the same day. Without the ferry that means 84 km of driving. With it, the two banks are 20 min 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. 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 |
Outside the season, from November to March, a car with driver costs €19 instead of €31. The department does not publish a category breakdown for those months.
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
Maximum weight: 3.5 tonnes
The department has capped this line at 3.5 t since July 2021. It is a limit rather than a guideline: there is no fare above it and no exception. What counts is the maximum permissible mass on the registration document, not what the vehicle weighs that day.
Check it in three steps
- Take out your vehicle registration document.
- Find field F.2, the maximum permissible laden mass. The field codes are harmonised across Europe, so F.2 sits in the same place on every European registration certificate.
- If it reads 3,500 kg or less, you can board. More than that and you cannot, even running empty.
For a car and trailer, add the two F.2 figures together.
The check happens as you board, so being turned away costs you the whole wait.
Which motorhomes fit
Allowed
- A van conversion or low-profile of six metres, almost always 3.5 t
- A car with a small trailer, under 3.5 t together
Turned away
- A seven-metre A-class
- A motorhome uprated to 4 t for more payload
Over the limit?
Two options remain: drive round through Bordeaux, 84 km, or take the Royan to Le Verdon ferry further downstream, which carries lorries and coaches up to 4.45 m high and 4 m wide.
The two ferries comparedBoth 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.
Right bank
Blaye and its citadel
A Vauban fortress, UNESCO listed since 2008, free to enter and open all year. The ramp is directly below the ramparts.
Visiting Blaye
Left bank
Lamarque and the Médoc
The ramp 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 ChâteauxAccommodation
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.
Check availabilityThis link works even if you decline cookies.
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, for as long as space lasts. 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 compared with 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 quicker than driving through Bordeaux?
For reaching the Médoc from the right bank, yes. Driving means 84 km and about 1 hr 35 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 sail 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 10 in high summer.
Updated: September 2026