La Gabare Dame Jeanne

La Gabare Dame Jeanne is a meticulously crafted replica of a 19th-century Charente River gabare, a flat-bottomed boat once used to transport goods like cognac and salt along the waterways of western France. Launched in 2002 by the Grand Cognac community, this 22-meter, 25-ton oak vessel—labeled a “Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial” in 2011—served as a beloved tourist attraction, offering scenic cruises from Cognac until a pump failure caused it to sink in December 2016. After a dramatic rescue and years in storage, it was relocated in September 2020 to a landscaped site near Cognac’s Chais Monnet, where it now stands as a static exhibit celebrating the region’s river heritage. Replaced on the water by a modern hybrid vessel, La Demoiselle, in 2022, Dame Jeanne remains a striking symbol of Cognac’s historic connection to its fleuve, blending tradition with a poignant tale of resilience.