The gabares were the traditional flat-bottomed boats used on the Dordogne for transporting goods between the Massif Central and the ports of Bergerac, Libourne and Bordeaux.

The Dordogne was divided into three sections for navigational purposes:

• The Upper Dordogne (upstream of Souillac)
  The upper section of the river is often no more than a narrow strip of water flanked on either side by steep cliffs. This part of the river was only navigable for approximately 30 days of the year in spring and autumn when the water level was high. In summer the water was too low and in winter too violent.
  The gabares were built to transport wood from the forests, in particular:
  • Oak used to produce vats and barrels;
    
  • Chestnut used to stake the vines.

Upon arrival at their destination, the boats were sold along with their load. The boatsmen then returned home on foot.



• The Middle Dordogne (downstream of Souillac)
  The middle section of the river was navigable for 6 to 8 months of the year. Boats from this part of the river would transport oak, chestnut, cheese and wine from Domme and would return with salt, wheat and salted fish.
  
  The boats were able to return upstream by using the rising tide as far as Castillon, but from there on towing was necessary. The towpath more or less followed the river bank, with towing teams usually consisting of 20 to 30 people, who were replaced every 7km/4.5 miles. On difficult stretches, such as La Gratusse to Lalinde, 80 to 100 people were required to haul the boat. In the middle of the 18C manpower was replaced by oxen.
  
  
  
• The Lower Dordogne (downstream of Castillon)
  This section of the river was permanently navigable and boats made their way back upstream in the same way as in the Middle Dordogne.

Different types of gabares:

• Upper Dordogne – long, narrow flat-bottomed boats known as courpets which weighed 10 to 20 tons
  
  
• Middle Dordogne – flat-bottomed boats, with a pointed stern and prow, known as couraux which weighed 25 to 50 tons
  
  
• Lower Dordogne - large couraux weighing 60 to 100 tons
  

The railway arrived in Sarlat in 1882, and in the rest of the valley shortly after.

Competition from the railways quickly undermined river transport, which soon died out on the Upper and Middle Dordogne. Boats continued to ply their trade on the Lower Dordogne until 1950.