The life of the boatmen at the time of sailing
Since Roman times, the lake has been the preferred means of transporting goods. Faster, safer and more comfortable than poorly maintained and poorly used land routes, Lake Geneva has been at the heart of traffic routes from Roman times to the end of the 19th century.
For two millennia, Lake Geneva was criss-crossed by boats propelled by sail or oar, trailer or tow. The apogee of these journeys between the 17th and 19th centuries owed much to the introduction of the lateen sail, which enabled boats to sail close to the wind.
Today, the application for Latin sail navigation to be listed as an intangible national heritage site provides an opportunity to showcase these traditional boats once again at the Musée du Léman, with the emphasis on the life of the boatmen on board.
