Have you ever considered living on a boat? For most of us, it’s a passing fancy, but for Yann and Ombline Romanson, a péniche near Bordeaux is now their home and workplace.
You could say that the couple had already led unconventional lives before they chose to live on the river.
Yann (48) and Ombline (46) met in 2011 when paragliding over the Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe, just 60km south-west of Bordeaux.
At the time, both were microlight pilots working in film: Ombline made TV documentaries and Yann worked in corporate films. They soon teamed up personally and professionally, making documentaries all over the world.
“Having spent years living on a sailing boat, I found that I could no longer live far from water, particularly in an urban area,” explains Ombline.
“Our life was split between Paris, Landes, and various shooting locations abroad, but being near water always felt vital. Yann still had work commitments in Paris, so in 2012 we decided to live on a barge so we could cast off at every opportunity.”
The couple fell in love with a 1930s péniche, and by 2013 they’d moved south to Castets-et-Castillon on the Canal latéral à la Garonne, where they spent seven years continuing to make documentaries and returning to their floating home whenever possible.
“We bought the barge already fitted out and felt comfortable in it immediately,” says Yann. “It’s nearly 30 metres long and just over 5 metres wide, with a total of 115m² of living space. Unlike most barges with living quarters in the hull, this one offers up-top living, with 360-degree views and a hydraulic floor that means you can lower the dining area, kitchen and part of the deck to pass under bridges.”
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The main deck has an open-plan kitchen-diner and living space, while down below, there's more of a maritime feel, with a small corridor leading to the master suite, the study, and a bedroom where their daughters, Maé (eight) and Lucia (six), can watch the surface of the river from their window.
The family has an oil-fired boiler for heating, air conditioning and, via connections on the quay, they have running water, electricity and even fibre-optic internet connection!
The barge is named Marajó after the world's largest river island, located in the Amazon, which has played a significant part in Ombline’s life.
After growing up near Paris, Ombline spent many years globetrotting as a microlight pilot and long-distance sailor, making nature documentaries for ARTE, Planète and France Télévisions. For 10 years, she spent half her time working in the Amazon rainforest, falling prey to indigenous parasites, bacteria and viruses, which had to be treated locally with natural remedies. This fostered an interest in plant life and their healing potential.
“When I was battling infertility, I learned about naturopathic approaches, which led to me becoming a mother, an energy therapist, and finally a naturopath, which came as a logical extension.
“After seven years of practice, I'm absolutely convinced naturopathy can improve wellbeing and health, and that the benefits are boosted by being on the water.
“Clearly, the Garonne is very different from the Amazon, but it exudes a regenerating energy and here it’s wide enough to feel like the sea at times. The colours are constantly changing depending on the light, but above all, we’re living with the element of water, which truly is the essence of life.”
“Since 2020, we’ve been moored in Bordeaux’s La Bastide district on the right bank of the Garonne,” says Yann.
“As someone who has always been passionate about the oceans, rivers and skies, it’s amazing to be able to find this work-life balance. I can choose to take on certain film projects but I mostly focus on our family, maintaining the boat and developing our business.”
Nature-based business
Their business ‘Naturaflo’ is all about wellbeing on water, offering yoga classes and treatments combined with a river cruise.
The couple are sharing their profound love of nature by sharing their space.
The early days of the business – during the Covid crisis and its various restrictions – were far from plain sailing, but the business is now flourishing.
Yann got his pleasure-craft licence so he can take the narrowboat upriver for cruises, and guests can enjoy yoga or sophrology sessions, massages as well as the onboard hot tub, with panoramic river scenery. The boat is also available for exclusive hire, for team-building events and conferences, or unique wellbeing breaks.
Yann and Ombline are constantly aware of the environment for their children.
“Although the girls have grown up on the river, we're extremely vigilant, you can never take safety for granted,” says Yann, “but this is counterbalanced by countless advantages. Every day, we can watch the sunrise and sunset, hear the lapping water and birdsong, and the deck is big enough for us to kick a ball around. Carefully!”
“I never intended to train as a practitioner,” adds Ombline, “but this was a unique opportunity for us. Living and working on our péniche means I spend my days combining the benefits of water with natural therapies, sharing something I’m truly passionate about with as many people as possible. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
