Original holidays in Gironde: Getaway in Sauternes and south-Gironde

Whether in the South-Gironde, Sauternes or Haute-Lande, you will visit charming towns and authentic villages. Calm and serenity await you, in a countryside atmosphere. This natural territory is ideal for practicing all kinds of sports and outdoor activities. But it is also the wine-growing region of the famous Sauternes wines. Nestled between Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux and the Bassin d'Arcachon, the south of the Gironde is struggling to find its place among its famous neighbors. However, this region will offer you original holidays. The Bordeaux-Gironde Guide offers you an astonishing getaway in the South-Gironde, at the same time gourmet, sporting and cultural!

Opening photo: The magnificent town of Bazas and its cathedral. Photo: © SpiritProd33 / AdobeStock

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Take a road trip in the South of Gironde to discover its villages and its heritage

Taking the road and touring the south of the Gironde is a good way to discover this little-known territory. You will cross it with charming villages and y ou can admire a typical heritage and sometimes unusual... Here is our selection of villages not to miss during your road trip in South Gironde:

• If Bazas is especially famous for its beef and its glassworks, the historic city center of Bazas also has an exceptional heritage, in particular its arcaded square and its ramparts. A splendid cathedral of the ^13th century welcomes pilgrims of Saint-Jacques de Compostela for hundreds of years. It is now classified as a “ UNESCO World Heritage ”. A collection of glassware tells you this original part of the history of the city, at the museum of the Apothecary.
• Langon is essentially a wine-growing town. Its museum of rural life shows you life in the Gironde countryside in the ^19th century.
• Villandraut is located on the banks of the Ciron. It is this specific microclimate, which reigns between the hot waters of the Ciron and the cold waters of the Garonne, which gives Sauternes wines this significant flavor. On the land of Villandraut, do not miss a visit to the Royal Castle of Cazeneuve, where Queen Margot stayed.
• Sainte-Croix-du-Mont has a geological peculiarity that deserves a glance. At the edge of the cliff of this perched village, you can admire a cave of fossilized oyster shells, a reminder of a very distant past, when the ocean still covered this place. During the walk, you can admire the castle of Tastes.

Read our article on South Gironde, Haute-Lande and Sauternes.

The pretty town of Langon, on the banks of the Garonne. Photo: © Langon - Jimjag-AdobeStock

The curious oyster cliffs of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. Photo: © Henry SALOMÉCC BY SA 4.0

On the Route of the prestigious Sauternes...

Sauternes is a sweet wine, resulting from traditional know-how and an unusual association between a mushroom and the vine! Its development is linked to an anecdote in history, a " failure " was at the origin of this grand cru, renowned throughout the world...

If you are curious, we tell you this legend and everything you need to know to appreciate this precious beverage in our report on Sauternes (fr).

Our good addresses:

• The Château de Rayne Vigneau practices wine tourism. Various tours are offered to you, as well as workshops and unusual tastings...
• At Château Louvière, the owners will introduce you to tasting this atypical wine and show you around their estate.
• On the Bordeaux Wine Route in Graves and Sauternes (fr), you can discover some nuggets: beautiful vineyards, old buildings and a very interesting wine region.

There are not only wines to taste in the region. To accompany them, there are many other delicacies... On the markets of the South-Gironde, in particular in La Brède, Langon, Bazas or Villandraut, you will find many culinary specialties of the Gironde which change from the association " foie gras and Sauternes ".

How about wine tourism, like here at Le Château de Rayne Vigneau? Photos: © Château de Rayne Vigneau

Discover Sauterne through the Wine Route. Photo: © Guide Bordeaux Gironde

Nature activities in South Gironde

In Bazas, Lac de la Prade is an artificial body of water but it is also one of the most important natural sites in the Gironde. It offers a preserved ecosystem for the local flora and fauna and you will make great discoveries there. The many species of birds that you nest there will also delight ornithology enthusiasts. The Sud-Gironde Tourist Office provides you with essential information and an interactive map to follow this route.

On foot, by bike or on horseback, hiking is a privileged activity in the South-Gironde. In the heart of the vineyards, in the lagoons, along the Ciron or on the forest paths, you just have to compose your walking itinerary according to your desires. Here are some sites to help you, with routes and maps:

• The site of the Sud-Gironde tourist office.
• The Sentiers de France website (fr), Gironde section, with an interactive map and lots of hiking trails.
• To change the medium, we also offer you a book published by Sud-Ouest: Les randonnées en Gironde (fr).

Below Bazas, in Casteljaloux, the Terra Aventura circuit: "the conspiracy of the Fox" gives you the opportunity to involve children and arouse their curiosity for the local heritage.

 

Photo: © Membeth CC0 1.0

The Ciron valley is a very pleasant natural setting. To appreciate all its facets, the Association de Canoë Kayac de Bommes Nautique takes you to the calm waters of Ciron for walks in the heart of nature. Different options from one hour to the day are available for an activity suitable for the whole family.

If you prefer a more unusual outing, go to the Au fil du Ciron adventure park. The tree climbing courses, from the perched walk to the sporting challenge, are safe and accessible to all levels. There is also a large independent zip line. They offer you a breathtaking view of the river and the valley. It is a sport that will bring you sensations and good times of laughs.

Come and take an adventure course in the forest, it's fun and suitable for the whole family. Photo: © Au fil du Ciron adventure park

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Leisure and cultural activities in South Gironde and Haute-Lande

In the South of Gironde, you can go back in time in the Saucats and La Brède Nature Reserve. You enter the mineral world of fossils to better understand the geology and formation of the region over time.

We make a leap in history, to land in the Middle Ages, at the Château fort de Roquetaillade. The owners have occupied this fabulous residence for seven centuries, they have a long story to tell you… It is a castle which has evolved over time and which allows you to see the fashions of different eras.

The Château de Roquetaillade in Mazères Photo: © Florent PécassouCC BY-SA 3.0

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We hope that our selection of tours and tourist walks to discover this unsuspected territory of the South-Gironde will inspire you, for the next original holidays in Sauternes and Haute-Lande.

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