Best things to do near Bordeaux
Lets explore the best things to do near Bordeaux :
1. Saint-Emilion, medieval city
Saint-Emilion is a small picturesque medieval village in the Gironde region of southwestern France, only 45 minutes from Bordeaux. It is known worldwide for the quality of its wines, its appellations with strong reputation including great classified growths, the magnificent wine castles in the surroundings but also for the majesty of its architecture and its monuments. This unusual village opens its doors all year round to adventurers, wine lovers or simply curious. City full of history and perched on a rocky promontory, Saint-Emilion and its vineyard draw their originality from the limestone which shaped its identity.
In spite of its small size, this city hides many treasures such as its monolithic church, chapel of the trinity, but also in its underground with the presence of catacombs or the cave of the Hermitage that your guide will make you visit. It also has a rich historical and religious heritage and was even classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its unique and historic wine-growing landscapes.
Saint-Emilion and wine tasting
A getaway that combines cultural discovery and tasting of great wines, this is what the medieval city of Saint-Emilion offers.
2. Getaway on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Located in the South-West of France, about sixty kilometers from Bordeaux, Arcachon is one of the largest seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast. Famous for its oyster farming and its seaside resorts, this small inland sea, open to the ocean, is also famous for its exceptional natural heritage. Protected by the peninsula of Lège-Cap-Ferret and the famous dune of Pilat, the Arcachon basin has a mild climate and a beautiful sunshine, which gives visitors and inhabitants an air of vacation throughout the year. The Basin has enriched its natural and cultural heritage thanks to its proximity to the city of Bordeaux and the Landes region.
Arcachon is sometimes called "the city of 4 seasons", because the town is composed of 4 different districts, each one bearing the name of one of the seasons. Located on the heights of Arcachon, the Winter City without a doubt the most attractive because it houses magnificent villas from the XIXᵉ century that mix architectural styles and immerse you in a different era at every corner. To discover the attractions of the Arcachon Basin from an even different angle, there is nothing like a trip by kayak, barge or pinasse to see up close the Bird Island and its famous cabanes tchanquées, the famous oyster beds or the splendid nature reserve of the Banc d'Arguin. For those who don't have the sea legs, exceptional panoramas can also be admired from the crest of the famous Dune du Pilat or from the top of the Cap-Ferret lighthouse.
Ascent of the Dune du Pilat
Between the Landes forest and the Atlantic Ocean in the South West of France, less than an hour from Bordeaux on the Arcachon Basin, stands the Dune du Pilat. It is the highest dune in Europe and one of the most visited sites in France. It culminates at more than 105 meters high and extends over 616 meters wide and nearly 3 kilometers long. These measurements remain variable since the dune undergoes regular changes and constantly gains ground on the Landes side. An extraordinary natural phenomenon that results from the erosion of the mountain massifs. Every year, this magical place attracts many nature lovers to come and climb the dune regardless of the season. Once you reach the top, you will be able to admire an exceptional panoramic view of the pine forest and the basin of Arcachon, but also of the banc d'Arguin and the Cap Ferret.
Getaway on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Come and take the air of the open sea on the Bay of Arcachon and enjoy the gentle way of life of the seaside town before climbing the Dune du Pilat.
Lighthouse of Cap Ferret
Let yourself be carried by the sea air in the heart of the salt meadows nature reserve and will end with an oyster tasting in the oyster port.
3. Lighthouse of Cap Ferret
A strip of land separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Arcachon Basin in the South West of France, the Cap Ferret peninsula is one of the region's must-see places. You can visit it by taking a ferry that will allow you to observe the picturesque "cabanes tchanquées" up close. Once there, you can let yourself be guided through the villages of oyster farmers, you can discover its surrounding nature, its beaches or its marked paths on the occasion of a bike ride. In order to extend the walk you can go to the tip of the peninsula to discover its emblematic lighthouse of 52 meters high, registered as a historical monument. The one you will see dates from 1947 and succeeded the original lighthouse built in 1840 and then destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. Moreover, not far from the lighthouse, a former German bunker is accessible to the public. The most courageous will have to climb the 258 steps of the lighthouse in order to reach its observatory offering a superb panoramic view on the peninsula and the Arcachon basin.
Salt marshes nature reserve
Located on the northern part of the Arcachon basin in Gironde a few kilometers from Bordeaux, the national nature reserve of the Salt Meadows of Arès and Lège-Cap Ferret extends over approximately 400 hectares which makes it one of the largest in Aquitaine. It was created in 1983 in order to preserve the richness of the biodiversity of this environment. The site shelters numerous species of birds but also a rich fauna and flora that you will be able to discover thanks to a local guide and a pair of binoculars to not miss anything of this natural spectacle.
Getaway on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Come and take the air of the open sea on the Bay of Arcachon and enjoy the gentle way of life of the seaside town before climbing the Dune du Pilat.
Lighthouse of Cap Ferret
Let yourself be carried by the sea air in the heart of the salt meadows nature reserve and will end with an oyster tasting in the oyster port.
4. Medoc’s wine route
Located in the northwest of the Gironde department, between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic coast, the Médoc region stretches from north to south over a length of 80 kilometers. It benefits from a temperate oceanic climate, both mild and humid. The Landes forest protects the vineyards from strong winds coming from the Aquitaine coast. This region has 8 famous appellations that you can discover thanks to the "Route des Châteaux" because of the different wine estates along this road, to go through the Médoc from south to north starting from Bordeaux. In Pauillac, one of the most beautiful stopovers of this journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the Château Haut Bages Libéral, Grand Cru Classé. This estate, founded in the 18th century, dominates the Gironde estuary with its 30 hectares of vineyards and has a port with docks for summer walks.
Medoc’s wine route
Take the opportunity to taste some of the world's greatest wines during a Wine Tour in the most beautiful wineries of the region.
5. The citadel of Blaye and the Gironde estuary
Blaye is a town in the southwest of France, located on the right bank of the Gironde River, 40 minutes from Bordeaux. The Citadel, a key element of the Estuary Lock designed by Vauban on the orders of Louis XIV to defend Bordeaux from maritime invasions, is one of the 12 sites of the Vauban Network of Fortifications and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 7, 2008. It also invites you to discover magnificent panoramas on the largest and best-preserved estuary in Europe: the Gironde. On about 350 km² of navigable area, the Gironde Estuary offers an infinite range of visits along the water.
Whether you want to go up the estuary or visit the islands for a day or half-day, you will be spoilt for choice from the ports of Bordeaux, Blaye, Bourg and Pauillac.The city of Blaye is also famous for the quality wine it produces, guaranteed by the AOC that is granted to what is called "Blaye-côtes-de-Bordeaux". This wine is essentially red and comes from two grape varieties. After your wine tasting in one of the numerous wine estates of the city, let yourself be tempted by the famous "pralisne" a sweet and speciality of Blaye.
The citadel of Blaye and the Gironde estuary
Blaye has not finished to amaze you because it also proposes one of the most beautiful views on the famous estuary of the Gironde.
6. Bordeaux
Capital of the Gironde located in the southwest of France, Bordeaux is located at the crossroads of the Landes forest and the Gironde estuary, about 50 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. It is famous for its exceptional architectural and cultural heritage with more than 400 historical monuments, making Bordeaux the second city with the most classified or registered historical monuments in France.
You can discover its historical center which is since 2007, classified as a world heritage site by the UNSECO thanks to monuments such as the Grand Theatre, the Place de la Bourse, the Basilica of St Michel and many others.... In addition to its architectural fame, Bordeaux is also the capital of wine and is known all over the world thanks to its high quality vineyards and its famous appellations. Don't hesitate to contact your travel agency to ask for a Wine Tour through the most beautiful wine chateaux of the region accompanied by tastings of their best grape varieties.
For culture lovers, Bordeaux is labeled City of Art and History since 2009, your guide will make you a selection of the most beautiful museums and unusual places to discover during your stay in order to discover the city from every angle and live the Bordeaux life.
A guided tour of Bordeaux
Known throughout the world for its vineyards, its gastronomy and its art of living, Bordeaux will not fail to seduce you.
