Walking through Bordeaux in Medoc Vineyards and Gironde Estuary

Welcome to Bordeaux and transfer to the Medoc

Arrive at the Bordeaux train station or airport. Transfer by taxi to Pauillac and welcome to your 4-Star hotel where you will find your road book which will indicate your circuit.

Châteaux’s walking tour

You will leave Pauillac, home of three of the five first Grands Crus Classés and 15 Crus Classé Medoc. On this itinerary of small roads you will discover the biggest stars of the 1855 wine ranking with stunning architecture, but also all the other jewels of this reference vineyard. Your tour will pass by the famous Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild, 1st Great Classified Growths, but also by the Châteaux Pichon Longueville (2d cru), Pontet Canet and Lynch Bages (5th classified growth). At the end of the afternoon, back to the hotel in Pauillac.

Between forest, vineyards and marshes

Small taxi transfer to Vertheuil. Start your walking day to discover one of the most beautiful villages of the Medoc where the well known Abbey of Vertheuil is. This will be one of the must-see stops on your itinerary. Open your eyes, you will also see the remains of the former castle, an old mill. You will also discover the history of Medoc through its remnants such as walking across the archaeological site of Brion in St Germain d’Esteuil. Your route continue through marshes, vineyards but also forest. Your itinerary will take you back to Vertheuil for a taxi transfer to Margaux.

Margaux: from water flows to Wine Estates

After a few steps from your hotel, make a stop in front of the park of the Chateau Margaux to admire the front of the classic building built at the beginning of the 19th Century and get close to the vines of origin of this prestigious wine. Your itinerary will go most of the time alongside the vineyards and chateau and will take you to the banks of the estuary. Enjoy the magnificent point of view on the Island Margaux and the Estuary of Gironde. Your walking day takes you then in the heart of the marshes and the surrounding forest to discover the fauna and flora. Your loop walk will take you back to your hotel.

Along the Gironde Estuary

This itinerary leads you to « Lamarque » to take the boat to cross the estuary of the Gironde. You will reach the magnificent citadel of Blaye. Imposing and majestic, the citadel overlooks the estuary with its 33 hectares in the heart of the city, offering a splendid view over the Gironde. On the other side of the estuary your itinerary will continue through the vineyards of Blaye. The Garonne River and the estuary of the Gironde mark profoundly the landscapes, through swamps, banks and small ports. There are so many spaces of discovery of the fauna and flora, the islands and the plaices. Neither maritime, not really river, nor strictly ground, the banks of the Gironde have a unique identity.

From the Gironde Estuary to the vineyards

Today’s walk takes you on tracks and little roads to go through the vineyards of the Cotes de Blaye AOC, Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior. You will follow the direction of Gauriac or Bourg-sur-Gironde along the famous "Corniche Fleurie" (the flowery ledge), where the presence of countless palm trees, pink laurels and oaks reflects a climate of great sweetness. The setting-up of the vineyard in this region goes back to the roman time (1st century before J-C). But it is during the XVIIth century that the culture of the vineyards was really developed, which produced white wines intended for the distillation. This region was then the main region of production of the Liqueur brandy of Bordeaux.

Departure

After breakfast, taxi transfer to Bordeaux