Soulac-sur-mer
Located
at the northern tip of the Gironde coastline, Soulac-sur-mer
sits on a triangular promontory between the Atlantic
and the Gironde estuary. It's the region's largest seaside
resort and has white sandy beaches, great surfing conditions,
many footpaths and horse-riding tracks to explore, and
is located delightfully close to the Médoc vineyards!
It is quieter in the winter when its population reduces
to the 3000 locals.
Lacanau-Océan
Lacanau
is a charming seaside resort just 30 minutes from Bordeaux
that has preserved its natural environment. It offers
over 20 kilometres of golden sandy beaches and some of
the best surf in the southwest, hosting one of the world’s
largest surfing championships in late August. Lacanau
also has three excellent golf courses that wind through
the forest, as well as the magnificent lake of over 2000
hectares with superb stretches of water edged by pine
forests interspersed with sandy beaches - perfect for
windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.
The
Arcachon Bassin
The
Bassin d'Arcachon is like an inland sea and is Europe's
largest beach with sunbathers drawn to the peaceful shores
and calm seas. All round the bay are beautiful beaches,
little fishing and holiday villages, campsites, dunes
and pine forests. Watersports enthusiasts can enjoy diving,
sea-kayaking, windsurfing and boating and on land there
are quality walking and cycle trails for exploring the
woodland areas. This region is a centre for oyster farming
and each summer it celebrates the Oyster Festival, with
tasting sessions, fêtes, music, dinner dances and
firework displays to light up the bay in true Gironde
festive tradition.
The bay is also a natural home for birds, especially
L'île aux oiseau - a fragile, protected island
in the bay which is a refuge for dozens of species of
sea birds and home to oyster farms and the picturesque
cabanes tchanquées (huts perched on stilts).
Arcachon
A
beach resort located about 60 kilometres southwest of
Bordeaux on the southern shore of the Bassin d’Arcachon,
Arcachon is one of Gironde’s oldest seaside towns.
The Ville d’Ete, or “Summer Town” has
wonderful beaches for swimming, sunbathing and watersports,
a pretty seafront promenade, playgrounds, boutique shopping
and plenty of seafood restaurants. Arcachon’s exclusive
Ville d’Hiver or “Winter Town” just
south of the “Summer Town” offers a totally
different vista. Set on a wooded hillside, the Second
Empire holiday villas built at the end of the nineteenth
century, are delightful with their wealth of elaborate
brickwork, flamboyant balconies and stained glass. Today,
the attractions of Arcachon are seafood (especially oysters),
beautiful long sandy beaches, pleasure boating, excellent
golf courses, great weather and the amazing Dune du Pyla.
Dune
du Pyla
Europe’s
highest sand dune at 117 metres, the Dune du Pyla begins
8 kilometres south of Arcachon and stretches for almost
3 kilometres. It is thought to have started forming some
8000 years ago reaching its present size in the 17th.
century. It is constantly moving and every year it moves
a little more inland. The steep climb to the top is well
worth the magnificent view and a favourite launch point
for sand-boarders and paragliders. To the west are the
shoals at the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon and Cap
Ferret. Eastwards stretches the magnificent dense pine
forests of the Landes.
GREEN GIRONDE
Gironde is France's most wooded area, with shaded forests and trees
set near the numerous rivers and streams. The forests provide many paths
to enjoy the natural beauty of the region by foot or bike.
The
Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park
This
immense pine forest was fully planted by hand in the
19th century to stabilise the vast swathes of sand and
swamp. Spreading over 290,000 square kilometres, the
Landes de Gascogne became a national park in 1970 in
order to protect its rich but fragile heritage. Beginning
a few kilometres southwest of Bordeaux, it takes in part
of the Bassin d'Arcachon and then heads south to the
Landes area. The forest sits on the other side of the
dunes and is home to both protected wildlife and a major
economic heritage. Walkers in the forest may spot some
deer or some of those delicious Bordeaux cepe mushrooms...
This natural area can be discovered by bicycle or on
foot on marked routes; it has several centres for horse-riding
and canoeing; lakes for boating, swimming and a range
of watersports; or just picnic in the shelter of the
tall pine trees and observe the wildlife.
BLUE GIRONDE
Inland from the Atlantic Ocean you will still find plenty of water
in Gironde! In total, Gironde has 400 km of navigable waterways and
more than 3500 km of rivers - natural riches that are becoming better
utilised by both visitors and locals each year.
The
Dordogne and the Garonne
In
Gironde, the Atlantic Ocean encounters the Garonne and
Dordogne rivers. Many boat trips now operate on these
large rivers as well as on smaller waterways such as
the Leyre in the Landes de Gascone Regional Park and
l’Isle near St-Emilion, which also offer great
opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. As well as enjoying
the outdoors, boating is an opportunity for you to discover
the local wildlife - snipe, pike, trout - and plant-life
- giant fern, myrtle and reeds. It gives you the opportunity
to view the Gironde from the perspective of previous
eras when these rivers were the main means of transporting
goods and people. Wine barrels and Gironde tiles were
loaded onto "gabares", the traditonal wooden
boats now used for trips down the rivers and in the Gironde
Estuary.
The
Hourtin-Carcans Lake
At
over 20 kilometres long, the Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans
is France’s longest freshwater lake and a popular
sailing venue. It offers great stretches of wilderness
and quieter holiday and fishing villages where you can
cycle, walk and horse ride over flat terrain between
the coast and the lake in the pine-scented sea air.
The Étang
de Cousseau
The Étang
de Cousseau is a small link in the chain of lakes that
runs down the length of the Gironde coast between the
sea and the forest of Les Landes, a few kilometres inland.
This secluded lake and nature reserve sits between the
Hourtin and Lacanau Lakes and being off-limits to cars,
it is a real haven for walkers and cyclists. There are
13 kilometres of forest tracks to enjoy as well as sightings
of otters, tortoises, deer and many migratory birds.
VILLAGES OF LA GIRONDE
Blaye
Situated
on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary, Blaye (pop.
4,500) historically formed part of the defences for Bordeaux,
being an important stronghold in Gallo-Roman times and
in wars against the English. Its ancient citadel built
by Vauban in the seventeenth century, is still an imposing
part of the town and provides commanding views over the
Estuary. Learn about the local wines at Maison du Vin
des Premiers Cotes de Blaye. These wines are less expensive
than those from the newer and more famous vineyards of
the Médoc across the water. Weekly markets at
the harbour are every Wednesday and Saturday.
St-Emilion
Regarded
by many as the prettiest town of Gironde’s principle
wine districts, the Romans were planting vines around
St-Emilion in 2 AD. This UNESCO listed, fortified, medieval
town will delight you with its picturesque limestone
houses, imposing ruins and a wealth of religious architecture
lining its steep, narrow streets. Most impressive is
the eleventh century Monolithic Church carved into a
limestone cliff. Each June, the local red-robed wine
council meets in the church to ceremoniously evaluate
the previous season’s wine and decides on AOC status.
Tombstones in the catacombs beneath the belfry include
that of eighth century hermit monk St-Emilion whose followers
first began commercial wine production here.
The Maison du Vin has information on organised vineyard
tours (May to September) and lists of vineyards open
to the public. St-Emilion’s many wine shops will
certainly tempt you but be sure to taste the town’s
other specialty – tiny macaroon biscuits made to
a seventeenth century recipe.
Pauillac
Located
further down the river, Pauillac (pop. 5,100) is the
capital of the Médoc wine growing region, with
37 châteaux producing wines, including the premiers
crus of Châteaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour and
Mouton Rothschild. Visit the Pauillac ‘Maison du
Tourisme et du Vin’ to sample some very good wines
from the region!
Bazas
In
the south east of the region lies the town of Bazas (pop.
5,000), with its UNESCO listed Cathédrale St-Jean-Baptiste,
dating from the 13th – 14th centuries, dominating
the town. Located on the pilgrimage route between Vezelay
and Santiago de Compostela, the history of Bazas reaches
back to the Gauls. Bazas is now a market town, relying
less heavily on agriculture than in the past.
