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September is hands down the best month to visit Bordeaux! It’s still hot enough to go to the beach, many summer bars are still open and don’t even get me started with how beautiful the vineyards are this time of the year. So you don’t really need events to enjoy the SW of France in September, but I’m going to tell you about them anyway! And that’s because I believe it’s the best way to discover the hidden gems of Gironde.

So this September we have everything from the Medoc Marathon to the European heritage days and a dance festival on the beach. If you’re reading this in August, don’t forget to check out my article about the best things to do in August as well. 

September is the best month to visit the Bordeaux region
Beaches around Bordeaux in September

There are only the biggest events taking place in September in the region. There are of course many other smaller festivals, markets, and concerts happening here all the time. These usually appear in my weekend newsletter so don’t forget to subscribe to my email list if you’re not on it yet. 

If you want to discover more of the region I also invite you to join my Travel in the Southwest of France group on Facebook or follow me on my Facebook/ Instagram accounts.

Here are some of the best things you can do in Bordeaux in September 2023!

The best events in Bordeaux (and Gironde) in September 2023

The Rugby World Cup is coming to Bordeaux!

This year Bordeaux is one of the cities hosting the Rugby World Cup which means that the city is going to be extra lively in September and October 2023. Bordeaux is about to host five matches at the Matmut Atlantique stadium on September 9 – 30. You can buy tickets here.

Bordeaux is going to welcome the worldwide fans at the Rugby Village that will be set up at the Parc des Sports de Saint Michel. There you’ll be able to socialize with other fans, enjoy interactive activities, and watch the match together on a 52m² screen. 

See more details about the Rugby village here

The Medoc Marathon

Running 42km is only a small part of the Medoc Marathon experience. It’s mostly about enjoying the amazing scenery accompanies by great wine and food. This year the celebrated Marathon will take place on September 2nd. 

You don’t have to run to enjoy this event, many activities will take place on the weekend of the marathon (September 1-3). follow the program here. 

See all the other things you can do in Medoc in my article about a weekend in Medoc

When: September 10 / Where: the Marathon will start in Pauillac

Initial Festival

In September, Bordeaux will be hosting one of the biggest electronic music festivals in France. The initial Festival will take place on September 1-2 at the Parc des Expositions. The long program includes 3 stages and 22 artists that will make you dance non-stop for two days. See more details here.

When: September 1-2 / Where: Parc des Expositions in Bordeaux

Ouvre La Voix Festival

Ouvre La Voix Festival gives you the opportunity to discover the beautiful Entre-Deux-Mers region in Gironde in a special way. The three-day program of the festival (September 1-3) combines concerts, wine, and gastronomy with biking routes taking you to places like Créon, Frontenac, Sauveterre de Guyenne, and more. See more details here.

When: September 1-3 / Where: Different places in the  Entre-Deux-Mers region (check out the program).

Festival des Gueilles de Bonde in Macau

Festival des Gueilles de Bonde is an art and music festival taking place in Macau in the Médoc region. This year the free festival will take place on September 1-2. The program includes music concerts, street theater, and a gastronomic market. Check out the program of the festival here.

When: September 1-2/ Where: place de la Mairie, MACAU, 33460

Les Noctambules de Septembre 

Every Friday during the month of September you have a chance to discover one of the most beautiful castles in Gironde. However, these are not just regular visits, but rather special night tours accompanied by a short wine tasting. See all the events here.

Discover the Chartrons neighborhood

There’s no specific event taking place here in September, but I don’t want you to miss one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Bordeaux on your visit. Elegant buildings with flower-covered balconies, chic coffee places, some of the best pastry places in Bordeaux, and many antique shops are only some of the things you can find in Chartrons. See all the best things to do in Chartrons in my article

Antiques chartrons Bordeaux

Bordeaux Open Air

Bordeaux Open Air is a series of free summer electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. For more details and the full summer program click here.

When:  Sept 3, 10, 24 / Where: Follow the website for the exact location

Festival Teste à Têtes

The Teste à Têtes festival, organized by the circus school Komonò Circus, will take place on September 9-10 in La Teste de Buch. The program includes plenty of activities dedicated to street art and music concerts and circus workshops for kids. For more details click here.

Festival Teste à Têtes in La teste du buch , Arcahon
Festival Teste à Têtes – Lost in Bordeaux

When: September 8-10 / Where: Different locations in La Teste de Buch, see the program.

See my other recommendations about places to visit in Arcachon in my article about a day trip to Arcachon.

The Big Scooter Race

The Nire Laguna Thomas Association organized a wonderful event to help raise funds for research on pediatric cancer. A kid’s scooter race will take place on September 9 on the Quai of Bordeaux, starting from Placette de Munich. The race is open to kids aged 5 -10 years old, register here.

When:  September 9 / Where: Placette de Munich , 33000 Bordeaux

The medieval festival of Bouliac

Every year, Bouliac, one of Bordeaux’s suburbs, organizes a fun medieval celebration full of art, games, and amazing costumes. This year the festival will take place on September 9-10. Check out all the details here

When: September 9-10 / Where: Rue de l’Esplanade, 33270 Bouliac, France

The Vino Voce festival

The vino festival in Saint Emilion is a celebration of voices in all forms, from singing voices to voices on the radio, voices of actors, and more. The festival (September 8-10) includes a rich program of music concerts, movie screenings, singing master classes, and other platforms where voice plays an important role.  For more info about the festival click here

When: September 9-10 / Where: Different locations in Saint Emilion

Climax Festival 

Darwin will host its annual Climax Festival on September 15-17. The festival focuses on environmental issues and climate change and its program includes conferences debates and many cultural events and concerts. This is one of the biggest festivals in the center of Bordeaux located in one of the hippest places in the city. Take a look at the site of the festival for the full program.

When: September 15-17 / Where: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Journées Européennes du Patrimoine

The European Heritage Days are a great opportunity to discover some of Bordeaux’s most beautiful and interesting buildings. During the weekend of September 16- 17, many public and private places will open their doors and allow you to peek into parts of this city’s history otherwise hidden from our daily view. 

Some of the most interesting places to visit during the weekend are the Opera of Bordeaux, the Grosse Cloche, and many more. You can see the full list of the places that will be open for visits here.

Grosse Cloche - Bordeaux
Grosse Cloche – Lost in Bordeaux

You can also see the program all over France here
When: September 16-17 / Where: Many places across the city, check out the program above.

The ceremony of the harvest in Saint Emilion – Ban des Vendanges

The ceremony that kicks off the annual harvest in Saint Emilion is called Ban des Vendanges, meaning ‘the harvest ban’. The ceremony is held in front of the beautiful front collegiate church of Saint Emilion by the Jurade, winegrowers dressed in red caps and robes. 

This year the events of the “Ban des Vendanges” will take place on September 17, as part of the European heritage days. For more info about this special day check out my article about the harvest season in Saint Emilion.

harvest in Saint Emilion
My son, harvesting in Saint Emilion

There are a few wineries that host harvest events where you can come and take part in the harvest process. For now, the only winery that has published an event like that is Château St-Ferdinand, you can see all the details here.

As usual, when I’ll have more details I will update this list. 

 Summer Rock in Bouliac

The annual “Bouliac on the Rock” event will take place this year on September 16. The program of the event includes an American car exhibition, a rock concert, a raffle, vinyl discs, and food stands. The festival is free, see more info here.

When:  September 16 / Where: Parking du stade, Bouliac

Festival Cadences d’Arcachon

Festival Cadence is a dance festival taking place every year in Arcachon. The program of the festival is known for its diversity including classic, contemporary, hip-hop, flamenco, and more. The festival will take place on September 18-24, for the full program click here, and see more info here.

When: September 18-24 / Where: Arcachon

Week-end anniversaire – le Capc a 50 ans

The contemporary museum of Bordeaux, le CAPC is celebrating its 50th birthday this year! For this special event, the museum is hosting a festive weekend with free dance performances, meetings with artists, and a kids’ party. The events will take place on September 23-24, see details here

When: September 23-24 / Where: Arcachon

Vélotour Bordeaux

Discover Bordeaux by bike through places where bicycles are usually not allowed: museums, sports centers, cultural and historic places, and more. More than ten places have opened their doors for this unusual experience. The tour will take place on September 24 and will start at the Maison Écocitoyenne Bordeaux. For more info about the event click here.

When:  September 24 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux

A similar event will take place in Saint Emilion on September 9, see all the details here

See other things you can do in Saint Emilion in my article about a day trip to Saint Emilion.

Visit the Vineyards of Sauternes and Barsac

Bordeaux is mainly famous for its red wines but a small part of this huge wine region is actually dedicated to white sweet wine. The Sauternes and Barsac AOC produce some of the most prestigious sweet wines in the world. But what makes the visit there even more interesting are the beautiful chateaux in which these wines are produced. See my latest article about wineries to visit in Sauternes and Barsac.

Les Campulsations

Les Campulsations is a student festival, celebrating the beginning of the new academic year in different locations in the Aquitaine region. The program is varied and includes such events as a brocante party, music concerts, theater shows, exhibitions, and more. Check out the full program and find an event near you. The festival will take place from September 28-29.

When: September 28-29 / Where: Different locations, consult the program.

Go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s summer bars

Many of the outdoor bars of Bordeaux are still open this month and many of them have fun musical programs over the weekend. Don’t miss the last month of a proper Bordolais summer! Check out the list of the best summer bars in Bordeaux.

Dance at la guingette chez Alriq

La Guinguette chez Alriq is a tavern in the Bastide neighborhood, on the rive droite of the Garonne. During the summer the place is full of locals who escape the more touristy rive gauche and come to enjoy live concerts on the river bank. The Guinguette is open from Thursday to Sunday. For the concert program for September click here.

When: every weekend during September / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Big events in other parts of the SW of France – September 2023

Piano aux Jacobins (Piano concerts)

Piano aux Jacobins is a Piano festival taking place every September at the Couvent de Jacobins in the center of Toulouse. Le Couvent de Jacobins is one of the landmarks of Toulouse and a must-stop on your visit there. This year (2023) the festival is taking place on September 6-29, see the program here.

See other places not to miss on your visit to Toulouse

When: September 6-29 / Where: Le Couvent de Jacobins, Toulouse

Montgolfiades de Rocamadour

The hot-air balloon festival of Racamadour is taking place this year on September 23-24. It is one of the most beautiful festivals in the region, attracting tens of thousands of people every year. See all the full programs here

When: September 23-24 / Where: Rocamadour

Sarlat celebrates gourmet taste

This is an amazing culinary event taking place every year in the medieval town of Sarlat. Every fourth weekend of September Sarlat is holding an event that celebrates the gastronomy of the region with a big market, an open-air meal, and a walk to see the seasonal migration ramble. The event is taking place on September 23-24. See more details here.

When: September 23-24 / Where: Sarlat

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches, and villages 
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

October is an amazing month to visit the Bordeaux region and enjoy a variety of events and festivals. Some of the main events include a hot air balloon festival, open doors in wineries, a big art festival, and more. This year, October is going to be even happier than usual thanks to the Rugby World Cup. 

This article includes a list of all the best things to do this October in the Bordeaux region and beyond. I hope it’ll help you plan the best stay in our beautiful area. 

Bordeaux in October
Bordeaux in October – Lost in Bordeaux

This list includes only the biggest events taking place this month. Throughout the month I also send tons of information about different events and markets taking place on weekends. To get that you need to subscribe to my newsletter. For more cool things to do in Bordeaux check out my list of 50 best things to do in Bordeaux

For more tips and info about traveling in the region, join my “Travel in the Sw of France” Facebook group. 

Let’s start with my list of the best things to do in Bordeaux in October 2023!

Best things to do in October in and around Bordeaux (Gironde)

The Rugby World Cup is coming to Bordeaux!

This year Bordeaux is one of the cities hosting the Rugby World Cup which means that the city is going to be extra lively in September and October 2023. Bordeaux is about to host five matches at the Matmut Atlantique stadium on September 9 – 30. You can buy tickets here.

Bordeaux is going to welcome the worldwide fans at the Rugby Village that will be set up at the Parc des Sports de Saint Michel. There you’ll be able to socialize with other fans, enjoy interactive activities, and watch the match together on a 52m² screen. 

See more details about the Rugby village here

FAB – International Art Festival

FAB is the annual International Art Festival of Bordeaux Metropole taking place this year from September 30 to October 15. Two weeks with a rich program of dance and street art performances will be taking place in many locations in Bordeaux. Click here to see the full program of the festival.

When: September 30 – October 15 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux metropole – check out the program

Vibrations Urbaines Festival in Pessac

Vibration Urbaines is a cool urban festival taking place every year in Pessac (one of Bordeaux’s suburbs). The program includes events like an international BMX contest, a skating contest, a hip-hop dance battle, urban sports, workshops, street art exhibitions, and more.

The festival is taking place from September 7 to October 21 in the campus area in Pessac. See all the events on the website or facebook page of the festival.

When: September 7 – October 21 / Where: University Campus area in Pessac

La Grande Transhumance Urbaine

The Grande Transhumance Urbaine is a fun event taking place every October in Villenave d’Ornon (one of Bordeaux’s southern suburbs). The idea of this festival is to connect city people to local agriculture. The main event is a sheep march, passing through different farms. 

On the way, you can enjoy concerts and markets with local products. The event will take place on October 1st, and the details about the exact location will be published here.  

When: October 1st / Where: Villenave d’Ornon, check out the full program

Festival Animasia

Animasia is a festival of Asian pop culture bringing together many elements like J-POP music, Yosakoi dance, karaoke, and Cosplay performances. The place will also include thematic areas with martial arts, video games, board games, and more. 

This year the events will be taking place on October 7-8 at the Parc des Expositions. For more info and tickets check out the website of the festival

When: October 7-8 / Where: Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux

Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières

Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a beautiful immersive exhibition dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.   The Dali exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.

Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières
Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières – Lost in Bordeaux

When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where:  Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux

Nuit des Bibliothèques

La Nuit des Bibliothèques, the libraries night, taking place on October 7, is a great opportunity to discover the libraries across the city. 27 libraries in Bordeaux Metropole will participate in this event and will offer such activities as concerts, theater shows, science workshops, games for kids and more. See the full program here.

When: October 7 / Where: The libraries of Bordeaux

Burdicolor 

Participate in the fun color -run on the University campus in Pessac. If you’re not into running, you can go straight to the village where all the fun activities will take place. The event takes place on October 8, see all the details here

When: October 8 / Where: The libraries of Bordeaux

Le Pressoir – a festival in Entre deux Mers

Le Pressoir is an annual festival celebrating the end of the harvest season in the Entre Deux Mers wine region with plenty of concerts and fun activities. The event will take place on October 6-7 in Targon, Check out the program here.. 

When: October 6-8 / Where: Targon

Lire en Poche – books festival 

Lire en Poche is a pocketbook festival that will take place in Gradignan on October 6-8. Besides a huge book sale, a wide range of activities are offered to the participants, among them: reading sessions, theater shows, music, games, workshops for kids, and more.  For more info click here.

When: October 6-8/ Where: Théâtre des Quatre Saisons et à La Médiathèque Jean Vautrin, 32 route de Léognan – 33170 Gradignan 

Festival Les Spiritives : dégustations & cocktails inédits

A spirits festival will take place at the Palais de la Bourse on October 13-15. The program includes spirits tasting, mixology workshops, and a lot of cocktails. For more info click here

When: October 13-15 / Where: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

Open doors in the Chateaux of Graves

On October 14-15, the Graves appellation, one of Bordeaux’s biggest wine areas, will hold an open-door weekend. During the weekend you’ll be able to visit plenty of stunning chateaux and enjoy wine tastings, wine workshops, and activities for kids. See the full program of the event and the list of participating châteaux here.

* Discover all the other open-door events in the Bordeaux wine region in my article

wineries in Graves wine region Bordeaux  - Château Méric

When: October 14-15 / Where: Graves area – chose your chateau from the program

FIFIB- Bordeaux international festival of independent movies

The Bordeaux Independent Films Festival will take place on October 13 -18 at Rue Mably in the center of Bordeaux. The program includes film screenings, concerts, and meetings with special guests. 

Every evening, the festival village will transform into an open cinema theater and a dance floor. The full program will be published soon on the site of the festival.

When: October 13-18 / Where: Le Village du FIFIB, 3 rue Mably, Bordeaux

Fascinant Week-end

The third edition of “Fascinant Weekend” is about to take place on October 19-22. Throughout the long weekend, plenty of wineries and wine-related venues and museums are offering concerts, tastings, workshops, yoga classes, and more. Check out the full list of Chateaux and wine-related activities here.

When: October 19-22 / Where: Wineries in the Bordeaux wine region

Montgolfiades de Saint-Emilion

Montgolfiades is an annual festival of hot-air balloon flights organized by Le Ciel est à Toi association. The flights will take place on October 14-16 above Saint Emilion and the vineyards around it, so the sight is promised to be breathtaking. For more info click here.

Before you go be sure to check out my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.

When: October 20-22 / Where: in the vineyards of Saint Emilion, just follow the balloons

Madame Loyal

A huge electronic festival will take place on October 21-22 at the Parc des Expositions in Bordeaux. More than 40 live sets are waiting for you in the rich program of the Madame Loyal festival. See all the details and tickets here.

When: October 21-22/ Where: Parc des Expositions, Bordeaux

Margaux Saveurs 

The town of Margaux in the Medoc wine region is hosting its annual, Margaux Saveurs, on October 19-22. The idea of the festival is to make you discover the great wines of the Margaux appellation and to get to know the winemakers, merchants, and restaurants of this gourmet region. During the weekend you can enjoy special workshops in the different wine domains and enjoy fun activities. For more details click here. 

If you’re attending this event be sure to read about other places to visit in the area in my article about the Medoc region.

When: October 19-22/ Where: different places in Margaux

Fête du Vin nouveau & de la brocante

Every year at the end of October, the lovely neighborhood of Chartrons in Bordeaux celebrates the autumn with the festival of new wine and Brocante. For two days the main street, rue Notre Dame, will be transformed into a brocante (antique market) with wine stands, roasted chestnuts, and a lot of music and dancing. Come and spend a festive weekend on one of the most interesting streets in Bordeaux. All the info will be published in a few weeks on this page

Fête du Vin nouveau & de la brocante in Chartrons, Bordeaux
Fête du Vin nouveau & de la brocante – lost in Bordeaux

When: the dates will be published soon / Where: Rue Notre dame, 33000 Bordeaux

Portes ouvertes dans les châteaux

Fronsac & Canon Fronsac wine appellations will hold their annual open-door weekend at the end of October. Tens of wineries will open their doors to the public offering guided tours and wine tastings. The dates and the list of chateaux will be published in a few weeks here.

See more open-door events in the region in my article.

Château de la Rivière - a kid friendly winery in Fronsac Bordeaux
Château de la Rivière – lost in Bordeaux

When: The dates will be published soon / Where: Around Fronsac, check out the full program

Le Festival Isulia 

The Isulia festival is a cultural event taking place on October 26-28 in a few fun locations in Bordeaux. The goal of the festival is to promote emerging arts through a fun program of concerts, artistic workshops, kids’ activities, and more. See the full program here

When: October 26-28/ Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

People of Stone exhibition

People of Stone is the first solo exhibition of Denis Monfleur, an artist born in Perigeux, the capital of Dordogne. More than 100 stone sculptures will be presented at the Galerie, at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and outside in the garden of the Hôtel de Ville until January 7. See more information here.

More events in the Southwest of France

Laruns La Foire Au Fromage / Hera Deu Hromatge

Every first weekend of October Laruns in the Pyrenees celebrates the end of the summer pastures grazing season with a big cheese fair. The event introduces the different cheese producers in the region and has an entertaining program for adults and kids. This year the event will take place on Sep 30 – Oct 1. See more details here.

Festival Toulouse les Orgues

Every year Toulouse hosts the International Organ Festival. During the days of the festival, several churches in Toulouse are hosting daily Organ concerts. This year the event will be taking place on October 4-15. See all the info here.

See all the best events taking place in Toulouse in my article.

Circa – A circus festival

Circa is an international contemporary circus festival taking place every year in Auch (about 1.5 hour’s drive from Toulouse). The shows in this festival are beyond traditional circus and include elements of dance, music, and digital arts. This year the festival is taking place on October 20-27, see more info here.

Armagnac en Fête

Armagnac en Fête is a fun festival celebrating the beginning of the distillation process in the Armagnac region. The event will take place on the main square of LaBastide d’Armagnac on October 28-29. See all the details here

Labastide d’Armagnac is a beautiful little village in Les Landes, that’s really worth a visit if you’re traveling in the region. See my article about this part of the Les Landes department.

Fête du Piment d’Espelette

Piment d’Espelette is the red pepper that decorates every market in the Basque country and every shop selling Basque products. Like every important ingredient in the French kitchen, this little pepper needs a “fête”. 

Fête du Piment d’Espelette is taking place on October 28-29 in the beautiful village of Espelette. The program includes a big parade, a huge market, musical concerts, activities for kids, a mass with the choir of Espelette, and more. For more details click here.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches, and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion
What to do and eat in Arcachon

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

I’m quite sure that when you choose Bordeaux as your traveling destination many of you had its famous wine region in mind. You have hundreds of wineries to choose from while visiting the region, but staying in a vineyard accommodation is another level experience. If that sounds charming but you have no ideas how to look for the best accommodation, keep on reading so you can discover where to stay in the Bordeaux wine region. 

Around Bordeaux, you can a variety of amazing wine hotels, cozy haunts in the middle of the vineyards, and passionate winemakers that will love to tell you all about their craft. And while it sounds like a very luxurious experience I promise you that it doesn’t have to be. 

This list includes both five stars prestigious hotels and family-owned B&Bs where you get to be hosted by lovely people in a simple environment. However all have the same view and the most welcoming staff, so you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience.

Best vineyards accomodation in with bordeaux wine region
A view from one of Bordeaux’s best wine hotesl

Before we dive in, let me interest you with a few useful articles about the Bordeaux wine region:

Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
Where to stay in Saint Emilion
The Medoc wine route
Best family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine region – the full guide
All the Open door events in the wineries of Bordeaux

Now join me to discover the best wine hotels and the most scenic vineyards accommodation in the Bordeaux wine region!

Luxury accommodation in the vineyards of Bordeaux

Les Sources de Caudalie – the Pessac Leognan wine appellation

If you’re willing to drop a dime on staying at heaven-on-Earth, Les Sources de Caudalie is an excellent option, located in the luxurious Chatêau Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards. Les Sources de Caudalie is a five-star hotel with grounds located in the vineyards and bordering on the region’s forests. The property has been redone by owners Alice and Jérôme Tourbier with nature in mind. The architecture has married high wooden beams with modern tiling and warmth.

You can stay in a suite on the property. Each of them has been designed with its own unique design using antique furniture and mood lighting. Also, if you’re looking to pair the wines with great food, there’s no need to leave the property as the hotel offers a few dining options: a two-star Michelin restaurant, a bistro, a bar, and a grocery store.

To make it a truly unforgettable experience, the property owners have put together a set of experiences for you, depending on the company you keep. From wine tasting, spa treatments, bike riding and excursions, and a forest for kids. 

So if you’re looking for a sophisticated yet cozy atmosphere in the magnificent grounds of one of the best wineries of Pessac Leognan, this hotel Les Sources de Caudalie is your place. 

You can book your stay here.

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Hôtel & Restaurant Lalique in Sauternes 

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is known for combining a vineyard stay with beautiful courses for golfing. It also boasts a five-star hotel stay and a Michelin-starred restaurant. In fact, it is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the Sauternes wine region.

The golf course has 18 holes and offers a relaxing experience for both experienced and new golfers. 

The most intriguing part of the stay, to me, is that every guest is greeted by the “Maitresse de Maison”, who designs their stay. The experience is aligned with the guest’s taste and needs. Guests that want to leave their room but embrace solitude can relax in the beautiful library or check out the view on the terrace.

On to the food. Le Grand Noble is a Michelin-Star restaurant designed by Mario Botta. Not only will guests enjoy gastronomic food, but they will be surrounded, quite literally, by the vines. The restaurant has wall-to-wall windows, and it is placed in the middle of a portion of the vineyard, giving guests the impression of being nestled within the vines.

The property also offers traditional wine visits. You can choose between a discovery tour, food and wine pairing, a private visit, and more. Check all their tours here
Book your luxury stay here.

Château Prieure Marquet in the north of Gironde

Chateau Prieure Marquet is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Bordeaux wine region, about 20 minutes from the prestigious Pomerol and Saint Emilion wine appelations. 

It is truly a precious gem meticulously crafted by a harmonious collaboration between talented designers and antique enthusiasts. Each living room presents a unique and distinct ambiance, offering a diverse array of atmospheres to explore and enjoy.

The organization of the property is characteristic of châteaux in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, in that the castle is actually composed of 4 narrow sides with a central courtyard. This is a novel and exciting experience for those of us non-Europeans and has a way of making one feel like royalty. 

The property only offers 6 rooms so each guest gets a spacious and unique experience. For those of you that like to take a dip in the warmer months, this beautiful property has an outdoor pool, gardens, and each room has a terrace overlooking them both. 

Those looking to have a little leisure without leaving the property can rent bikes and electric bikes, or enjoy the billiards table and baby grand piano. You can also ask the château staff to organize horseback riding or offroading for you. Incredibly, you can also take a helicopter ride.

Finally, the chateau offers themed stays, including the discovery tour, premium tour, and countryside visit, seeking to provide a tailored experience to each guest. Enjoy the world-class spa or the restaurant, named after the château. 

Book your stay here.

And now to more affordable accommodation in the Vineyards of Bordeaux!

Best wine hotels and B&Bs in Saint Emilion 

I have a full article dedicated to hotels in Saint Emilion where you can a perfect accommodation for a perfect weekend there. In this article, however, I wanted to highlight two amazing hotels surrounded by the stunning view of the vineyards.

Château Croix de Labrie

This charming château is located at the entrance of the historic village of Saint Emilion. It has a countryside atmosphere, making a stay there warm and relaxing. There are two suites available, both with luxury bathrooms that overlook the inner courtyard of the property and the vineyard.

The owners, Axelle and Pierre Courdurié give tours of the property and tastings. The proximity to the historic center of St. Emilion doesn’t hurt either. The two suits on the property can be booked here.

Château du Palanquey & Spa

If you’re going on a romantic weekend in the Saint Emilion region, this is the place for you! Château du Palanquey & Spa is a luxury B&B, overlooking the vineyards of Saint Emilion and Castillion. 

The property has a large spa that you can freely use during your stay, featuring a heated indoor pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. It also has a nice outdoor pool for the summer months with a stunning view of the vineyards.

The Château offers a Table d’hôtes service with the chef of the hotel introducing you to the best French specialties. The property is open and receives guests all year long, an idea for a cozy winter vacation. 

Château du Palanquey is located in Sainte-Colombe, about 10 km from Saint Emilion. It will take you only 5 minutes to get to one of my favorite wineries in Saint Emilion, Château de Pressac.

Book your stay here.

Saint Emilion is one of the most famous wine regions in the world so you can imagine that there are quite a lot of options of vineyards accommodations in this part of Gironde. Including them all would make this list too long but I still wanted to add a few wine hotels/ B&Bs that really love in Saint Emilion. The very romantic rooms of Chateau de Ferrand, the cute Relais de Franc Mayne with a pool and a tree house, and the very elegant Aux Ducs de Sienne.

A romantic winery accomofdation - Chateau de Ferrand in Saint Emilion
Chateau de Ferrand in Saint Emilion – Lost in Bordeaux

Best wine hotels in Pessac Leognan

Château Pape Clément

Château Pape Clément is one of the most visited and popular wineries in the Bordeaux wine region and its reputation is well-earned.

The château has been running for 7 centuries and had its first grape harvest in a shocking 1252. The current owner, Bernard Magrez (another well-known name in Bordeaux) started the Scientific Research Center in 2013 to find new ways for vineyard owners to successfully adjust to climate change.

Guests can experience the effects of climate change on the vineyard through satellite technology. Guests can also experience the incredible garden, which is home to 100s of indigenous and rare species of plants and trees.

While M. Magrez is busy trying to push French culture forward, go back in time to the Salon des Boiseries, which is decorated with wood and magnificent chandeliers. There, you can enjoy tea time in a classical setting. 
The property has been lauded for its outstanding service. There are 5 suites available at the château, which can be booked here.

While there, don’t miss a visit to their magnificent winery, see the available tours here

Château Le Pape B&B

The B&B of Château Le Pape is in the heart of Bordeaux. The château hails from the 18th century and was carefully renovated with the preservation of its heritage in mind. The château includes a pool, a living room, and a terrace where you can enjoy your coffee or a glass of wine. 

Château Le Pape B&B - one of the best wine hotels in Bordeaux
Château Le Pape B&B – credit Booking

Consider visiting Haut-Bailly, the wine property that hosts the château. They offer tours in both French and English. You can book a tour here

Guests that have stayed there enjoy the tranquility and have found that it is an ideal location in which to restore themselves. Rooms can be booked here.

Best wine hotels in the Medoc

Château Chasse Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen is a high-class winery that feels like you’ve stepped into the Alice in Wonderland books. The centerpiece of their gardens is a giant pair of galoshes and is surrounded by other surreal sculptures and water pieces.

There are guesthouses on the property and each opens to its library and its exhibition spaces. To add to the ethereal feeling of your stay, the minimalist decor and bright colors of each bedroom serve to relax.

Château Chasse-Spleen - one of the best wine hotels in Medoc
Château Chasse-Spleen – Lost in Bordeaux

All jokes aside, those that have stayed on the property have appreciated the art and found that it made their stay special. The property owners have carefully created the vineyard and artistic experiences for their guests, and it shows. 

The chateau is also home to a cute wine bar that operated during the summer season from April to November. During your stay there you can visit the magnificent winery and enjoy one of their tours

Book rooms here.

Château du Tertre

This is a beautiful guesthouse, located in a 19th-century mansion. The rooms are elegantly decorated and have a view of the vineyards of the estate. You also get a free tour of the château and the cellars, which are quite remarkable. 

Château du Tertre is one of the closest hotels to Bordeaux (in Arsac), so if you want to visit Bordeaux and the Medoc area without changing your accommodation, this is a great option. 
Book your room here.

Château Pierre de Montignac 

This is a simple and more affordable place if you want to stay in a wine château. The rooms are comfortable and clean and you get a nice breakfast in the morning. And you even get a wine bottle as a gift 🙂.

Book it here

Vineyard accommodation in other parts of the Bordeaux wine region

Coup 2 Foudres – Château de Bonhoste

The Château de Bonhoste keeps their accommodations under a separate name – the “Coup 2 Foudres”. “Coup de foudre” in French translates to “love at first sight”, and the word “foudre” by itself means vat. There are two vats on-site at Coup 2 Foudres, so that’s pretty clever.

Why did they name it like that you ask? Well because the owners converted the traditional wine vats into the most romantic guest houses. The accommodations are in the middle of the vineyards, giving you an absolutely unique experience. Each vat is made completely of wood and is modernly decorated.

Book your stay here.

Coup 2 Foudres - Château de Bonhoste - a unique stay in the vineyards of Bordeuax
Coup 2 Foudres – Lost in Bordeaux

Hotel du Château d’Arche in Sauternes

Sauternes fans are die hard. And if you’re a sauternes fan, the Château d’Arche is a grand cru classé, meaning that it has received the highest quality classification in France for wine. Guests stay in tastefully decorated rooms overlooking the vineyard.

Château d'Arche in Sauternes - wineries in Bordeaux

There are 8 bedrooms available, ranging from simple double rooms to a suite. Guests note the friendliness of the staff and their willingness to help, the peacefulness of the stay, and the fact that the property is dog-friendly. 

Like all the wineries on my list, Château d’Arche also offers wine tours to its guests, book a tour here.

Book your stay at the chateau here.

Château de Claribès

Château de Claribès is owned by Helen and Nick, two British wine enthusiasts who have been making wine at the chateau for almost 20 years. Their property is located in the lovely village of Gensac and the winery is labeled under the Sainte-Foy-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.

Helen is an incredibly down-to-Earth host who can regale you with stories about the woodland part of their property that they re-wooded, the transformation of the vineyard into organic wine-making, and the hidden Roman-era caves on the property where they’ve discovered ancient artifacts.

The holiday house has been redone with sustainability in mind. While tastefully decorated, every piece has been recycled, made locally, and is designed to use as little energy as possible, while still giving you a luxurious stay. 

Château de Claribès - lovely house with amazing guests
Château de Claribès – by Lost in Bordeaux

Also to note is the incredibly beautiful drive from Bordeaux to the property, adorned with rolling hillsides and vineyards.

One thing to note is that there is no pool on the property. You can contact Helen to book the place.

Chateau La Corne in Graves

In the Graves region, visitors can visit Château La Corne, where an old farmhouse overlooks the vineyard. Although the accommodations are in the vineyard, they are within walking distance of the town of Langon, should guests want to shop or take the train.

The farmhouse dates back to the time of Napoleon and is traditionally furnished but with modern amenities, including the remodeled bathroom. Guests can dine outside on the patio, and take relaxing walks in the vineyard and surrounding woods. 

Steve and Diane are extremely welcoming and nice people who make you feel like friends from the moment you step into their chateau.  Book it here.

Chateau La Corne - a great stay in the Graves wine region
Chateau La Corne – by Lost in Bordeaux

Is it your first time visiting Bordeaux?

I have a few articles that will help you to get the best out of your first stay.

Start with my 50 favorite things to do in Bordeaux followed by my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visit in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

Liked the article? Want to read it again when you’re planning your trip to Bordeaux? Save it on your Pinterest board.

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

Saint Emilion, one of Bordeaux’s wine regions is one of the most popular destinations in France. You can visit it all year long, as there are always at least some wineries and restaurants open in the region. However, some time periods of the year are better than others for a wine trip to the region. So what is the best time to come to Saint Emilion you wonder? 

When is the best time to come to Saint Emilion?

In my opinion, the best time to come is from Mid-April to July and then from September through October. May and June are excellent months for a visit as all the tourist attractions are open for the summer season but it’s not too crowded yet. September and October are the magical harvest season and if you’re interested in wine it’s something you wouldn’t want to miss. 

When not to come to Saint Emilion?

Try to avoid coming at the beginning of April as it’s the primeur week. The En Primeur way of buying wine is very common in Bordeaux thus most wineries are busy with hosting wine traders and won’t have time to offer you a tour.

Also, once in two years in June, Bordeaux hosts one of the biggest wine events in the world – Vinexpo, meaning that many wineries will send their staff to the expo and will welcome only a minimal amount of tourists. 

If possible, try to avoid coming to Saint Emilion in the last week of December and the first week of January. While many wineries stay open for visits even during the winter, in those two weeks you will have a hard time finding an open chateau. Don’t forget that many of the wine estates employ only a small number of people and these usually leave for their Christmas vacation. 

Is Summer a good time to visit Saint Emilion?

Generally, summer is a good time to visit the Southwest of France and the Bordeaux area in particular. It’s the official tourist season and most places are open and offer a huge variety of activities and adventures to help you discover this lovely area. 

Having said that, arriving from mid-July to mid-August, the most touristic month, can also be a disadvantage. Saint Emilion is one of the most popular destinations meaning that during the summer it gets packed with tourists flooding its narrow streets. Even getting a simple lunch in the city center can become a real hassle.

And while the big chateaux are all open for daily tours some of the small family-owned chateaux can close their wineries for a few weeks in August. I’m not discouraging you from coming in July- August of course but I want you to be prepared. If there’s a particular winery you’d like to visit, contact them in advance. And most importantly, book your lunch and dinner in advance as well, or else a homemade sandwich might be your only friend in August 🙂

See other wine-related articles here:
Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
The Medoc wine route
Best family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine region – the full guide
All the Open door events in the wineries of Bordeaux

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

If you’re looking for amazing wine tours and wine-related experiences, Bordeaux is your city! This shouldn’t come as a surprise in a region that is considered by many as the world wine capital. 

If you’re confused and don’t know what are the best wine tours to take in the Bordeaux wine region, I’m here to help. After years of traveling and trying different tours, guides, and winery visits I gathered a list of the best experiences the Bordeaux region has to offer.

If you’re a wine lover or just interested to visit several wineries on your trip to Bordeaux, keep reading as there’s a lot of important information here for you.

Self-guided tours in the wineries of Bordeaux 

In the last few years, I wrote many articles about visiting wineries in the Bordeaux wine region. So if you want to go on a self-organized tour, you can find all the info on this site. 

Here are a few wineries that I recommend for English speakers: Château de Pressac in Saint Emilion, Château Pape Clément in Pessac Leognan, and Château du Taillan in Medoc.

Discover wineries in Bordeaux on self guided tours in the Bordeaux wine region
Discover wineries in the Bordeaux wine region – by Lost in Bordeaux

And this is a full list of all Bordeaux wine-related articles with more winery recommendations, that will help you plan your Bordeaux self-guided wine tour:

Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion 
A guide to the Bordeaux wine region 
A day trip to Saint Emilion
How to visit wineries in the Bordeaux wine region without a car
A weekend in the Medoc wine region 
Best wineries to visit in Sauternes 
Best wineries in Bordeaux to visit with kids 

If you’re planning on a wine road trip with several winery visits, I highly recommend renting a car. You can find good prices for rental cars in Bordeaux here.

If you’ve already decided what chateaux you’re planning to visit and you just want a driver to take you there, you can find one here

In this article, however, I want to help those who don’t want the hassle of organizing a wine tour. Even though self-organized tours are fun, there are a few big advantages to taking a guide.

First, you get a lot of knowledge about the history of the Bordeaux wine region and about winemaking in Bordeaux. But also, it enables you to drink a lot of wine without worrying about driving back to Bordeaux.

The best wine tours in Bordeaux
The best wine tours in Bordeaux – by Lost in Bordeaux

How to take a wine tour in Bordeaux

Wine tours are probably the main attraction Bordeaux has to offer. So as you can imagine, there’s no shortage of guides and tour operators offering wine tours in the region. Some of them are very professional and knowledgeable and others less so. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re booking. 

best wine tours in Bordeaux
Wine tour in Pomerol – by Lost in Bordeaux

There are several types of wine tours you can find in Bordeaux. 

A private wine tour with a guide who takes you straight from the doorsteps of your hotel to visit several wineries in one day. A more popular option is the semi-private wine you, where a small group is going to visit 2-4 wineries in one or two wine regions in Bordeaux

Then you have the big group tours with 10 to 50 participants. These are less recommended in my opinion but they are very well-priced. And lastly, you have more unique experiences that include food tasting, cycling, and more.

In this article, I summarized the best wine tours and experiences in each of these categories. All the tours on my list leave from Bordeaux which is great for anyone staying in a hotel in the city center

Wine tours with kids

Most of these companies do not welcome kids on the tour, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the Bordeaux wine region with your kids. All you have to do is choose a château from my article about the most kids-friendly wineries in Bordeaux

Wine tours with kids in Bordeaux
Visiting wineries with kids in Bordeaux – by lost in Bordeaux

I also added a few recommendations for guides that offer kids-friendly tours – continue reading. 

A semi-private wine tour to Saint Emilion

Semi-private tours are small group tours of 6-8 people. These tours feel quite intimate even though they are not private. They’re usually not too expensive, considering the fact that it saves you transportation costs. So all in all, that’s the tour I recommend taking if you’re not into self-guided tours.  

take a semi private tour in Saint Emilion
A semi-private tour in Saint Emilion

There are quite a few companies offering private and semi-private tours from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion or Medoc. Here are a few I recommend. 

St. Emilion Village Half-Day Wine Tour

This semi-private tour is offered by the Ophorus travel company. You first get to visit the most important landmarks of Saint Emilion and learn the history of this magical village.

The tour then takes you to a classified growth winery in Saint Emilion where you get to taste wine and learn about the wine-making process. 

The company offers daily tours in the morning and the afternoon.

Book it here

Take a tour in Saint Emilion
A small group tour in Saint Emilion – by Lost in Bordeaux

*See recommended wineries to visit in Saint Emilion

Saint-Émilion Food and Wine Tour

If you want a full-day trip to Saint Emilion I recommend taking the one offered by Olala Bordeaux. Their tour lasts about six hours and includes a visit to three châteaux in Saint Emilion as well as a fun picnic. Book it here

Afternoon Wine Tasting in the Medoc Region

This is a great option if you rather take a wine tour of the Medoc region. An afternoon trip taking you from Bordeaux to discover two very different wineries located on the stunning Medoc Chateaux route. One is a small family-owned winery and the other is one of Bordeaux’s more prestigious Great Classified Growth wine estates. 

The tour is offered by Bordovino which is a very reputable tour company here in Bordeaux. Book the tour here

semi private Wine tours in Medoc - the Bordeaux wine region
Wine tours in Medoc – Bordeaux wine region – by Lost in Bordeaux

*See recommended wineries to visit in Medoc

From Bordeaux: Afternoon Saint-Emilion Wine Tasting Trip

If you want to start the morning in Bordeaux and get to Saint Emilion later in the day, this tour might be perfect for you. The afternoon wine tour offered by Bordovino includes a visit to two wineries and a tasting of four Saint Emilion wines. 

As you get to visit one small family estate and a big Grand Cru winery, you have the chance to compare their wines and see the differences in their wine-making techniques. You’ll finish the day with an early evening tour of the medieval town. 

You can book the tour here

Discovering wineries by bike – biking wine tours in Bordeaux 

There are a few companies offering biking tours in Saint Emilion.

Cycling from one winery to another while enjoying the landscape of Saint Emilion’s lush vineyards is a beautiful experience you don’t want to miss. 

Both companies I mention here offer only electric bike tours and that’s because Saint Emilion is a very hilly wine region which makes cycling hard.

E-bike wine tours in Bordeaux
E-bike wine tours in Saint Emilion – by Lost in Bordeaux

Bordeaux: St-Emilion Vineyards e-Bike Tour with Wine & Lunch

This Saint Emilion full-day bike trip is offered by Bordovino. You start the day in Bordeaux and the company takes you to Saint Emilion where you’ll get the e-bikes. 

You then get a bit of time to tour the beautiful medieval town before you head on your cycling journey. 

The unique part of the tour starts once you get out of the center of Saint Emilion. You’ll cycle on the beautiful chateaux route, passing by famous estates like Petrus or Château Cheval Blanc. 

On this tour, you get to visit two Saint Emilion wineries and taste their wines. The visit to the first château also includes a light lunch in their garden. 

Their bike tours are offered only during the tourist season, starting in April. 

Book your bike wine tour here

Rustic vines – e-bikes tours

This is another recommended wine e-bike tour, offered by Rustic vines, a company that specializes in biking tours. 

In this small tour, you get to visit two wineries and taste delicious local specialties during your lunch. You get a short walking tour of Saint Emilion at the end of the day and even have an extra wine tasting at a wine boutique.

Like in the previous tour I described, here too you start your tour in Bordeaux and the company takes you to Saint Emilion. 

If you’re already in Saint Emilion you can start straight from there, and get a reduced price. 

Book your tour here

Group tours in the Bordeaux wine region 

While I highly recommend taking a semi-private wine tour, their prices range from 90 to 160 euros p/p. It’s not extremely expensive for a wine tour, however, it’s not an affordable price for a lot of travelers to the Bordeaux region. 

That’s where the group wine tours come in handy. 

group wine tours in the Bordeaux wine region
Group wine tours in the Bordeaux wine region – by Lost in Bordeaux

The Bordeaux tourism office offers tours to most wine appellations around Bordeaux, including the less-known ones. You can choose between a day trip to Saint Emilion with a visit to one winery and a wine tour to areas like Medoc, Blaye, Graves, and Sauternes where you get to visit two wine properties. 

These tours are guided by professional guides who are generally quite charismatic 🙂 The main advantage of taking a group tour is the price which is usually under 50 euros p/p.

If you have the Bordeaux city pass, you get another discount of 15% – you can purchase the city pass here

The downside of these group tours is the number of people allowed on a tour which can easily get to around 40. 

Here’s the schedule of the group wine tours in Bordeaux: 

Monday: Saint Emilion or Fronsac 
Tuesday: Medoc
Wednesday: Graves and Sauternes 
Thursday: Bourg and Blaye
Friday: Entre Deux Mers (the white wine region of Bordeaux)
Saturday: Medoc
Sunday: Saint Emilion or Fronsac 

Some useful information: 

  • All the tours start at the Tourist office of Bordeaux at 13:30 and last for five hours. 
  • During the winter the tours are offered only on weekends
  • Kids under the age of 5yo cannot join their tours 

You can book your tours directly on their website

Private wine Tours from Bordeaux 

Another option is private wine tours from Bordeaux. These tend to be quite expensive as you hire a person to accompany you the whole day. But if you find the right guide, a private tour can be an unforgettable experience.

The best guides in this region are personally familiar with many wine markers and can take you to unique places. 

Here are a few of my recommendations for private guides in Bordeaux.

If you’re looking for a tour in Saint Emilion, I highly recommend Nicolle from Sip. Her tour focuses on small independent producers in Saint Emilion. She also wrote a great book about Bordeaux wine which I highly recommend.

Nicolle from SIP wine private tours in the Bordeaux wine region
Nicolle from SIP wine tours – by Lost in Bordeaux

As she has been working as a wine guide for more than two decades she can organize tours to Medoc, Pessac Leognan, and other parts of the Bordeaux wine region. This is her Medoc private tour, for example. 

If you’re interested to discover the Sauternes world, I highly recommend Anne from Aquitaine travel guide

wine and food tours in Gironde
Aquitaine Travel Guide – wine and food tours in Gironde

If you’re looking for kid-friendly experiences, Anne is great at that too. 

Drop her an email with all your questions: aquitaineguide@gmail.com

Two other great English-speaking wine tour guides in the region are Malgorzata Balaban-Delcros and Marie Hallier who also offers amazing tours to Cognac. 

Wine activity in Bordeaux 

Finally, if you’re in Bordeaux for a very short stay and have absolutely no time for a wine tour you have a few other wine-related activities in the city. 

Cité du Vin – visit the world’s biggest wine museum

La Cite du Vin is a unique cultural center, dedicated to the discovery of wine. Through its interactive exhibition, it offers a journey to both French and global wine history. 

Read about what to expect when visiting the museum in my article about my visit to the Cité du Vin. You can avoid the lines at the entrance by booking the tickets online – here

The ticket to the museum is quite pricy but you can enter the museum for free with the Bordeaux CityPass. To enjoy the free entrance you must enter the museum before noon.

Bordeaux Small-Group Wine Tasting class 

You can also take a morning wine-tasting class with a Professional sommelier guide. This is a two hours workshop where you’ll learn about and taste wines from different wine regions in France.

Book the class here

Pin this article, so you can use it on your visit to the Bordeaux wine region!

First time visiting Bordeaux?

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visit in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

Temperate weather, ocean views, a city packed with culture, and gorgeous architecture are just a few of the attractions of Bordeaux. But once you’ve really tapped into Bordeaux wineries? You might never leave. 

With so many delicious wines to sample in the Bordeaux wine region, how should you choose? The answer to that question will depend on the kind of wine you like, how you want to feel drinking it and what should be the setting.

In this article, I’m about the introduce you to all the Bordeaux wine regions. You will learn about the grapes used in every region and what type of wine they produced. And finally, I’ll provide detailed information about how to visit wineries in the Bordeaux region.

For every region, I also added a few recommendations of wineries to visit.  So by the end of this article, you should have a rough idea of where to go while visiting the Bordeaux wine region. If you want to stay the night in a winery, check out my article about the best vineyards accommodation in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux wine region map
By Domenico-de-ga, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1599323

Bordeaux wine region- what you need to know

There are a stunning 7,000 wineries in Bordeaux and 57 appellations in the Bordeaux wine region. The appellations range from the world-famous Medoc appellation to the lesser-known but lovely Entre-Deux-Mers. Unbeknownst to many, the Bordeaux wine region produces delicious whites on top of its famous reds. Altogether, Bordeaux wineries produce 2.5 billion dollars worth of wine per year from 900 million bottles!

Over 86% of wines in the Bordeaux wine region are reds made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Wine harvest in Medoc - one of Bordeaux wine regions
Harvest in Medoc by Lost in Bordeaux

The Bordeaux wine region is arguably the most famous wine region on Earth. The unique nutrient-dense soil has filtered down over centuries from the Pyrenees mountains, through the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, into the ocean, forming the Bordeaux wine region.

You may also find that the people from this region of France are more down-to-Earth and welcoming than their Northern neighbors. This makes touring Bordeaux wineries a warm and pleasant experience.

For a closer look at the appellations, let’s pull out the Bordeaux wine map

South of the Gironde estuary, we have the Left Bank, which includes eight Medoc appellations (including Margaux, Haut-Médoc, Pauillac, etc.), Graves (including Pessac- Leognan), and Sauternes and Barsac.

To the north of the estuary is the Right Bank, which includes the Blaye, Côtes-de-Bourg, Fronsac, Pomerol, and Saint Émilion appellations. 

Finally, the Entre-Deux-Mers sub-region is between the two banks. That’s the biggest wine sub-region of Bordeaux and where most of the white wines are produced.

The amount of wineries here is overwhelming and it’s really to decide what region you should go to. 

However, here’s a tip from me! Check your visit falls on one of the portes ouvertes events in the region. These are open-door events organized by the different appellations where you have the opportunity to visit several wineries at once. The open-door events are free and open to all. Check out my article about the open days in the chateaux of Bordeaux, to see all the upcoming events.

Château Beauregard - Pomerol- portes ouvertes
Château Beauregard – Pomerol

The 5 Bordeaux wine sub-regions you need to know

Saint Emilion – the Most Famous Bordeaux Wine Region

Saint-Emilion is famous for the hillside architecture that makes it a UNESCO World Heritage site. But don’t let your eyes distract your taste buds. This region’s wines are made from deep Merlot and Cabernet Franc, making the wine soft, and tannin-light. It is home to around 800 wineries.

Saint-Emilion is a land, or terroir (break that out for your tour guide for brownie points), of contradictions. Its people and its wine are warm and approachable, but absolutely elite. The Saint Emilion appellation and its four satellite appellations ( Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion.) are home to generational wineries. Think old-school families that bought the land years ago and saw the value skyrocket since. But also think of centuries of passed-down knowledge.

The strict guidelines that Saint-Emilion wines must follow are even presided over by the Jurade – a group of people that “bear witness to the traditions of the past.”

Pomerol is another rich red found in the Saint Emilion region. It is fruity, dark, and very drinkable. 

Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion - Chateau de Pressac
Chateau Pressac in Saint Emilion – by Lost in Bordeaux

Consider visiting Chateau Pressac for beautiful views and rich family history, Chateau Bernateau for a family-run visit and open grounds, and Chateau Coutet for a 400-year-old winery and scenic view. More information on each can be found in my guide to the wineries of Saint Emilion here.

Before going be sure to check out my articles about Saint Emilion:

A detailed guide to Saint Emilion
How to get to Saint Emilion from Bordeaux
The best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
Where to stay in Saint Emilion

Medoc –  the most prestigious wine region

Instead of a heavy reliance on Merlot like Saint-Emilion, the 584 Medoc wineries grow a more diverse mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. The Medoc is located on the peninsula between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Over many years, the estuary carried mineral-rich water from the Pyrenees, through the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, to form the peninsula. As a result, the soil is resistant to moisture, and is ideal for slow-ripening grapes, resulting in some of the most expensive wines in the world. With good reason – they’re delicious.

Besides being prestigious, Medoc is a leader in innovation for winegrowers across the world. Medoc winemakers were the first to exclude rotten grapes from the vinification process and to age wine in oak barrels, for two of many examples.

Some of the comforting flavors of Medoc wines are red and blackberries, dark cherry, hints of vanilla, and roasted coffee with aging. A perfect wine to relax at home with once you leave the beautiful vineyards of the Medoc. You can imagine that you’re back to bright green vineyards overlooking the water as far as the eye can see!

Chateau loudenne on the Medoc wine route
The pink house – Château Loudenne by Lost in Bordeaux

Some suggestions of wineries to visit in the region are Chateau Loudenne (a chateau with a private port),  Château Beychevellel, or Château Lamothe Bergeron. You can find out about visiting these chateaux in my article on visiting the Medoc region.

The best way to explore the Medoc is to rent a car but you can also visit many chateaux in Medoc by public transport. Read my article to discover all the wineries reachable by train from Bordeaux.

Graves and Pessac Leognan – The Oldest Wine Region in Bordeaux

The most unique feature of this region is its pine forests. The trees protect the vines from the humidity and wind native to the Bordeaux wine region. It is the only region that makes a significant amount of both red and white wines. If you love the outdoors, this is the region for you, with the beautiful vineyards and pines all around.

The red wines created by Pessac’s 29 wineries have a breadth of flavor that is unique to the region: from smoky and cassis-filled wines to light, drinkable wines. The reds are made from Cabernet Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The whites are made from Sauvignon Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.

The dry white wines produced here are crisp and citrus, green apples, and honey. Just the smell transports me to one of the oyster shacks in the Bassin d’Arcachon. Bordelais people flock to these incredibly cheap and high-quality oyster providers every spring, summer, and fall (whenever they can) to gorge themselves on oysters, shrimp, and glasses of Pessac. If you’re interested in combining these two great pleasures of the region – its wine and oysters – see my article on the Bay of Arcachon.

Some winery suggestions in Pessac Leognan are:

Château Pape Clément in Pessac

Château Pape Clément is a Grand Cru Classé wine labeled under the Pessac Leognan appellation. The château offers daily visits in both French and English as well as winemaking workshops where you can assemble your own wine. 

You can book the tour online – just click here. It’s also one of the most beautiful luxury hotels in Bordeaux

Château Larrivet Haut Brion

A beautiful estate with stunning gardens and a very artistic Vat room. The winery is located around 20 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux. Book your visit here

Château Larrivet Haut Brion - Pessac Leognan with kids
Château Larrivet Haut Brion

The best way is to rent a car but you can also visit many chateaux in Pessac Leognan by public transport. Find more details in my article on car-free winery visiting.

Sauternes and Barsac -discover the white sweet wine of Bordeaux

To take a break from dry white wines and dive into sweet ones, Sauternes is your go-to. The subregion benefits from noble rot – the shrooms that form on the vines from the morning mist from the humidity of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. This gives the grapes a great variety of concentration, acidity, and complexity. The assemblages produced here include Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle grapes.

As a fan of the occasional glass of sweet wine, I find the rich, amber color and the sweet flavors of peach and even “brioche” are the perfect end to a weekend spent among friends and family. A sweet – but not too sweet! – end to time spent enjoying myself before starting the working week.

Château d'Arche in Sauternes - wineries in Bordeaux
by Lost in Bordeaux

My favorite wineries in this region include Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey if you’re feeling fancy, Chateau d’Arche for 17th-century views, and Chateau Guiraud, which has made it into the big leagues: Grand Cru Classé. There are only 27 wineries in this region. You can find more details on these vineyards in my guide to Sauternes here.

How to Get There

You have to have a car to visit this region. Otherwise, take a train to Langon and a taxi from there.

Blaye and Bourg

This region is actually two regions, named – you guessed it – Blaye and Bourg. It produces dry white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes and drinkable red wines from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The region contains another UNESCO world heritage site in Bordeaux – the Vauban Citadel. 

Both are two of the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux

What is unique about the region is the ability to see it from the boat, on the river. It is a quieter experience than some of the other subregions and has its own wonders. These include white stone buildings, valleys of green vineyards, water views, and roman churches. Imagine yourself as the hero or heroine in a movie about “remote” romantic wine regions in France. 

Wineries to Visit in Blaye and Bourg

In Blaye, think of visiting the Chateau Monconseil Gazin. In Bourg, consider the Château le Clos de Notaire with its amazing view (see their website).

Château le Clos de Notaire - Bourg one of Bordeaux's wine regions
Château le Clos de Notaire – by Lost in Bordeaux

Entre Deux Mers – the white wine of Bordeaux

Entre-deux-Mers is located between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and is bordered by the estuary formed by the two rivers in the North. Its soil is made of gravel and limestone. It classically produces dry white wines that are wonderful for a lunch on the terrace. 

 However, in the 20th century, winery owners in the region saw the writing on the wall and many replaced their white grape plants with red. 

Only the white wines from the region can be labeled under the Entre deux Mers appellation. The red varieties produced in this region can only be called Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior. Although wine experts claim that the wine in this region pales in comparison to that of the other wine regions, Bordeaux Superior is pretty good. It is soft, but not light, and makes me think of charcuterie boards shared with a loved one in a cramped Parisian apartment, vespa rides, and discovering France.

In the Entre Deux Mers region, you can also find excellent sweet wines like Sainte-Croix-du-Mont and Loupiac.

The view from the beautiful Chateau Malrome in Entre Deux Mers
The view from Chateau Mallrome in the Entre deux Mers region – by Lost in Bordeaux

Entre Deux Mers is home to Chateau Biac, home to the Asseily family. Youmna, the matriarch, is well-known for her mastery of wine and French food and for her amazing hospitality. A visit to Chateau Biac feels like a visit between friends. Youmna is a perfect example of the warmth of the vineyard owners in this region. 

Another great estate to visit is Chateau Lestrille, which produces red, white, and rose wines.

How to Visit Wineries in Bordeaux

There are many ways to visit wineries in the Bordeaux wine region. You can take a group tour, or a private guide, or do it on your own by train, car, or even biking. 

Let’s break down the options. 

Taking a tour guide in Bordeaux

Going on a group/ private tour will most probably leave you with better knowledge about the wines of Bordeaux. It also takes off the stress of organizing the visit and you can drink a lot of wine without worrying about driving back to Bordeaux. 

The downside of it is usually the price. Taking a guide can be pretty expensive. 

If you’re looking for a wine tour from Bordeaux, here are a few good options:

Saint-Émilion Food and Wine Tour – day trip to Saint Emilion that includes a visit to three different chateaux and a fun picnic. Book it here

Afternoon Wine Tasting in the Medoc RegionAn afternoon trip to Medoc that includes two types of chateaux, a Great Classified Growth estate, and a small. Book the tour here

An electric Bike wine tour – a fun bike tour that includes a visit to two chateaux, a picnic, and a stunning ride in the vineyards of Saint Emilion. Book here.

Wine tour in Saint Emilion
A tour in Saint Emilion – by Lost in Bordeaux

Wine touring by public transport

Most wineries are located in very rural parts of the region and require a car to get to. Having said that, you have a few great chateaux in Saint Emilion, Medoc, and Pessac Leognan you can visit by train or buy. 

Read my article about the best wineries in Bordeaux to visit by public transport

Visiting wineries by car

Now let’s talk about my favorite option which is discovering the wineries of Bordeaux on your own by car. I feel like driving along the vineyards is an important part of the experience, which also allows getting to more distant chateaux. 

Also if you have a car or rent one in advance, it can be a rather cheap experience, compared to an organized wine tour. If you’re looking to rent a car, here’s a website to help you choose the best deal in Bordeaux

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visit in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

Saint Emilion is one of the most popular destinations in the Southwest of France attracting more than a million tourists every year. When visiting the wine region many people choose to stay in Bordeaux and come to Saint Emilion for a day trip. However, staying in Saint Emilion, surrounded by vineyards, even for a night, is an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend it!

In this article, you’ll find some of the best places to stay in Saint Emilion and the villages close by. I included luxury experiences and cozy family-owned B&Bs so that everyone can find the best accommodation in Saint Emilion. Some of the hotels are located right in the center of Saint Emilion and others are nestled amidst the vineyards. There’s something for any type of vacation, from a romantic weekend to a summer trip with kids. 

If you’re not sure what winery you should visit, read my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion. Also, don’t miss my articles about the best things to do in Bordeaux and about what to do in one day in Bordeaux in case you’re planning a day trip there. 

Now let’s dive right into the best places to stay in Saint Emilion 🙂

Hotels and B&Bs in Saint Emilion

Logis de la Cadene

Logis de Cadene is one of the best hotels in Saint Emilion and is very popular amongst tourists from all over the world. The hotel, with its stunning view of the old town, is located right in the heart of Saint Emilion. Its elegant design and spacious rooms make for a very pleasant stay. 

Logis de la Cadene belongs to the Boüard de Laforest family, the owner of the famous Château Angélus. It is widely known for its fine dining restaurant which has been awarded a Michelin star in 2017. 

Book it here.

Address: 3 Place du Marché au Bois, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Hostellerie de Plaisance  (Hôtel de Pavie)

One of the most luxurious and beautiful hotels in the center of Saint Emilion. The hotel is located just next to the Monolithic Church of Saint Emilion and offers a magical panoramic view of the medieval village and the vineyards. Hôtel de Pavie was once a convent where nuns used to host pilgrims and travelers. Today it belongs to the Perse family, who are also the owners of Château Pavie, one of the four 1er Grand Cru Classé A, so a more elegant and chic experience is guaranteed.

Book it here.

Nearby you can find their amazing 2-star Michelin restaurant La Table de Pavie

The hotel is usually closed from December to mid-March so if you’re looking for a place to stay during your winter vacation, check out the other hotels on this list.

Address: Place du Clocher, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Le Relais de Franc Mayne Saint Emilion

A magical B&B with the most beautiful view of the vineyards of Saint Emilion. The rooms are spacious, and uniquely decorated, and all feature a view of the vineyard. Le Relais de Franc Mayne was renovated in 2019 which makes it one of the newer facilities on this list. It’s located about 1km from the center of Saint Emilion. 

To book a room click here.

Château Franc Mayne is also one of Saint Emilion’s best wineries, classifies as a Grand Cru. Luckily when you stay there, you are offered a tour of their wine-making facilities. However, even if you don’t end up staying there, I highly recommend booking a visit to their winery.  

Book your winery visit here

Address: 14 La Gomerie – D243, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Les Chambres d’Ovaline

Les Chambres d’Ovaline is a cozy and beautiful B&B located a few minutes’ walk from the center of Saint Emilion. The rooms are beautifully designed and you can enjoy your breakfast in their cute garden. It’s also much more affordable than the other options in Saint Emilion.

Book a room here

Address: 2 Place Bouqueyre, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Château Hôtel Grand Barrail

Château Hôtel Grand Barrail is a  luxury 5-star hotel, located just a few km from the center of Saint Emilion. The hotel has an amazing SPA facility that includes a sauna, hammam, and 4 beauty cabins. The hotel also features a fine-dining restaurant with exceptional wine and food.

This is a great place if you’re looking for a luxury vacation with a very scenic view.

Book it here

*The hotel is closed for renovation until March 2023, but you can still make reservations for future dates. 

Address: Route de Libourne, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Badon Boutique Hotel

Badon is a 4-star boutique hotel, located in the heart of Saint Emilion. The hotel has a very clean and pleasant design and is perfectly located next to all the monuments of Saint Emilion. If you want to stay in the center next to all the restaurants, this is a rather affordable option compared to other hotels in Saint Emilion. 

They also accept pets with additional pay of 10 euros per night.

 Book your night here.

Address: Badon Boutique Hôtel, 8 Rue de la Prte Bouqueyre, 33330 Saint-Émilion

Hotels and B&Bs close to Saint Emilion

Château du Palanquey & Spa

If you’re going on a romantic weekend in the Saint Emilion region, this is the place for you! Château du Palanquey & Spa is a luxury B&B, overlooking the vineyards of Saint Emilion and Castillion. 

The property has a large spa that you can freely use during your stay, featuring a heated indoor pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. It also has a nice outdoor pool for the summer months with a stunning view of the vineyards.

The Château is home to a great restaurant with a large menu introducing you to French specialties. For more foodie guests, the place can also organize a cooking class upon request. The property is open and receives guests all year long, so it can even be a cozy winter vacation. This is a real piece of paradise with amazing hosts that will make you feel very welcome!

Château du Palanquey is located in Sainte-Colombe, about 10 km from Saint Emilion. It will take you only 5 minutes to get to one of my favorite wineries in Saint Emilion, Château de Pressac.

Book your stay here.

Address: 2 Lieu dit Palanquey, 33350 Sainte-Colombe

Bleu Raisin

If you don’t mind driving a bit, this cute B&B is located on an old wine farm, about 14 km from the center of Saint Emilion. The rooms are beautifully designed and all have a separate entrances. A delicious breakfast will welcome you every morning on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. 

They also have amazing prices so if staying in the heart of Saint Emilion is not in your budget, this is a great option. 

Book a room here

Address: 3 La Cabane, 33350 Les Salles-de-Castillon, France

La Maisonnée Girondine

This romantic B&B is located about 10 km from Saint Emilion in a little village called Saint Magne de Castillon. The beautiful sandstone house is nestled amidst the vineyards of another Bordeaux wine appellation called Castillon – Côtes de Bordeaux, which is also interesting to explore. The house has five rooms and a beautiful garden with fruit trees.  La Maisonnée Girondine is run by two expats who love French cuisine and culture. They are very welcoming and will help you discover some of the hidden gems of the region. 

Book your stay here

Address: 2 Chem. du Moulin, 33350 Saint-Magne-de-Castillon

Camping sites in Saint Emilion 

Yelloh! Saint-Emilion

One of the most popular groups of camping sites in France, the Yelloh campsites, has a great site in Saint Emilion. The camping is located within 3 km from the center of the Saint Emilion, surrounded by some of the best vineyards of this prestigious wine area. The camping is open from mid-May to Mid September. 

Yelloh camping is based on a fishing lake and offers plenty of great amenities like a huge pool, a tennis court, and a bar. You can also rent a bike to discover the town and the vineyards from the camping site. 

It’s a perfect stay for families as Yelloh runs a summer kids club (over 5yo). 

Book your stay here.

Where:  2 Lieu-dit, Les Combes, 33330 Saint-Émilion

Camping du Vieux Château 

Camping du Vieux Château is another great camping site located about 13 km from Saint Emilion in the cute village of Rauzan. The 3-star site is more simple than Yelloh camping but it has most of the facilities that you need for a cool family summer vacation near Saint Emilion.

See all the details and book here

Address: 6 Blabot-Bas, 33420 Rauzan

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

Visiting wineries in Bordeaux is definitely one of the highlights of traveling in the Southwest of France. More than 6000 wine châteaux are scattered across the 120,000 hectares covering the Bordeaux wine region. Many of these offer tours and tastings but due to their rural location, they are quite hard to reach by public transport. 

I highly recommend visiting the Bordeaux vineyards by car so you can enjoy more flexibility and the magical view of the vineyards on the way (here’s a link to find a car rental in Bordeaux). 

But even if you don’t want to drive, don’t give up the dream to visit a Bordeaux winery just yet! Several amazing châteaux are reachable by train or bus, and I’m here to help you discover them!

*Before you decide what wineries you’re going to visit I recommend reading my article about the Bordeaux wine region where I explain what to expect in every wine sub-region.

To make it easier for you to understand the region, I divided the article into subregions, with a list of wineries you can visit without a car. So whether you want to learn how Saint Emilion wine is produced or visit an ancient winery without actually leaving Bordeaux, I have you covered. 

If you’re looking for more organized options such as private or semi-private tours to the vineyards, check out my article about wine tours from Bordeaux.

See other wine-related articles here:
Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
The Medoc wine route
Best family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine region – the full guide
All the Open door events in the wineries of Bordeaux

Here are the best wineries in Bordeaux you can visit without a car!

Visit wineries in Bordeaux by bus or tram 

You’d be surprised to learn that a few of Bordeaux’s wineries are sitting within the city limits and are reachable by tram/bus. These are naturally the easiest ones to get to and that’s why they are the first on my list.  

Château Pape Clément in Pessac

A simple bus ride from the center of Bordeaux will bring you to one of the most gorgeous châteaux in Bordeaux. Château Pape Clément is a Grand Cru Classé wine labeled under the Pessac Leognan appellation. The vineyards of Château Pape Clément were planted at the request of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, the future Pope Clement V. The castle itself was built much later and has beautiful Neo-Gothic embellishments.

Today apart from producing wine, it’s also one of the most beautiful luxury hotels in Bordeaux. The château offers daily visits in both French and English as well as winemaking workshops where you can assemble your own wine. 

You can book the tour online – just click here.

The château is located in Pessac, one of Bordeaux, most interesting suburbs. You can spend the whole day, discovering Pessac with the help of my article – check it out here

Chateau pape Clement Pessac
Château pape Clement by Lost in Bordeaux

Address: 216 Av. Dr. Nancel Penard, 33600 Pessac
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00 and Sundays 10:00 to 18:00

How to get there:
You can take a direct bus (line 4) from Place de Tourny in the center of Bordeaux. The second option is to take Tram B to the Pessac Centre station and then continue by foot for about 20 minutes until you reach the château. See more info here.

Château du Taillan in Le Taillan-Médoc

Château du Taillan is a beautiful Bordeaux wine estate dating back to the 19th century. Today it’s owned by five sisters who all contribute in some form to their wine-making business. The winery produces red, white, and rosé wines and is labeled as “Médoc Cru bourgeois”. 

Château du Taillan is labeled under the Medoc wine appellation, but I’ve put it in this segment just because it’s located in the Bordeaux metropole region and is easily reachable by bus from the center of Bordeaux. 

The winery offers several visits. The classic one allows you to taste two wines of Château du Taillan. While their most expensive tour takes you on a more intimate journey to discover the house where the sisters grew up. This one ends with tastings of four different wines accompanies by cheese and chocolate. You can read about all their tours and book your visit here.

During the high season, you can also order a picnic basket from the château and have a fabulous lunch in their garden. You can see more info about that here

Château du Taillan - how to visit wineries in Bordeuax without a car
Château du Taillan by Lost in Bordeaux

Address: 56 Av. de la Croix, 33320 Le Taillan-Médoc
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00 and Sundays 10:00 to 16:00

How to get there from Bordeaux:
You can take a direct bus (line 2) from Place des Quinconces in the direction of le Taillan la Boetie, get down at La Pargaud station, and walk for 5 minutes until you reach the chateau. See the schedule of line 2 here.

Château Les Carmes Haut Brion

Château Les Carmes Haut Brion is one the most interesting visits for both wine and art lovers. Its history goes back to the 16th century when the Lord of Haut Brion, Jean de Pontac, donated a windmill surrounded by vines to the Carmelite Order. In the 17th century, the Carmelite order purchased more land with vines and continued to develop the estate for more than two centuries.

Today the château is owned by Patrice Pichet, who turned it into a modern winery. The 35 hectares château produces red wines under the appellation of Pessac Leognan. It’s actually the only winery to be located in the limits of Bordeaux city. What makes the tour more exceptional is the stunning modern reception area designed by Philip Starck in 2016.

This is a prestigious château and the prices of the tours are higher than most wineries on this list (ranging from 45€ to 70€ per person). See all the details of the tours they offer here.

Address: 20 Rue des Carmes, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00 (by appointment only). 

How to get there:
Take line A of the tram at Hôtel de Ville (in the direction of Pin Galant), get down at the Saint Augustin station, and walk about 10 minutes until you get to the château. You can also take the bus and get directly to the chateau in about 15 minutes. Take the bus (line 24) from Republic Station (next to Place de la Republique). See the schedule here

Château Olivier

Another gem in the Pessac Leognan appellation is Château Olivier. Just a few km from Bordeaux, you’ll find a beautiful château, surrounded by a forest and vines. Château Olivier is a Grand Cru Classé producing red and white wines. Since 2014, the winery produces only organic wines from its 60 hectares. 

The château offers several visiting experiences where you could learn about their wine-making process, and taste wine straight from the barrel. 

Book your visit here.

Address: 173 Av. de Bordeaux, 33850 Léognan
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 by appointment only – book here

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take bus number 5 from Palais de Justice (a few minutes walk from Place Pey Berland). Get off the bus at the Piscine Chambéry station in Leognan, just a few minutes walk from Chateau Olivier. See more info here

Château Saint Ahon In Blanquefort

If you’re traveling with kids, I highly recommend vising Château Saint Ahon in Blanquefort. The Chateau is a family-owned winery located at the very beginning of the Medoc wine route

My kids particularly enjoyed the gardens, called Les Jardins de Mirabel. The gardens offer a fun discovery trail that teaches kids about winemaking and nature in the region in a playful way. For more info about the visit and the gardens click here

Château Saint Ahon  in Medoc is easy to reach by bus
Château Saint Ahon – by lost in Bordeaux

Address: 57 Rue de St Ahon, 33290 Blanquefort
Opening hours: The winery is open all year long apart from August and you don’t have to book the visit in advance, just check out the opening hours before going. 

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take line C to the Blanquefort train station and then continue 20 minutes by foot or take bus 38 from the Blanquefort train station to the Caychac station. See the timetable here

kid- friendly wineries in Bordeaux

Discover more family-friendly chateaux in the Bordeaux wine region in my article. 

Visiting wineries in Saint Emilion by public transport

The best way to get to Saint Emilion without a car is by taking the train from Gare Saint Jean in Bordeaux. The train doesn’t stop in the center of Saint Emilion, but a 20 minutes walk will get you into this medieval treasure. Most châteaux are located quite far from the town itself but a few are within walking distance from the city center.

Leave some time to discover Saint Emilion itself, it’s one of the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux. For more wineries to visit in Saint Emilion check out my article. If you’re planning to do a weekend in Saint Emilion, here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in the Saint Emilion region

Château Villemaurine

Château Villemaurine is one of the most popular wineries for tourists visiting Saint Emilion. The Château combines tradition, modernity, centuries of history, and the refined production of great wines.

Château Villemaurine offers two group guided tours. A discovery tour where you get to visit the vineyards and the monolithic cellars which are located underneath the vines of the estate. A Heritage tour where you will discover the stunning network of quarries owned by the Château.  Click here to book the tour online.

Address: 23 Villemaurine-Sud, Saint-Émilion
Opening hours: Château Villemaurine is open daily all year long (closed from mid-Dec to mid-Jan). Book a tour in English here

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk for about 20 minutes in the direction of the center of Saint Emilion. 

Château Soutard

Château Soutard is an impressive 18th-century winery, located a few minutes walk from the center of Saint Emilion. It’s about 30 minutes walk from the train station but it’s worth a visit if you’re going to spend time in the village anyway.  The Château offers plenty of fun activities such as a wine blending workshop, biking in the vineyards, a gourmet picnic, and of course, wine tours.

Their basic wine tour (20€ / person) starts at 15h every day from April to October. The tour includes a visit to their vineyards and cellars and a tasting of their renowned Grand Cru Classé wines. To book any of their activities click here.

Chateau Soutard in saint emilion
Chateau Soutard by lost in Bordeaux

Address: Soutard, 33330 Saint-Émilion
Opening hours: The schedule is changing during the less touristy season. When in Bordeaux, be sure to contact them for information about tours in English.

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk for about 30 minutes in the direction of the center of Saint Emilion. 

Château La Gaffelière

Closer to the train station you can find Château La Gaffelièr. The winery is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé under the Saint Emilion wine classification, making it one of the more prestigious estates on this list. 

The château belongs to the Malet-Roquefort family who is very passionate about sharing their wine-making craft. Their group tours, lasting for about an hour, take you through their colorful vats and the underground barrel cellar. The visit includes a tasting of three of their wines. Book your tour here

Address: Château La Gaffelière, BP 65 / 33330 Saint-Emilion
Opening hours: Château La Gaffelière is open daily from April to November 12 and on a few specific dates during other months of the year. Check out their availability here

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk a few minutes to get to the chateau. 

Visiting Medoc without a car

There are a few wineries in Medoc you can easily reach by train but yet again, if you have the option to do it by car, I highly recommend it. Driving the Medoc wine route is one of the most remarkable experiences Bordeaux has to offer. If you want to follow that advice, here’s a link to find a car from a few locations in Bordeaux. 

One of the easiest parts of Medoc to reach by public transport is the town of Margaux. A direct train from Gare Saint Jean (train 42) will take you to the famous wine town with several options for chateaux to visit. Check out the schedule here

Château Marquis de Terme

If you choose Medoc for your wine trip, I highly recommend visiting Château Marquis de Terme. It’s a fantastic place to visit during summer times as they have an open bar in the garden where you can get wine, cheese, and charcuterie. A perfect way to end your tour. 

If you’ve already visited a few wineries in your life and don’t necessarily want to go through yet another explanation about winemaking, this place also offers wine tasting without a tour. Château Marquis de Terme also has a great restaurant which is yet another reason to go there. 

You can book your visit here

Château Marquis de Terme - medoc - one of the only wineries in Bordeaux you can visit by public transpot
Château Marquis de Terme – by Lost in Bordeaux

Address: 3 Rte de Rauzan, 33460 Margaux
Opening hours: Château Marquis de Terme offers visits daily from April to mid-November and only on weekdays during the winter season. 

How to get there from Bordeaux:
How to get there from Bordeaux: take a train from Gare Saint Jean to Margaux (in the direction of le Verdon) and walk a few minutes to the winery. If you’re staying closer to the city center, take tram C, to get to the Blanquefort station instead of Gare Saint-Jean.

Château Ferrière

Another great winery to visit in Margaux is Château Ferrière, founded in the 18th century by a shipbroker named Gabriel Ferriere. In 1988 the château was sold to Jacques Merlaut, the owner of Château Chasse-Spleen, La Gurgue, and Haut-Bages Liberal. The Merlaut family revived the winery and produced its first vintage in 1992. Today, the château is run by the granddaughter, Claire Villars, who took over the family business after the tragic death of her parents in a car accident. 

A variety of tours are available to you at Château Ferrière, all of which include wine tasting, of course. One of their popular tours takes you through the history of the chateau while another is more focused on the agricultural aspect of wine production.

Book your tour at the Château here

Address: 33 bis Rue de la Tremoille, 33460 Margaux-Cantenac
Opening hours: During the tourist season (June to mid-October) the château is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30 and from Monday to Friday the rest of the year. 

How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take a train from Gare Saint Jean to Margaux (in the direction of le Verdon) and walk a few minutes to the winery. If you’re staying closer to the city center, take tram C, to get to the Blanquefort station instead of Gare Saint-Jean. The winery is located about 1km from the train station. 

Château Chasse Spleen

Staying in the same family, we move north to the Paulliac area. The beautiful Château Chasse-Spleen belonged to Jacques Merlaut, one of the most important figures in the Medoc wine region. For many years it was run by his daughter, Bernadette and she’s credited for its high reputation. Today it’s managed by one of her daughters Celine Villars and her husband. The 107 hectares winery is labeled under the Moulis en Medoc, the smallest appellation in the Medoc wine region. 

The château, dating to the 16th century has a very long history before the Merlaut family acquired it. And you will hear all about it on the tour! You can also combine the classic visit with a light lunch (charcuterie, wine, and a small local dessert).

Choose and book your visit here

Château Chasse Spleen - a winery to visit by train from Bordeaux
Château Chasse Spleen by Lost in Bordeaux

Château Chasse-Spleen also has a wine bar and an art gallery, which are worth a visit even if you don’t fancy a wine tour. 
They also have a fabulous hotel, just in case you’re looking for a romantic weekend 🙂
Check it out here

Address: 33 bis Rue de la Tremoille, 33460 Margaux-Cantenac
Opening hours: From April 21st to November 6th and on public holidays, open 7/7
10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm.  From November to March, tours and tastings by appointment only from Monday to Friday (email at visites@chasse-spleen.com).

How to get there:
As with all the other Medoc wineries on this list, you need to take the train from Bordeaux in the Direction of Le Verdon. This time you’re getting off at the Pauillac station. The chateau is located about 15 minutes walk from there. 

Visiting Graves by train 

Château de Cerons 

Château de Cerons is one of the more impressive properties on the list. It’s also one of the only wineries in the Graves region you can reach by public transport. A few other wineries in Graves are reachable by bike, but that’s for another article 🙂 

The château is a historical Chartreuse (little house) dating back to the 17th century. The winery produces both red and white dry wines and offers a range of different visits that include wine tasting, picnic baskets with regional products, and more. 

It’s one of the more kids-friendly chateaux in the region. You can rent bikes at the château and go on a beautiful rural path discovering the heritage of the village and the Garonne River. If you want to discover some other kid-friendly options, check out my dedicated list

You can book their tours here.

For picnics and bike rentals, you can check their website.

Address: 1 Latour, 33720 Cérons
Opening hours: Mon to Sat from May to October and Mon to Fri from November to April – by appointment only.

How to get there from Bordeaux
Take the TER train from Gare Saint Jean in Bordeaux to the Cerons station.  Château de Cerons is located within a 15-minute walk from the station. 

Wine tours from Bordeaux city

In case you’re too nervous to use public transport in Bordeaux there are a few other solutions. I detailed a few options here but you can read my full article about the best wine tours in Bordeaux here.

visit Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion – by lost in Bordeaux

A semi-private wine tour to Saint Emilion

There are quite a few companies offering private and semi-private tours from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion or Medoc. 

St. Emilion Village Half-Day Wine Tour

With this semi-private tour, you get to visit the village and one winery in Saint Emilion. Book it here

Saint-Émilion Food and Wine Tour

If you want a full-day trip to Saint Emilion I recommend taking the one offered by Olala Bordeaux. Their tour lasts about six hours and includes a visit to three châteaux in Saint Emilion as well as a fun picnic. Book it here

Afternoon Wine Tasting in the Medoc Region

This is a great option if you rather go to the Medoc wine region without a car. An afternoon trip taking you from Bordeaux to discover two very different wineries on the Chateaux route. One is a small family-owned winery and the other is one of Bordeaux’s more prestigious Great Classified Growth wine estates. Book the tour here

Rustic vines 

This company takes you from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion where you hop on an electric bike. That’s another really fun way to discover the religion.  See more details here

Just to conclude, visiting wineries in the Bordeaux region is a marvelous experience that you should not miss even if you don’t have a car. In this list, you have so many amazing options for chateaux reachable by public transport! Now it’s time to choose the one you like most! Enjoy!

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

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*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

 All the bars and restaurants are currently closed which probably makes you want to skip this Valentine’s day altogether. But during these tedious times, celebrating love is more important than ever and nature could be a magnificent scenery for that. In this article, I gathered a few fun ideas for couples to do together this Sunday on Saint Valentine’s day. So grab your bottle of wine, maybe even a picnic, and follow me to the most romantic places around Bordeaux. 

See the sunrise from Plage de la Pointe aux Chevaux

The Pointe aux Chevaux beach in Petit Piquey is one of the most magical beaches in Cap Ferret. Surrounded by pine trees and a few oyster cabanes, it looks like a place taken for a movie. The beach worth a visit any time of the day but if you’re a morning person, I would really recommend leaving the house early that day and go see the sunrise, nothing will give you more romantic vibes than that. 

Sunrise in Cap Ferret
Sunrise in Cap Ferret by Lost in Bordeaux

Dune du Pilat

Our beloved Dune cannot is a permanent resident on a list like this. The panoramic view of the forest and the ocean is quite hard to compete with. Of course, the ultimate pleasure would be to see the sunset from the top, but as there’s a curfew at 6pm, you’ll have to do with a romantic picnic on the top of the dune instead.

Saint Croix du Mont

This is one of my personal favorites in the region. Saint Croix du mont is a small village located in the south of the Entre Deux Mers region and is known thanks to its excellent white sweet wine. There’s not much to do there but the view from the top of the village is absolutely stunning. During the summer there is a nice bar there but currently, you’ll have to bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy the view. You can also do a little hiking trail from the top of the village. 

Saint Croix du Mont

Visit a winery 

Did you know that many of the wineries in the region are open for visits? They are allowed to have up to 6 visitors but as there aren’t any tourists here, you’ll most likely be alone and have a romantic wine tour and tastings just for yourself. The choice, of course, is enormous so you’ll have to do some work to see which are currently open. Here are a few suggestions of wineries to visit in Saint Emilion

Chateau loudenne on the Medoc wine route
The pink house – Château Loudenne by Lost in Bordeaux

Go biking together

There are plenty of beautiful biking paths in the region. If you want to stay in the city, you can cycle on the promenade from both sides of the Garonne. But if you don’t mind getting a little farther away, Roger Lapébie Bicycle path can be a great romantic adventure. 

You can start your path from Pont Pierre in Bordeaux and cycle on the right side of the river until you get to Latresne, where the official path starts (follow the river bike path to Latresne). The official path is 57km long and it goes through the Entre Deux Mers region until it gets to Sauveterre-de-Guyenne. Here’s an article with more instructions. 

Visit the smallest village in France 

There’s something cute and romantic about being the smallest village in a country and in our case the smallest village in France is located in Gironde and called Castelmoron d’Albret.

roses in castelmoron d'albret

There’s not a whole lot to do there, the town is simply very cute and you can have a picnic while enjoying a beautiful view. If you want to visit another place in that region you can stop by Duras or Sauveterre-de-Guyenne. For more info about villages to visit in Gironde read this article.

Go hiking 

There are plenty of beautiful hiking routes in this region and if the weather is good, it can make a perfect Valentine’s day activity. Hostens is definitely one of the best hiking trails in this region but if you prefer going to Arcachon over the Landes forest, The Domain of Certes-Graveyron is a perfect place to spend the day.

For more experienced hikers, go to Saint Emilion and challenge yourself with more hilly trails. Here’s an example of a medium level hiking trail in Saint Emilion – https://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/bdd_fichiers/file_1564493621.pdf

For hiking ideas in Bordeaux, be sure to check out my article.

Do a fun street art day

If you love street art there are many places to discover in the region but nothing can be compared to Angouleme, the street art and comics capital of France. Tens of beautiful mural and funny comics decorate the city walls and it will take you hours to spot them all, a full fun, and romantic day :). It’s only 1.5 hours drive from Bordeaux and you can even reach there by train. Check out my guide to the street art of Angouleme before going.

Go to the Pyrenees to see snow

There’s so much snow this year, you must go see it before spring starts. Spend the day in one of the lovely ski towns in the Pyrenees and enjoy the tranquility created by the beautiful white powder. All the ski facilities are closed this year but you can go to Cauterets and enjoy this charming ski resort town. Then drive up the mountain to Pont D’Espagne for a hike in the snow. 

Hautacam in the French Pyrenees

That’s it for our romantic weekend! 

I hope you find it useful and if you travel to one of these places don’t forget to tag me in your stories on Instagram @lost_in_bordeaux. 

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

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In the last few weeks, I’ve been writing a lot about places in Gironde, rather than Bordeaux itself and that’s because I really want to encourage you to discover the amazing area we live in. Gironde is the biggest department in France and one of the most varied ones in terms of what you can see and do. In my previous articles, I’ve written about the beautiful beaches surrounding Bordeaux, the best parks around Bordeaux, and some great hiking trails in Gironde. Now that you know all about the magnificent nature we’re surrounded by, it’s time to explore some of the most charming villages in France! So today, I am taking a short break from nature to invite you on a journey to discover Gironde’s beautiful architecture and heritage. In this article, I gathered some of the most beautiful villages in Gironde. If you follow my articles, you know that I really like variety and that’s why I included towns and villages from all over the department. Beach towns on the Atlantic coast, beautiful villages in the middle of Bordeaux’s wine routes, and plenty of medieval towns in the South of Gironde. 


*Note – most villages on this list require a car to get to, in case you don’t have one, click here to get a rental car in Bordeaux.

Castelmoron d'Albret

If you take my advice and visit these beautiful villages, I’d love it if you could use the hashtag #lostinbordeaux so I can share your photos on my stories on my Instagram page Lost_in_bordeaux. Also, come and share your experiences and get plenty of new ideas for day trips in Nouvelle Aquitaine in my Facebook group – Travel in the southwest of France

*Before we start I have an important announcement! I am upgrading my newsletter and from now on I will send a weekly email with suggestions of things to do every weekend. The email will be sent on Friday! So if you want to receive cool plans for the weekend (especially during this period without obvious events taking place in Bordeaux) be sure to subscribe to my newsletter here

Now let’s hit the road and discover the most beautiful villages in Gironde. 

Entre deux mers and South Gironde 

I decided to start my list with the Entre Deux Mers region and the South of Gironde as they’re usually my go-to places when I’m in a mood for beautiful medieval towns. This is one of the most beautiful parts in the southwest of France, embodying the historic and cultural richness of this region. Most of the villages on my list are located close to one another so you can visit them all in one weekend. Public transport is not extremely developed in this part of Gironde so it’s better to travel by car or bike if you like cycling a lot. I did, however, add public transport routes to these places just for completeness.

Saint Macaire 

First on my list is Saint Macaire, a little medieval town located on the banks of the Garonne river, about 50km from Bordeaux. Saint Macaire is a very attractive destination for those interested in history and beautiful architecture. What today seems like a sleepy town in the Entre Deux Mers wine appellation was once an important city under British rule and was declared the “Ville royale d’Angleterre” (An English royal city) in 1341. During the 13th and 14th centuries, it was one of the most prosperous cities in Aquitaine due to its significant agricultural and trade activities. 

Saint Macaire - one of the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux

Visiting Saint Macaire can be a great half-day trip if you take the time to discover its rich heritage, the narrow streets, and beautiful old houses and monuments. Place Mercadiou, surrounded by beautiful medieval houses is the main square of the village, where the market takes place every Thursday morning. Another monument not to miss is Porte de la Benauge, the main gate to the old city whose historic center is surrounded by ramparts. Probably the most important monument of Saint Macaire is its Eglise de Saint Sauveur et Saint-Martin. The big church, built in the 12th and 15th centuries has impressive murals that are really worth seeing. Every year at the end of August, Saint Macaire hosts one of the best medieval festivals in the region. 

How to get there:
It’s a bit complicated to get to Saint Macaire without a car as there’s no regular direct public transportation going there from Bordeaux (there’s one train a day to Saint Macaire). However, you can take a train to Langon and then cross the Garonne to the other side and bike or even go for a nice hike along the river until you reach Saint Macaire. 

Cadillac

Cadillac is a little town located on the right bank of the Garonne river at the Entre Deux Mers wine region. It’s quite a popular destination attracting many tourists, especially during summer.  Cadillac is hard to miss when driving the D10 route to the south of Gironde. You will be greeted by a big defensive wall and the main gate into the old medieval center built in the 13th century. However, its undeniably most famous monument is the Château des Ducs d’Épernon, built by the Duke of Épernon in the 17th century. The chateau is very impressive and is best known for being a women’s prison starting from the French revolution and up until 1950. It now serves as a museum that mostly displays the life of the royals who were occupying the estate before it became a prison. However, on the last floor, you can actually still see the cells and a small exhibition about the prison. 

Cadillac - medieval village inGironde, France

The town is also known for its wine, the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. You can visit the Maison des vins of Cadillac in order to learn about the wine of this region and taste it of course 🙂

How to get there:
You can get there by bus number 501 from the Bastide neighborhood in Bordeaux, see the schedule here.   

Rions

About 5km from Cadillac you will find Rions, a small medieval town located on the banks of the Garonne river. Like other towns in this region, Rions is also characterized by cute narrow streets and medieval houses. During medieval times it was an important town which was greatly affected by the Hundred years war between France and England. In 1295, Rions, which was at the time under British rule, was conquered by the French Charles of Valois who took down its defensive walls. In 1313, England was able to take the city back and surround it with ramparts, making it one of the Fortified English cities of British ruled southwest of France (Guyenne). It went back into French hands right before the end of the long war and, despite all the turmoil, was left with its impressive architecture and charm, perfect for a few hours trip. If you want to make the best of your day trip to the region, you can go on a 5km hike and see the beautiful surroundings of this medieval town. Read more about the hiking trail from Rions, in my article about hiking around Bordeaux

Rions - a medieval town in the South of Gironde

How to get there:
You can take bus number 501 from the Bastide neighborhood in Bordeaux, see the schedule here.   

Castelmoron d’Albret

Castelmoron d’Albret is the smallest village in France and in my opinion one of the most charming ones in the southwest of France. This tiny medieval village is brimming with charm! Almost every house here is covered with colorful roses and other beautiful flowers spilling from eclectic pottery that is made here in the village. No house here looks the same, every window and door has its own particularity. There are almost no signs of modern life here, no cars, no sidewalks, just a beautiful village frozen in time. There are only about 50 people living here and only three businesses operating in the 3.5 hectares village so the atmosphere is incredibly relaxing. I think my kids were the loudest thing this village has experienced in a while.  

Castelmoron d'Albret - the smallest village in France

It will take you about an hour of a scenic drive over the hills and along the vineyards of Entre Deux Mers to reach the little town from Bordeaux. If you want to combine the visit with any other activity, I recommend visiting the impressive bastide town of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, which is located just a few minutes drive from Castelmoron d’Albret. There are also several hiking and cycling routes you can do in this part of Entre deux Mers.  In this link you can find two great hiking trails that start from the village itself. 

How to get there:
Getting there by bus is fairly complicated and I would advise going only by car. The closest train station tho this village in La Reole but the bus from there to Castelmoron d’Albret is not very regular. 

La Réole

La Réole is a small hilly town situated on the banks of the Garonne river about 50 km from Bordeaux. Although the town developed around a monastery founded in the 7th or 8th century, it’s golden era was in medieval times when it became the second largest city in the region after Bordeaux. Still today, it’s one of the biggest towns in the south of the Gironde department with plenty of interesting events and a very lively weekly market on Saturdays. There are quite a few impressive houses and monuments to see in this little town, among them is the historic 12th century Town Hall, the Saint Pierre church and the Benedictine abbey, the old remparts of the city and more. Get lost in the narrow charming streets of the historic center of La Réole and let the beautiful architecture take you back in time. If you happen to arrive in La Reole when the tourist office is open, be sure to take a map of all the monuments in the city. 

La Reole a beautiful town around Bordeaux

How to get there:
This is a great destination for those who don’t own a car. You can get to La Réole in 40 minutes by train from Bordeaux. The train leaves from Gare Saint Jean every two hours.

If you want more ideas for trips by train from Bordeaux check out my full article about day trips from Bordeaux by public transport

Bazas

Bazas is one of my favorite towns in the south of Gironde not only because it’s a beautiful place but also due to its rich heritage embodying the Gascony culture. It’s located at the eastern edge of the Gascon Landes forest, about 65 km from Bordeaux. A stroll in the historic center will allow you to discover the impressive architecture of the city and its past role as an important bishopric. At the main square of the town you will find its famous gothic Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste which appears on the UNESCO world heritage list. When strolling the historic center don’t miss the charming old houses on the smaller streets as well as the gardens. 

Bazas - heritage and Gastronomy in the southwest of France

Architecture is not the only attraction of Bazas which is actually quite famous for its gastronomy, especially its meat. You can enjoy the Bazadaise meat in one of the restaurants located on the main square. True meat lovers could also buy meat in one of the many butcher shops in the center. If you’re looking for a full gastronomic experience to discover the cuisine of the region, there’s one tour you shouldn’t miss. Anne, an American living in Bazas is an expert on everything related to food in the region. She knows all the farmers and chefs around Bazas and her guided farm to table tours are an unforgettable experience. Check out her website.

How to get there
This is the most complicated place on my list to get to by public transport and I wouldn’t recommend doing it. If you still want to go there by public transport you can take a train from Bordeaux to Langon and then bus number 512 to Bazas. 

Before we continue to our next region I just wanted to remind you that I also share plenty of day trips ideas on my Facebook/Instagram pages, so if you’re not there yet, what are you waiting for? Like/follow me on social media and you will never be bored on a weekend again 🙂 

The right bank – Saint Emilion and Pays Blayais

Saint Emilion 

You can’t really do a list about villages around Bordeaux without including Saint Emilion in it, can you? This medieval village is known all around the world for its splendid wine but it’s also undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux. 

A day trip to Saint Emilion in the southwest of France

Important historical monuments can be found in abundance in this medieval town, some of which date back as far as the 11th and 12th centuries. One of the famous monuments is the 11th-century Monolithic church, carved from a limestone cliff, it’s the largest underground church in Europe. Its picturesque center, densely filled with wine shops and fancy restaurants, turns this little town into a prominent attraction for tourists in the area. If you’re visiting Saint Emilion in the high season of July-August beware that you need to book everything in advance, it gets very busy!  

There are plenty of things to see in and around Saint Emilion, and it requires a full-day trip to see all of it. I recommend reading my guide to Saint Emilion before heading there. Also, if you want to visit wineries in the Saint Emilion wine region, check out my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion

If you’re planning to do a weekend in Saint Emilion, here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in the Saint Emilion region

Blaye 

Blaye is one of the most interesting places in the Bordeaux area, located only about 50 km north of Bordeaux. This little town has a long military and strategic history and is mostly known for its remarkable Citadel. The Citadel and city walls are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can easily spend half a day discovering them. The entrance to the Citadel is free and you can explore the streets and ramparts admiring the view of the Gironde estuary which can be seen from the top.

The citadel of Blaye

Blaye is also well known for its red wine which honestly is really excellent and very reasonably priced. You can visit the Maison du Vin on the main street (12 Cours Vauban), where they would gladly introduce you to the wines of the region and the chateaux you can visit around Blaye. 

How to get there?
The easiest way to get there is by car or by ferry if you’re coming from the other side of the Gironde estuary. The ferry is leaving from Lamarque, you can see all the details about the tariffs and hours in this link. Beware that masks are currently required onboard the ferry.  There are also several bus lines going to Blaye – check all the info here

Bourg

Bourg (Previously called Bourg sur Gironde) is a picturesque village at the heart of the wine appellation of Côtes de Bourg located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. Bourg has played a key role in the region’s history, it was built in Roman times, fortified by the English and visited by several kings, such as Louis XIV in 1650. Just like its neighboring town of Blaye, Bourg too has a very impressive citadel called Château de la Citadelle. While it’s not one of the main tourist destinations in the Medoc area, those who do get to visit this beautiful place, quickly fall in love with it. Apart from the citadel, the historic part of the city also has a cute central square with restaurants and shops, the market takes place every Sunday.

Bourg - a beautiful day trip from Bordeaux

Bourg is however quite known for its great Côtes de Bourg wine! Don’t miss a visit to the Maison des Vins des Côtes de Bourg, a 19th century former residence with a warm atmosphere that acts as a venue for exhibitions, talks, receptions, tasting classes, meetings with winegrowers and more. You can also see the map of all the wineries here, it’s better to call them prior to your visit. 

How to get there:
Two bus lines of TransGironde (201, 202) from Lormont pass through Bourg. However, unless you live or stay on rive droite of the Garonne it will take you some time to get to Lormont from the center of Bordeaux. So here too, going by car is recommended. 

Arcachon and Medoc

L’herbe

L’herbe is a traditional oyster farming village located on the Cap Ferret Peninsula. Here you won’t find the characteristics of a typical French village, no central square with a bakery, no old houses or medieval gates. Nonetheless, it’s one of the most beautiful villages in the southwest of France, in my opinion at least. 

Arcachon bay - a day trip from Bordeaux

There’s something raw and authentic about L’herbe. You get to walk between the colorful cabins of oyster farmers and see them in action on their special workboats. If you like oysters, you’re going to love this place. Plenty of oyster restaurants are spread along the beach serving only the freshest oysters, pork paté and white wine. This is a perfect destination for a sunny half-day trip from Bordeaux, or a full day trip if you add a visit to the beach as well. 

How to get from Bordeaux to L’herbe: by car is the best way to get here as the bus is not a direct one and it takes almost two hours to get to L’herbe from Bordeaux. But if you have no choice take bus 601 (Trans Gironde) from Bordeaux center. 

If you want to discover all the other amazing places to visit around the Bassin d’Arcachon check out my article about a day trip to the bassin d’Arcachon

Cap Ferret 

Cap Ferret is a little town located on the Western part of Bassin d’Arcachon and has been traditionally known as a summer getaway for the French upper class. Although it’s been recently gaining popularity among tourists visiting the south of France, it has yet to lose its relaxing beach village atmosphere, especially if compared to Arcachon city. 

Cap Ferret one of the most popular destinations near Bordeaux

Cap Ferret is shaped like a narrow tongue with a long string of beautiful sandy beaches on the Atlantic ocean and a view of the eastern side of the Bassin. Apart from its dreamy beaches it’s also known for its ostréiculture industry, which produces some of the best oysters in France. Dozens of oyster cabins and restaurants with a view on the Bassin give Cap-Ferret a unique character that’s worth a visit. If you want to really profit from the day, rent a bike and cycle along the beaches and through the pine forest that covers a large part of the Cap Ferret peninsula. There are plenty of bike rentals in Cap Ferret, one of them is Bike rental Cap Gyro (7 Boulevard de la Plage, 33970 Lège-Cap-Ferret).

How to get there:
Bus 601 will bring you to Cap Ferret but it’ll take you at least two hours to get there, so a car is definitely a better option here. You can also take a ferry from Arcachon or le Moulleau beach, you can see the schedule here

Soulac Sur Mer

This charming little town is one of the highlights of the Medoc region. It’s located on the very top of the Medoc Atlantique, about 90 km from Bordeaux.
If you ever had the chance to visit the town of Arcachon, you will find Soulac sur Mer a bit familiar, and many actually call it “little Arcachon”. Its city center resembles Ville d’été while the northern part of the town with its charming 18th-century villas is similar in style to the impressive villas of Ville d’Hiver in Arcachon. Soulac has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast, attracting many French tourists to the area. There are plenty of cute little restaurants both in the center and on the promenade. Seafood is a very important part of the local cuisine and so many restaurants will serve oysters and large shrimps.

Soulac sur mer - a beautiful village in Medoc, France

Every year Soulac hosts one of my favorite events in Gironde, called Soulac 1900. A celebration of music, dance, ancient cars and costumes from the beginning of the 20th century. 

We came to the end of my list of the most beautiful villages in the Southwest of France, Gironde (at least until I find another treasure that has a place on this exclusive list :)). There are of course more charming villages around Bordeaux such as le Canon in the Cap Ferret Peninsula or Monsegur in Entre deux mers, but I narrowed down the list to the ones I find most special. 

If you’re interested in day trips in the region there are a few other articles you might like:
Best day trips from Bordeaux
10 day trips from Bordeaux by train 
Two days in the Medoc wine region

If you missed my announcement from the beginning of the post I will repeat it again because I think it’s so cool 🙂 I am upgrading my newsletter and from now on I will send a weekly email with suggestions of things to do every weekend. The email will be sent on Friday mornings! So if you want to recieve cool plans for the weekend (especially during this period without obvious events taking place in Bordeaux) be sure to subscribe to my newsletter here!