Arround the destination
The lands of Montesquieu are the ideal destination to radiate towards the renowned tourist sites that surround the area. Enjoy a day in Bordeaux to discover the Cité du Vin or the historic 18th century district. The Arcachon basin reserves an exceptional maritime excursion with the dizzying Dune du Pilat. Lovers of medieval cities, Saint-Émilion, but also Saint-Marcaire and Bazas in the South Gironde will surely seduce you!
The Gironde capital has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2007. It stands out for its 18th century heritage unity, its classical and neoclassical architecture, which has known practically no stylistic break for two centuries.
The Cité du Vin is a new and unprecedented facility dedicated to wine as a cultural, universal and living heritage. More than 3,000 m² of open space and nearly 20 interactive themed areas invite visitors to plunge into the world of wine. The 35-metre high belvedere on the 8th floor offers an incredible 360° panoramic view of the city.
On the right bank, discover the Darwin district, a life-size playground of innovation that combines economic cooperation and ecological transition. This alternative place dedicated to urban culture is also a real open-air museum! Don't miss the guided tour of the Darwin district offered by the Bordeaux tourist office.
To get to Bordeaux, it takes 30 minutes by car from Léognan.
Want to see the sea? Head for the Arcachon basin! Situated in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne, the Arcachon basin is a lagoon that is wide open to the Atlantic Ocean. This small inland sea of more than 150 km2 at high tide is the favourite destination of the people of Bordeaux. At the entrance to the basin, on the Silver Coast, is the Dune du Pilat, which remains the highest dune in Europe. Nestled on the edge of the forest massif, it attracts nearly two million visitors every year.
You will be surprised by the tchanquées huts, these wooden constructions on stilts typical of the Arcachon basin. Located in the middle of the lagoon, and especially on the bird island, they were originally used for the surveillance of oyster farms. It is difficult not to succumb to an oyster tasting during your trip to Arcachon!
It takes about 1 hour by car to reach the seaside resort of Arcachon from Saucats.
Famous for its world-famous wines, Saint-Émilion is a small village of character with remarkable architecture. Its monolithic church - carved out of a single block of stone - is the largest in Europe! This underground religious edifice was built in the 12th century in surprising proportions, 38 metres long and 12 metres high.
Only the guided tour "Saint-Émilion, UNESCO City" allows the visitor to fully immerse himself in the heart of the limestone with the exclusive discovery of the underground heritage of Saint-Émilion. It provides access to the city's four key monuments: the Hermitage of Emilion, the Chapel of the Trinity and its medieval paintings, the catacombs and the underground church.
To reach the historic centre of Saint-Émilion, it takes 45 minutes by car from La Brède.
Half an hour from Cabanac-et-Villagrains, take the time to discover Saint-Macaire, a former merchant town with a flourishing trade in the 14th century. This pretty medieval town located on the banks of the Garonne is distinguished by its arcaded houses, its ramparts and the Saint-Marcaire priory adjoining the Saint-Sauveur church.
Further south, on the road to Santiago de Compostela, Bazas remains an unmissable stopover in the southern Gironde. Between the cobbled streets along the ramparts, the Saturday market with its Gascony producers, the terraces under the arcades and the cathedral listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you are bound to be seduced by the charm of the village.