Discover Gironde: Coast, Culture and Walking Trails

Walking trails on different scales

Gironde has more than 6,000 kilometres of marked trails and nearly 30 nature-sport areas and sites. Its long-distance walking network includes a total of 1,500 kilometres of GR and GR de Pays routes, pilgrimage trails and themed paths. One example is the Gironde section of the GR 6: it connects Sainte-Foy-la-Grande with the Bassin d’Arcachon and is 245 kilometres long. The Bastides et Abbayes route runs for 98 kilometres between the Garonne and Dordogne. Comparing these distances gives you an initial sense of the scale of the different walking options; a distance alone, however, does not determine a personal daily stage.

Historic sites and architecture

The UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of Saint-Émilion includes the hermitage or grotto, the monolithic church, medieval monastic catacombs, and the collegiate church with its cloister. The jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion covers 7,847 hectares and features varied landscapes: a partly wooded plateau, slopes, valleys and a plain. Bordeaux, Port de la Lune offers a different historical perspective: its exceptional historic urban and architectural ensemble took shape during the Age of Enlightenment. Gironde is also home to more than 1,000 listed historic monuments. Eight medieval fortified bastides lie along routes through Bordeaux’s wine country; they can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by boat.

Wine routes and regional produce

Six wine routes provide a framework for wine-themed trips in Gironde. The visitor experiences on offer in Bordeaux’s wine country include cellar visits, insights into cooperage, vineyard banquets, treasure hunts and cycling tours through vineyards. The production of Médoc oysters also tells a story of the landscape: they mature for three to six months on small rafts in channels of the Gironde Estuary. These offer different ways to experience the region, from a themed route to an insight into a local production process.

Nature by the water and coast

The Banc d’Arguin is a tidal sandbank at the entrance to the Bassin d’Arcachon and has been a nature reserve since 1972. Visitors can watch oyster farmers at work in their oyster beds and observe migratory birds. At the Grand Site de la Dune du Pilat, nature walks and activities focus on the dune’s habitats and biodiversity. Gironde’s Atlantic beaches offer opportunities for swimming and surfing; seasonal conditions and local restrictions may vary. Multi-day river cruises on the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde Estuary may include visits on foot or by bicycle.

Choose the focus of your trip

If you are looking for hotels in Gironde, the experiences you have planned can help determine your choice of base: long-distance trails offer a different focus from UNESCO heritage and historic architecture. Wine routes, activities in wine country and oyster culture provide further themes to consider when planning. Nature and water experiences range from watching birds and oyster farmers to walking on the dune. First decide which of these interests matter most to your trip; this can help tailor your search to the stay you have planned.

Discover more destinations

Saint-Pierre-d'Aurillac, Le Temple, Étauliers, Saint-Trojan, Fargues-Saint-Hilaire, Cézac, Saint-Sulpice-Et-Cameyrac, Cénac, Linas, Le Pian-Médoc, Le Bouscat, Gradignan, Gans, Eysines, Cestas, Blanquefort, Bègles, Arveyres, Artigues-Près-Bordeaux, Vayres, Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont, Sainte-Foy-La-Grande, Pondaurat, Moulon, Gensac, La Sauve, Saint-Vincent-De-Paul, Fronsac, Mazères, Pineuilh, Vensac, Ligueux, Cadillac-En-Fronsadais, Mombrier, Saint-Mariens, Mouliets-Et-Villemartin, Doulezon, Cessac, Bayon-sur-Gironde, Préchac, Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière, Lansac, Saint-Laurent-Des-Combes, Blaignan, Landerrouat, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, Villegouge, Les Artigues-De-Lussac, Maransin, Fours, Saint-Loubès, Bieujac, Périssac, Saint-Médard-En-Jalles, Cenon, Martignas-Sur-Jalle, Civrac-En-Médoc, Arsac, Saint-Jean-De-Blaignac, Saint-Gervais, Talais, Montussan, Tresses, Coirac, Barsac, Petit-Palais-Et-Cornemps, Grignols, Vendays-Montalivet, Saint-Germain-Du-Puch, Saint-Martial, Beychac-Et-Caillau, Moulis-En-Médoc, Castillon-La-Bataille, Bruges, Cavignac, Saint-Ciers-De-Canesse, Arbis, Preignac, Salles, Massugas, Marions, Abzac, Auriolles, Auros, Saint-Ciers-Sur-Gironde, Saint-André-De-Cubzac, Saint-Aubin-De-Médoc, Floirac, Listrac-Médoc, Mios, Libourne, Audenge, Saint-Quentin-De-Caplong, Tauriac, Teuillac, Sablons, Latresne, Saint-Côme, Blaye, Cubzac-Les-Ponts, Tizac-De-Lapouyade, Saint-Jean-D'illac, Lège-Cap-Ferret, Saint-Aignan, Saint-Christophe-Des-Bardes, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Laurent-Médoc, Saint-Symphorien, Saint-Vivien-De-Médoc, Sainte-Gemme, Soulac-Sur-Mer, Taussat, Monsegur, Aillas, Castets En Dorthe, Escaudes, Lanton, Pellegrue, Pleine Selve, Puisseguin, Pyla Sur Mer, Queyrac, Arcachon, Arès, Bazas, Biganos, Bordeaux, Maubuisson, Monprimblanc, Carcans-Plage, Castelnau-De-Médoc, Cauvignac, Donnezac, Gaillan-En-Medoc, Gauriaguet, Grayan-Et-L'hôpital, Gujan-Mestras, Hourtin, Jau-Dignac-Et-Loirac, La Réole, La Teste-De-Buch, Lacanau, Landiras, Le Porge, Romagne, Ambarès-Et-Lagrave, Tabanac, Plassac, Mérignac, Néac, Le Haillan, Camarsac, Créon, Cadillac, Saint-Hippolyte, Avensan, Carbon-Blanc, Saint-Léon, Lalande-De-Pomerol, Saint-Caprais-De-Bordeaux, Lucmau, Langon, Saint-Estèphe, Haux, Loupiac, Listrac-de-Durèze, Saint-Philippe-D'aiguille, Saint-Christoly-Médoc, Lamarque, Cambes, Parempuyre, Caudrot, Mazion, Margueron, Pujols-Sur-Ciron, Saint-Quentin-De-Baron, Reignac, Semens, Cabanac-Et-Villagrains, Les Lèves-Et-Thoumeyragues, Daignac, Camblanes-Et-Meynac, Salignac, Grézillac, Génissac, Saint-Sauveur, Sainte-Eulalie, Cadaujac, Cantenac, Ladaux, Saint-Morillon, Escoussans, Rions, Saint-Laurent-Du-Bois, Saint-Antoine-Du-Queyret, Saint-Seurin-De-Cadourne, Bommes, Berson, Gabarnac, Lugon-Et-L'île-Du-Carnay, Saint-Médard-De-Guizières, Saint-Magne-De-Castillon, Sadirac, Aubie-Et-Espessas, Civrac-De-Blaye, Saint-Sulpice-De-Faleyrens, Saint-Michel-De-Lapujade, Saint-Genès-De-Lombaud, Saint-Martin-de-Lerm, Cissac-Médoc, Riocaud, Origne, La Lande-de-Fronsac, Eyrans, Bellefond, Le Taillan-Médoc, Camiran, Saucats, Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle, Anglade, Fontet, Sallebœuf, Marcheprime, Cardan, Lignan-de-Bazas, Saint-Louis-de-Montferrand, Guîtres, Andernos-Les-Bains, Tayac, Pujols, Lesparre-Medoc, Saint-Ferme, Lagorce, Capian, Saint-Denis-De-Pile, Bouliac, Neuffons, Macau, Virsac, Ambès, Léognan, Courpiac, Tizac-De-Curton, Saint-Selve, Castillon-de-Castets, Coutras, Cours-De-Monségur, Lussac, Baron, Les Esseintes, Saint-Macaire, Saint-Germain-D'esteuil, Saint-Michel-De-Fronsac, Lignan-De-Bordeaux, Les Billaux, Belvès-De-Castillon, Morizès, Béguey, Uzeste, Le Barp, Prignac-Et-Marcamps, Pompignac, Dieulivol, Captieux, Saint-Sève, Saint-Ciers-D'abzac, Bassanne, Carcans, Le Pian-Sur-Garonne, Les Salles-De-Castillon, Sainte-Hélène, Mauriac, Bourg, Brach, Saint-Androny, Valeyrac, La Brède, Le Teich, Le Verdon-Sur-Mer, Barie, Roaillan, Toulenne, Ludon-Médoc, Sigalens, Gironde-Sur-Dropt, Pugnac, Isle-Saint-Georges, Saint-Sulpice-de-Pommiers, Nérigean, Portets, Lamothe-Landerron, Frontenac, Ruch, Puynormand, Fargues, Saumos, Loubens, Quinsac, Rimons, Mourens, Omet, Carignan-De-Bordeaux, Samonac, Lestiac-Sur-Garonne, Saint-Aubin-De-Blaye, Cars, Soussac, Gours, Mouillac, Paillet, Soussans, Cazaugitat, Flaujagues, Saint-Pey-D'armens, Galgon, Casseuil, Le Tourne, Saint-Martin-Du-Bois, Saint-Sauveur-De-Puynormand, Vertheuil, Labarde, Saint-Pierre-De-Mons, Saint-Martin-De-Laye, Gauriac, Saint-Genis-Du-Bois, Saint-Genès-De-Fronsac, Sainte-Terre, Saint-Martin-De-Sescas, Cérons, Villenave-de-Rions, Belin-Béliet, Landerrouet-sur-Ségur, Gardegan-Et-Tourtirac, Rauzan, Hostens, Blasimon, Ordonnac, Dardenac, Marcillac, Laruscade, Bassens, Noaillan, Pessac-Sur-Dordogne, Naujan-Et-Postiac, Baurech, Saint-Étienne-De-Lisse, Yvrac, Podensac, Eynesse, Soulignac, Verdelais, Roquebrune, Saint-Pey-De-Castets, Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Saint-Sulpice-De-Guilleragues, Le Puy, Coimères, Francs, Illats, Saint-André-Du-Bois, Cantois, Arcins, Sauveterre-De-Guyenne, Montagne, Saint-Cibard, Saint-Martin-Lacaussade, Vignonet, Blésignac, Pomerol, Langoiran, La Rivière, Cazats, Arbanats, Targon, Begadan, Villenave-Dʼornon, Villandraut, Talence, Sauternes, Saint-Vincent-De-Pertignas, Pessac, Martillac, Lormont, Montalivet-Les-Bains, Naujac-Sur-Mer, Pauillac, Margaux, Saint Christoly De Blaye, Bonzac, Espiet, Saint-Maixant, Canéjan, Branne, Saint-Vivien-De-Monségur

To the overview of the wider region: Aquitaine.