The best hikes in Gironde

From the upper Médoc and the Gironde estuary , passing through the Arcachon basin, its peninsula of Lège Cap-Ferret and its “ Prés Salés ”, from the south of the Gironde next to the Landes forest , towards Entre-Deux-Mers and its two rivers: the Garonne and the Dordogne , and finally in the vineyards of Saint-Emilion and Blayais … The natural sites and seaside resorts of the Gironde are ideal for hiking.

We have selected for you family or sports walks , in nature or cultural . With only one priority: to make you survey the various territories of the Gironde in a large loop around Bordeaux .

Our selection of superb hikes for the summer

We start our trip with Haut-Médoc , near the mouth of the Gironde , in Soulac-sur-Mer . The village is one of the resorts at the origin of sea bathing . It is therefore very popular and has been nicknamed the " resort of 500 villas ". The loop starts from the Notre-Dame Basilica , goes through the old village to the fountain in Place Clémenceau and follows the coast , bordered by its famous “ 500 villas ” to reach the German battery of Arros . From there, you can admire the Cordouan lighthouse and enjoy the invigorating sea air of the ocean. Then, return to the starting point, through the city.
>> All the practical details, the route, the points of interest of the hike prepared by Gironde Tourisme, by clicking on the link to read the publication on Calaméo.

Do you want to extend the ride? In Verdon-sur-Mer, you can embark on a boat trip and visit the Cordouan lighthouse , the only lighthouse at sea open to visitors! And don't forget your swimsuit, the beaches deserve to settle there for a little break.

Soulac-sur-mer, the "resort with 500 villas"

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We enter the Arcachon basin , to complete the small but essential loop of the Ville d'Hiver . In less than 5 km, it takes you through all the most beautiful monuments of the seaside resort of Arcachon . At the start of the hike, you are not very far from the “ Salt Meadows ”. At the other end, at the Croix des Marins, you should see the Dune du Pyla .

>>> Click to see the hiking sheet prepared by Gironde Tourisme, it guides you and explains this discovery walk in great detail .

If you prefer a more natural hike in the basin, we recommend the ornithological park of Teich near Biganos. To find out more, follow our blogger to discover this natural site . Or the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron , between the typical port of Audenge and Lanton. Here is our article on this extraordinary biodiversity space .

We start in the south of the Gironde, between the Haute Lande and the Sauternes , in Bazas. Even if the body of water is artificial, Lake Prade is one of the most important natural sites in the Gironde. The many species of birds that live or stay there will delight birdwatchers . It allows a beautiful discovery of the local flora and fauna that will appeal to young and old alike. The walk also passes in front of some monuments of the historic city of Bazas for a more cultural visit. So it's a very complete hike for a nice day out with the family.
>>>> The Sud-Gironde Tourist Office provides you with essential information and an interactive map to follow this route .

Photo: Bazas

In Entre-deux-Mers , the Coteaux loop takes us to the magnificent medieval bastide of Rions , in the vineyards and close to the Garonne . From the Iron Age , through the Hundred Years War , to the wars of religion , the remains found in Rions, as its monuments bear witness to a turbulent past.
>>> Gironde Tourisme gives you all the details .
To change a little, between Rions and Cadillac , another heritage of the region allows an unusual visit, the safranière .

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In the Libournais and Saint-Emilion , in Porchères, the loops of the Moulins are marked out by the mills of Porchères, Saint-Seurin and camps.
>>> To view the stages and points of interest, click. The walk is available in three versions, depending on the duration and the difficulty.

Impossible to finish this tour of the territories of the Gironde without offering you Bordeaux. For nature lovers, Bordeaux conceals little treasures. You will find many parks and gardens there : floral park, at the Angéliques, botanical garden, garden of Béchade, the town hall, ladies of the faith, ... To the north of the city, you can also go for a hike or bike around the lake and even swim.

Photo: Bordeaux, Le Jardin Botanique Rive Droite, photo by Stas Rozhkov CC BY 2.0

Maybe less refreshing, but it's a good way to visit the Bordeaux conurbation . We go on a " Rustic Vines Tour ". This circuit takes you on foot to discover Bordeaux, but also its most beautiful vineyards with electric bikes or other vehicles, as needed. Off topic perhaps but it is a must, a walk ranked n ° 1 on TripAdvisor for 4 years now!

Photo: Rustic Vines Tour in Bordeaux Source: Rustic Vines Tour

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Lots of other hikes in Gironde and all the useful links

We find on the net and in the Tourist Offices, many walks on different themes. Here are our favorite links, to check online before you go:

• The 50 most beautiful heritage walks , with bastides, mills, remarkable villages, the coast, natural spaces, vineyards and many more ...

• The famous routes of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle are listed on the Compostela 2020 guide . They offer many advantages to hikers: good directions, regular and comfortable stopping places, and crossing magnificent villages, with a beautiful religious heritage.

• And to really miss none, all the hikes offered by the Tourist Office are available here .

• Entre-deux-Mers is an atypical territory full of natural spaces to explore. The Gironde Tourism website lists all the Entre-deux-Mers hikes on a map . For walks in the south of the Gironde, here is the page of the Tourisme Sud Gironde website .

• To find your way more easily, there is an interactive map with lots of hiking trails on the Sentiers de France website .

• To change the medium, we also offer a book published by Sud-Ouest: Les randonnées en Gironde .

You are well prepared for a discovery of the Gironde! We hope you have given you some good ideas to enjoy your family vacation around Bordeaux. Since you like walking, we offer you a final tip for the road. To get around Bordeaux without using the car, here is our article on Bordeaux without a car .

Do you want to know more about its geography, its history…? Here is our description page of Bordeaux and the Gironde .

Did you like our article? Find more on our Blog . Follow us on the Bordeaux Gironde Guide Facebook page and on Instagram @guidebordeauxgironde.

Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Bordeaux Gironde Guide.

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