Good ideas and activities to enjoy the South Médoc out of season!

Only an hour from Bordeaux, the South of the Médoc is a natural territory, to enjoy the fresh air, the sweetness of the ocean, the wine châteaux, the pretty little Médoc villages and a multitude of activities to do in family or friends. Take your fall and winter quarters in this attractive territory, to be surveyed all year round. The Bordeaux Gironde Guide and the Médoc Plein Sud Tourist Office offer you a host of good ideas, games and sports activities to do in the South of the Médoc, are we going?

Photos of the article © Tourist Office Médoc Plein Sud, unless otherwise stated

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Visit wineries and discover local products from producers

Meet the winegrowers and winegrowers of the South of the Médoc

About forty producers share the cultivation of the precious vines of southern Médoc, a few steps from the greatest Médoc Grands Crus, 3 AOCs are present in the 3 municipalities: AOC Moulis, AOC Listrac-Médoc, AOC Haut Medoc. Small wine-growing towns full of charm and above all, rich in a terroir which, we assure you, has nothing to envy to the Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc. Dare to think outside the box and come and meet these men and women who work the land with passion, to produce exceptional wines, who will keep their promises to the finest palates... The wine estates of the South Medoc open their doors to you. doors, just consult the menu (click) to make your choice, contact the winegrowers and organize your visit to the estates, cellars and of course, taste these wines of character!

Stroll with gluttony on the weekly markets of the South Medoc

The markets are where we find the identity of a terroir. Here the producers unveil their local production every week, coming from their farms a few kilometers around. This is an opportunity to visit the small villages, take the air with the locals, in an environment of fruits, vegetables and colorful and gourmet local specialties. The markets take place all year round on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, depending on the village. Click to find the market that suits you , depending on your presence.

Visit the producers and discover the delicacies of the local farms

Many producers are present on the territory, we can visit some and enjoy the shops in short circuit, that's what being a locavore holidaymaker! Go see the shops of these 3 farms below including:

La Ferme de Vertessec (in french), in Avensan, has been a family business since 1973, which raises poultry of old and rustic breeds: chickens, pullets, guinea fowl, cans, but also some ducks and rabbits. The boutique is open Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All the products are of course raised and cooked on site!
La Ferme de la Noune is in Brach, it is the ideal place for snail lovers. Florence and Hervé open their boutique Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. To see the snails, it is from April to August that it happens, the rest of the year, come and discover the delicacies they cook on site with their production. You will also find other farm products there.
Les Jardins du Plec in Salaunes is the kingdom of market gardening, vegetables and fruits grown on site are on sale to order or in local markets. Call +336 86 89 84 46 to reserve a basket of vegetables and pick it up at the farm.

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Enjoy nature and the countryside in "slow tourism" mode!

We warned you, here everything is done so that you take a deep breath of fresh air. There is of course the beach, but also the pine forest , welcoming and generous. With the family, it's perfect for walking, making artistic creations with pine cones (the pine cones so called in Médoc), needles and leaves.

The BramE du Cerf in the South Medoc

In autumn, the deer is the king of the forest. The deer slab is a moving moment, awaited with joy by nature enthusiasts. From September 15 to October 15 (roughly, nature has its own rhythm), the deer utter hoarse cries at dusk and all night long, to attract females during mating season. The roars and antlers of the deer clashing together, it is a spectacle audible by all and impressive, that we can enjoy with specialists, during nature and heritage tours, organized by the Médoc Plein Sud Tourist Office for example. On the same nature excursion model, we recommend that you go bird watching, to the Avensan ponds, for example.

Go for a walk in the forest and collect mushrooms

Mushrooms are a very serious matter… It is well known that mushroom wedges cannot be divulged, so we will give you some leads, but it's like a treasure hunt, you will have to look carefully. and open your eyes! In South Médoc, we find Ceps, the “ king of mushrooms ”, which can be tasted just like that, as an omelet, with pasta or as a risotto, yum! There are also chanterelles from October and chanterelles from November. Warning! It is important to respect the trails and not to walk on private areas ! Stroll along forest paths and along bike paths to find mushrooms.

More generally for going for a walk in the forest, the South of the Médoc is a paradise for the whole family since the trails are easy and flat . Not far from the ocean, 4 hiking circuits in Avensan around the ponds, and 6 circuits in the town of Saint-Raphaël. Click to find out more and have more details on the circuits.

Do you like to walk and learn things? Discover the interpretation trail at Le Porge "Man and Nature"( in french). It starts at the Cabane de l'Entrade and offers you a reading of the local landscapes, fauna and flora.

Interpretation trail © Julie Warnier Photographs

Have a picnic in the South Medoc

Do you come back from the market, or from a producer with a well-filled picnic basket? Whatever the season, even with a big down jacket, it's always good to have a picnic outside when the weather is nice! In South Médoc, several picnic areas (click) are furnished with tables to make you comfortable. Of course, you also have the possibility of going from the forest to the beach by going to discover the two beaches in the region: La Jenny and the Gressier beach. In summer these beaches are supervised for a dip and in winter it is a paradise bathed in light for long walks.

Read our article report on the beaches of the South Medoc .

Activities to play sports and let off steam, to do all year round in the southern Medoc

Want to move? To play sports , to let off steam? The South of the Médoc is a land of nature and therefore of sport. Take your sneakers, the bike or the wetsuit for a weekend, and more if you like!

The cycle paths of the South Medoc

By bike in the South Medoc (click), you can easily get around and visit the region. If you are well equipped, we recommend that you take a slow tourism trip without a car, what a pleasure! 2 large-scale cycle routes pass through the South Medoc: La Vélodyssée and the Canal des Deux Mers, they consist of cycle paths but also “ véloroutes ”, ie roads shared with cars. There is a cycle path between Porge Océan and Porge Village. An itinerary is also available between Lacanau and Bordeaux. Mountain biking enthusiasts can have fun riding the 32 kilometers (very sporty, because of the sandy terrain) of loops available at the “ Green Lung ” in Le Porge (Route de la Jenny).

Horseback riding, trekking through the forest on horseback

Horse riders are not left out in the South Medoc, there are two equestrian links available in the town of Le Porge. The first is at Le Poumon Vert (in the same place as for mountain biking, but be careful during the hunting season, check upstream with the Town Hall or the Tourist Office), the second starts at the Cabane de l 'Entrade and gallop towards the ocean. If you do not have an equine companion, you can inquire at the local equestrian centers, to participate in horseback rides on the beach, in the vineyard or in the forest, depending on the season. Organize your horse riding trip in the South of the Médoc (click) !

Tree climbing in southern Médoc

Open all year round, the Peuple des Cimes is a park with a set of acrobatic courses at the top of the pine forest! Accessible to all (minimum 1.20m with raised arms), with a nice price, it's a great idea for an activity for the whole family ! The view from up there is breathtaking… You have to call to book your activity, all year round.

On the way for a treasure hunt in the municipalities of the South Medoc!

Do you like puzzles , treasure hunts? Do you walk and learn, discover at the same time? Discover Cache-Cache en Médoc: in partnership with the Medullian Community of Communes, the network of libraries and the Médoc Plein Sud Tourist Office, treasure hunts have been organized in several localities. To play, it's simple, you have to go to the town hall or the Tourist Office (in season) to pick up the leaflet or click to download it , print it and play. It's free, fun, and a smart way to move and walk. Children love it, parents love it too.

On holiday in the South of the Médoc, you will not be bored, whatever the season. Because here, there are always things to do, even if it is a bit cold. Between the beach, the villages, the walks, the forest, the gastronomic pleasures, you can spend a pleasant stay or weekend with your family, with new adventures every day. And to vary the pleasures, the Bordeaux metropolis, the Arcachon Basin, the small Medocan villages are within a radius of one hour maximum! See you soon in South Médoc!