Médoc and Haut Médoc

The Médoc, between vineyards, estuary and ocean

When you think of the Médoc, you immediately picture: vineyards and their exceptional wines, the vision of a wine-growing region with a worldwide reputation and 60 classified Grand Cru vineyards. But it's also for all nature lovers: the scent of maritime pines, the ocean and its beautiful wild beaches, the great lakes, and the Gironde estuary.

These entities, the Médoc Viticole with its limestone soils and the Médoc Maritime, with the Atlantic coast and the Verdon, mark the boundary with the Gironde estuary. They come together to form a territory where the preservation of the environment and natural spaces is paramount.

The Médoc occupies the northwest of the Gironde department.

Lesparre-Médoc, a sub-prefecture of the Gironde department, is in some ways its administrative capital and an ideal location, being quite central. It allows for easy exploration of the region towards the estuary, the ocean, and the hinterland of the Haut-Médoc and its vineyards. The town hosts a Médoc wine fair during the first week of August.

From Bordeaux to Soulac, the Médoc region produces eight prestigious appellations : Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, and Saint-Julien. Wine tourism has flourished, and many family-owned estates and châteaux are open to visitors year-round or on special days.

To the rhythm of the estuary

On the banks of the Gironde estuary, one can discover picturesque little towns whose history is largely linked to the life-giving river.

• Port Macau dates back to the Gallo-Roman period. Its marshes, port, islands and beautiful houses constitute a unique heritage, as does its small 12th-century church, remodeled in the 19th century and listed for its fortified bell tower.
• The small port of Issan offers a lovely view of the Margaux vineyards, first classified growths and its small village.
• The Port of Lamarque is considered the gateway to the Médoc. The ferry transports passengers, bicycles, and cars from one bank of the Gironde to the other, from Lamarque to Blaye. In the village, the Saint Seurin church, with its dome, restored in 2005, and its four large bull's-eye windows opening onto the estuary and the Médoc, is quite unique, as is its Escher-like staircase, reminiscent of the staircase leading to the monastery library in the film " The Name of the Rose," based on the novel by Umberto Eco.

From Island to Island

The Gironde estuary boasts a string of islands, between the Médoc and the Blaye regions, some deserted, others long inhabited, some open to visitors, others secluded, havens of peace, planted with vines, and paradises for flora and fauna. These are favored stopping places, most of which now belong to the Conservatoire du Littoral (Coastal Conservancy ). Their names are:

• Green Island (born from the merger of the islands of Cazeau, North Island, and Green Island);
• Ile Nouvelle (formed from the union of Île Bouchaud and Île Sans-Pain);
• Patiras Island and its lighthouse;
• Margaux Island ;
• Ile Pâté (private property) housing the fort of the same name which together with Fort-médoc;
• The Citadel of Blaye, the famous defensive triptych of Bordeaux, "the lock of the estuary" listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Built in 1691 by Vauban, the fort has been owned by the municipality of Cussac-Fort-Médoc since 1930, located between vineyards (Saint Julien) and the estuary.

In the middle of the vineyards

Pauillac, a small town on the river, is the capital of the Médoc wine region. It is world-renowned for being home to three prestigious Premier Cru Classé estates: Mouton-Rothschild, Latour, and Lafite-Rothschild. It boasts around a hundred wine estates. It also has a fishing port and a small marina. Along the riverbank, carrelets, traditional huts with enormous rectangular nets, await the fishermen.

From Pauillac, you can visit the Île de Patiras, sail among the islands of the Gironde estuary, and even reach the Vauban fortifications. The small church of Saint-Martin is unique in that it is topped with a pediment inspired by Greek art. A stop at the Maison du Tourisme et du Vin (Tourism and Wine Center ) will allow you to discover the eight appellations of the Médoc and 300 different wines available for purchase.

In July and August, several events and gatherings are offered by winegrowers who let you taste their products.

Near Pauillac, in the small hamlet of Artigues, a replica of the Lourdes grotto has become a place of pilgrimage. Another point of interest is the small hamlet of Bages, entirely restored by the Cazes family, owners of the Château Lynch-Bages. It is home to the Château Cordeillan-Bages, a Relais & Châteaux hotel, and a bakery. Also in the vicinity of Pauillac, the Vertheuil Abbey Church is a jewel of Romanesque art.

Moulis-en-Médoc bears witness to human presence since the 1st century. Remains of a Gallo-Roman villa have been discovered. Its church, Saint-Saturnin, is a fine example of Romanesque art. From the village, one can embark on a 12 km walk winding through the vineyards. Château Maucaillou houses a museum of the arts and crafts of viticulture and winemaking.

Saint-Estèphe faces the estuary and boasts prestigious châteaux, including five classified growths. Fishing is a true institution. At water level, one can admire the traditional fishing huts – emblematic of the estuary's heritage – and the church of Saint-Estèphe is the only Baroque church in the Gironde department.

Beautiful and rebellious

All along the Médoc region, there are beautiful beaches that have retained their wild and unspoiled character.

Le Verdon-sur-mer at the tip of the Médoc

Soulac-sur-mer, a family seaside resort

Picturesque with its charming early 20th-century villas and 7 kilometers of beach, Soulac was one of the first seaside towns to establish sea bathing. It has also been a pilgrimage center since the 14th century, with the Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela.

A small tourist train provides service during the summer from Pointe de Grave to Soulac-les-Arros. This 7 km long railway line offers lovely views of the forest, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cordouan lighthouse offshore.

Vendays-Montalivet appeals to naturists

Nestled between forests (6,000 hectares), beaches (12 km), marshes, and the ocean, it is a protected natural site. Montalivet boasts several naturist beaches. On the edge of the forest, the La Grange du Patrimoine museum presents the Médoc region through 100,000 years of history.

Carcans, Lake, beaches and ocean

Lacanau-Océan, surfing as a horizon

Originally a small seaside resort whose first villas appeared in 1906, Lacanau has become, today, with its legendary waves, the Mecca of European surfing. World surfing championships are held there in mid-August.

Surrounded by pine trees and dunes, with 16 kilometers of beaches, it is also a very natural place, populated by immense forests, and where several kilometers of cycle paths have been laid out.

Lacanau-Lac and its 21 km² expanse of water are very popular with boating enthusiasts and anglers. With its lush vegetation, it is a haven for migratory birds and numerous animal species, an ideal place for observing wildlife and flora. After the Étang de Cousseau and the Hourtin marshes, the Lacanau lake biological reserve is the third site in the Médoc region to be classified as a nature reserve.

Le Porge, the last seaside resort in the Médoc

Its coastline, untouched by construction, offers a wilder environment and a playground conducive to outdoor sports.

Numerous hiking trails allow you to explore the 10,000 hectares of pine forests or the dunes. With its 13 kilometers of ocean beaches, it's a peaceful, quiet place for a holiday close to nature.