South-Gironde, Haute-Lande and Sauternais

South Gironde, Haute-Lande and Sauternais, the left bank of the Garonne

This prosperous region lies between the Sauternes vineyards and the Graves wines. The vast Landes forest shelters castles and picturesque villages. It is also the ideal place for outdoor recreation such as hiking or cycling, as well as water sports : swimming in the lakes of Hostens, fishing on the rivers and the Canal des Deux-Mers.

La Brède, birthplace of Montesquieu

The small village of La Brède, and especially its castle, was home to an illustrious writer and Enlightenment philosopher: Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu et de la Brède. Born in 1689, he spent a good part of his life there.

In 1951, the Château de la Brède was classified as a Historical Monument and its entire estate became so in 2008.

A few kilometers away, in Martillac, the Rochermorin castle housed the family vineyard. Montesquieu retained this love for the vine throughout his life. He was an excellent ambassador for it.

Langon, an economic crossroads

A sub-prefecture of the Gironde department, Langon's vineyards and ports along the Garonne River brought economic prosperity to the town in the 17th century. Langon boasts numerous vestiges of past centuries, such as:

• The Notre-Dame du Bourg church, dating from the 12th century, eight of whose capitals are exhibited at the Cloisters Museum in New York.
• The Saint Gervais church, a beautiful period building.

282 hectares of the commune are currently made up of vineyards.

Located between Langon and Bazas, the Château de Roquetaillade (private property) is an architectural ensemble comprising two fortified castles dating from the 12th and early 14th centuries. During the Renaissance, the castle was restored by the renowned architect Viollet-le-Duc. Its furnishings are listed as Historical Monuments.

At the gates of the castle, La Métairie houses a museum of rural life around 1850.

Bazas and its famous beef

For discerning gourmets, Bazas evokes the tender, succulent, and flavorful meat that is the pride of this region. The Bazadaise breed is celebrated every year during the Fat Cattle Festival.

A fortified town, bishopric, and former sub-prefecture, the commune is rich in history. It is home to a 13th-century cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. Its triple portal on the façade, entirely sculpted, as well as the medieval garden that runs alongside the building, are particularly remarkable.

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Bazas was known for its glassworks, an exceptional collection of which can be seen at the Apothecary Museum. The museum also displays other collections, showcasing 2,500 years of Bazas' history.

Also worth visiting are the arcaded square, the ramparts and the old town.

Villandraut, on the banks of the Ciron

Villandraut was the birthplace of Bertrand de Goth, who became Clement V, the first Avignon pope. Its 14th-century fortified castle, of which six monumental round towers, the ramparts, and the sentry walk still remain, served for a few years as a papal court. The Villandraut municipal museum, dedicated to local heritage, displays its collections in the rectangular Braneyre house, dating from 1753.

A few kilometers from Villandraut, the collegiate church of Uzeste, a marvel of Gothic art, houses within its walls the tomb of Clement V.

Twelve kilometers away, the Royal Château of Cazeneuve, dating from the 13th and 17th centuries, overlooks the Ciron River. It was once owned by the Dukes of Albret, the Kings of Navarre, and Henry IV. Queen Margot was confined there. The château is fully furnished with period pieces and features medieval cellars and troglodyte caves. Its 40-hectare wooded park and English-style gardens are classified as a Natura 2000 site.

Hostens and its lakes

In the heart of the Landes forest, no trace remains of this past dedicated to surface lignite mining. The Gironde General Council has transformed the 600-hectare site (including 200 hectares of lakes) into a departmental area for sports and leisure, and for discovering local flora and fauna. Hostens and its lakes are classified as a Natura 2000 site.

The former railway line, now dismantled, has become a greenway, linking Belin-Beliet or the Arcachon basin to Saint Symphorien, Villandraut, and Bazas. A highly successful conversion.