Bordeaux
Villages & vineyards of Medoc
2009 Walking Tours in France

The Médoc, or Middle Country, is the stretch of land to the northwest of Bordeaux, framed on the east by the estuary of the Gironde and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It is protected from the Atlantic by an immense forest. In the ideal climate of the region, the vines grow in a mix of sand and gravel that facilitates water drainage. The vineyards stretch from the north to the south and consist of eight appellations. Two regional appellations are the Médoc and Haut Médoc. The other six are named for villages of the area and are known as being among the greatest red wines throughout the world : Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Listrac, Moulis and Margaux. You will discover these great, magnificently maintained châteaux, as well as the surrounding vineyards looking out over the Gironde. But you will find as well, the marshy and agricultural lands of the Médoc, surprises opening onto the ocean, and charming, peaceful villages.

DURATION: 8 days TOURCODE: C151-LU GRADE: Easy: grade 2 DAY STAGES: 17 - 22 kms DATES: Start April to October PRICE: 2400 A$/ person (twin-share) Single Supplement : A$ 748 / 948 Check price in your own currency Accommodation: *** hôtels. 7 nights Budget travellers ; 2 * accommodation PRICE: 1833 A$/ person (twin-share)

Luxury Tour.In this tour, we give priority to comfort and service of hotels and to the quality of the restaurant. You will stop in 2,3 star hotels located in beautiful places and very often recommended by important guidebooks such as the Guide Rouge or the Gault-Millau Guide. We don’t hesitate to escort you by taxi at the end of the walk to stay in the best hotel in the area (old castles, farmhouses or water-mills…)
For info and bookings on walking tours, contact us.

Walking tour around Bordeaux
Day 1 : Arrival at SAINT CRISTOLY MEDOC. Escort by taxi from the Lesparre Médoc train station to Saint Cristoly. You will stay in La Maison des Douanes, once a pay station for boats passing through customs, now an excellent restaurant offering luxurious rooms with a splendid view of the Gironde estuary. It has, as well, a restaurant of superb quality. You will spend the afternoon touring the port and the village, which is home to a beautiful Romanesque church.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 3-star-equivalent establishment.

Day 2 : STROLL THROUGH THE VINEYARDS OF THE MEDOC (22 km). We suggest two different itineraries for today’s journey, one of 16 kilometers or one of 21. Each will show to you the delights of the vineyards, the charming village of Saint Yzans de Médoc, and the ruins of the medieval Ile Abbey, built on a small hill overlooking the marshlands. You will arrive at the small port of La Maréchale and then the Loudenne Château, a magnificent, pink-brick property. After having passed through vineyards and prairies and walked along the estuary of the Gironde– lined with strange little cabins from where fishermen catch eels and lampreys and other fishes with a flat, square-shaped net they put at the bottom of the water and lift after – you will return to Saint Cristoly.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in the same establishment.

Day 3 : THE VINEYARD OF SAINT ESTEPHE (17 km). Escort by taxi to Saint Seurin de Cadourne. You will head off from the village through the vineyards and marshy prairies that follow until you reach the village of Saint Estèphe. Again, you will leave by way of the vineyards, this time en route to discover the grands châteaux : Château Calon-Ségur, Château Phélan-Ségur, Château Montrose, Château Tronquoy-Lalande, Château Pomys, Château Cos-Labory and Cos d’Estournel. You will cross through another marshy zone to arrive in the commune of Pauillac, where you will admire the grand château of Lafite-Rothschild. Then, traversing pleasant viticultural hamlets, you will arrive at the banks of the Gironde and at Pauillac.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel (rec. GM, GR)

Day 4 : THE VINEYARD OF PAUILLAC (19 km). You will follow the banks of the Garonne, passing by the Château Grand Puy Ducasse, and will head into the vineyards to discover the châteaux Pontet-Canet, Armailhac, and Mouton-Rothschild. You will pass through the hamlet of Pouyalet and then the vineyards to the châteaux of La Tour-Pibran and Pibran. You will take a quick detour to visit the Château Plantey, in the hamlet of Artigues, and continue your journey towards the Châteaux Lynch-Moussas, Batailley and Haut Batailley. You will then reach the hamlet of Daubos, where lies the Château Pichon-Longueville and, opposite that Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. You will pass Château Latour, the châteaux Haut Bagès Liberal and Saint Mambert. Following the banks of the Garonne, you will find your way back to Pauillac.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in the same hotel

Day 5 : THE VINEYARD OF SAINT JULIEN (19 km). You will follow the Gironde out of Pauillac. From the estuary’s edge, you will look out upon the vineyard of the Château Latour and the magnificent châteaux of Pichon-Longueville. Crossing through the vineyards, you will head towards the châteaux Talbot, Lagrange and Gruaud-Larose before arriving in the hamlet of Beychevelle. Your trek will bring you to the châteaux of Branaire-Ducru, Beychevelle, Beaucaillou, Langda and La Mouline. You will then visit the village of Saint Julien and its church, which takes pride in its 15th century Gothic portal. Escort by taxi from Saint Julien to Margaux, where you will spend the night.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel in Margaux (rec. GM, GR)

Day 6 : THE VINEYARDS OF MOULIS AND LISTRAC (23 km). Escort by taxi to the hamlet of Grand Poujeaux. After having seen the Château Chasse Pleen, you will pass through the vineyards towards the Château Maucaillou, then through the forest to the Château Lafon. A small road with bring you to Listrac and the 13th century church that stands as the highest point in the Médoc. After having visited the village, you will head out towards Moulis en Médoc, crossing through the vineyards of Château Lestage and Château Clarcke. From the fortified church (dating to the 12th and 13th centuries), you will make your way to the hamlet of Le Petit Poujeaux, and then to the old Tiquetorte watermill. You will cross through the forest and arrive at the Château Citran. You will continue along the road towards the hamlet of Tayac, then the village of Soussans. You are now in the midst of the Margaux vineyard. You will see the Château de la Tour de Mons as you make your way towards Margaux, passing through the hamlet of Marsac, and the Château of La Begorce and Château Lascombes.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in the same hotel

Day 7 : THE VINEYARD OF MARGAUX (18 km). The vineyard stretches out across several villages and the start of your journey for the day will be an escort by taxi to Labarde. You will see the Châteaux of Siran and Dauzac before arriving at the Château Giscours, across the vineyard. Crossing through the forest and around a couple ponds, you will arrive at the Château d’Angludet and the village of Cantenac. Located in this village are several large properties, including the Châteaux Branc-Cantenac, Desmirail and Prieure-Lichine. You will leave, again by the vineyard, towards the magnificent and majestic Château Cantenac-Brown. You will next direct yourself towards the Château Rauzan and Château Palmer. You will skirt along the perimeter of the territory of Château Issan and end the day at the Château Margaux, one of most famous châteaux in the region.
Dinner, lodging and breakfast in the same hotel

Day 8 : MARGAUX. Tour ends after breakfast

The price includes:
lodging and breakfast with or without dinner in a double bedroom for 7 days (see the tour description)
luggage transport from one hotel to the next one
the road book

Transfers by taxi : Lesparre railstation-St Cristoly, St Cristoly-St Seurin de Cadourne, St Julien-Margaux, Margaux-Grand Poujeaux, Margaux-Labarde

Not included:
Lunches, drinks, and sundries.
Insurance for cancellation.

To get there: By train: Go to Bordeaux, connection to Lesparre-Medoc and taxi to St Cristoly. Trains from Margaux to Bordeaux
By road: Go to Bordeaux, take the ring. Exit 7 towards Le Medoc and take the D1 road. Skirt around Castelnau and continue on to Lesparre-Medoc along the D215 road. At the end of Lesparre turn right to St Critoly
Car park facilities: unguarded free car park at Lesparre or St Cristoly. Trains from Margaux to Lesparre and taxi to St Cristoly

  
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