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On foot in Haute-Gironde

Haute-Gironde is the birthplace of the largest estuary in Western Europe, walking the length of which is an experience affording countless surprises and taking you through often unexpectedly varied landscapes. You can set off in discovery of the region’s vineyards, marshes, forests an...
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Haute-Gironde is the birthplace of the largest estuary in Western Europe, walking the length of which is an experience affording countless surprises and taking you through often unexpectedly varied landscapes. You can set off in discovery of the region’s vineyards, marshes, forests and lakes, and the rivers that have shaped an undulating plateau providing marvellous views over the Gironde Estuary.
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With a rich heritage and top-quality local gastronomy to help you along the way, hiking across the region takes you through picturesque villages, winegrowing châteaux, Romanesque churches and ports.

The 75 km of hiking trails alongside the Gironde Estuary should be more than enough to ensure a fascinating visit to the region, leading you past the villages of Anglade, Etauliers, Saint-Ciers sur Gironde and Saint-Androny and to the sampling of fine Côtes de Bourg, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wines.

Discovering nature

The great marshes of Saint-Ciers sur Gironde

Migrating birds find food and rest aplenty on these lands bathed by the waters of the Estuary and where the vegetation is remarkable for its luxuriant diversity. Marked-out footpaths enable discreet visitors to venture into this privileged little world.

Blaye Tourist Office organises guided nature visits from February to October. +33 5 57 32 88 88

Zoom in on Terres d’Oiseaux

Terres d’Oiseaux covers 120 hectares running alongside Port des Callonges and the Gironde Estuary, a stretch of marshland offering shelter to over 110 bird species every year, including teals, egrets, harriers and white stilts.

The ornithological reserve is made up of two areas. The first may be accessed free of charge and is equipped with a 35-m2 viewing tower, from which visitors can observe the birds in their habitat from a height of 10 metres.

The second charges an admission fee and is made up of a trio of ornithological trails equipped with observatories. Guided visits provide an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with the reserve’s supervisors. Visits take a sensory approach, putting all five senses to work with the help of woodlands, birdsong and tactile sculptures.

Canton of Saint-Ciers Tourist Office 
+33 5 57 32 88 88
tourisme@cc-estuaire.fr  www.ot-estuaire.fr

 Discovering heritage

Built between 1685 and 1689 by the famous architect Vauban, and designed to protect Bordeaux from sea invasion, the Blaye Citadel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 under the name “Vauban’s Lock”, along with Fort Pâté and Fort Médoc on the Estuary’s left bank.

Guided visits are organised by the Blaye Tourist Office, from April to September for individuals and all year round for groups, upon reservation.

Canton of Blaye Tourist Office
+33 5 57 42 12 09
info@tourisme-blaye.com  www.tourisme-blaye.eu/

With the Bourg Tourist Office

 Located on the banks of the Dordogne, Bourg en Gironde invites you to wander its narrow little streets in discovery of the old wash house, the port, the château and – why not indeed? – the Musée des Calèches (barouche museum) and the craftsmen’s workshop...
Canton of Bourg Tourist Office
+33 (0)5.57.68.31.76 www.bourg-en-gironde.fr

Romanesque churches

The churches and Templar chapels in Magrigne, Asques and Saint-Martin-Lacaussade once provided lodging for pilgrims on the Way of Saint James of Compostela. The chapel in Magrigne contains some very fine murals and a Maltese cross.

The Saint-Saturnin-de-la-Libarde chapel in Bourg includes a magnificent and very old Romanesque crypt and sculpted capitals.

The remains of the Saint-Romain crypt are on the site of a vast necropolis in which, so legend has it, the body of Roland lay.

Also well worth a visit are the churches in Marcenais, Saint-Gervais, Tauriac, Bayon, Cars, Fours, Cartelègue, Saint-Genès-de-Blaye, Saint-Laurent d’Arce and Marcillac.

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