La Cité du Vin, in Bordeaux, is a cultural space devoted to winemaking heritage, the Bordeaux region's spearhead attraction. A flagship wine tourism destination since 2016, the museum covers 13,350 m² spread over 10 floors. Its architecture is a curiosity in itself, due to its round exterior, wooden vault and 55-metre-high spire marking its presence in the area.

On the second floor of the building, the permanent exhibition is the heart of La Cité and offers a real initiation into the world of wine. Around twenty themed areas, based on interviews with qualified experts and offering a commentary via a digital tool, make for an interactive visit full of discoveries. All aspects of wine are revealed, spanning the centuries, countries and cultures of the whole world!

On the first floor of La Cité du Vin, a temporary exhibition area covering more than 700 m² displays works of art from prestigious museums or private collections. 35 metres high, the belvedere on the eighth floor offers a unique sensory experience, with wine from all over the world to taste, in addition to its superb view over Bordeaux and its surroundings. Another highlight of the place, the Wild Garden (Jardin sauvage), created in a Natura 2000-certified area, is a link between La Cité du Vin, the Garonne and the vineyards.

Renowned throughout the world for its famous vineyards, the capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine also has a prestigious built heritage. Jewel of the eighteenth century, the city of Art and History of Bordeaux, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, takes its visitors to the Time of Enlightenment. An urban and architectural ensemble of the most remarkable to appreciate the time of a discovery walk along its quays of the Garonne, its elegant streets and its monumental squares. Among the must-see places inherited from this period are the bustling Place de la Comédie, with its neo-classical Grand Théâtre decorated with majestic Corinthian columns, the Place de la Bourse with its Fountain of the Three Graces, or the alleys of Tourny.

Strolling through the historic center also means going to meet medieval Bordeaux: the Saint-André cathedral with carved portals, the Gothic choir and the Renaissance organ tribune, the imposing Cailhau gate dedicated to Charles VIII, the Sainte-Croix church with its carved façade in Saintongeais Romanesque style, or the Porte de la Grosse Cloche, belfry of the old town hall, are all testimonies of this. Isolated bell tower of the Saint-André Cathedral, the Pey Berland tower of the fifteenth century offers from its summit a wonderful panorama of the roofs and bell towers of the city. A view that is still deserved only after climbing the 231 steps of the narrow spiral staircase! Not far from this jewel of flamboyant Gothic stretches the famous pedestrian street Sainte-Catherine, a long commercial artery appreciated by shopping enthusiasts, which connects the Place de la Victoire to the Place de la Comédie.

Garden lovers will prefer the banks of the Garonne where extends on both sides of the splendid water mirror the very nice Garden of Lights. With a beautiful view of the river and the Bastide district on the right bank, this vast space with pedestrian paths and flowerbeds is punctuated by many lampposts that light up in a magical way as soon as night falls. Walkers can then continue their walk towards the huge esplanade of quinconces where stand on one side the two rostral columns, and on the other the illustrious monument to the Girondins built at the end of the nineteenth century in memory of the Gironde deputies victims of the Terror. Classified as a Historic Monument, the latter consists of two pools decorated with bronze sea horses and a column 43 meters high at the top of which culminates a Statue of Liberty breaking its chains. A few streets away is the public garden, a 10-hectare English-style park popular with strollers and joggers, which houses a botanical garden, a library and a museum of natural history.

The City of Light is also a destination of choice for visitors thirsting for culture: Museum of Aquitaine, dedicated to the history of Bordeaux and Aquitaine from Prehistory to the present day; Museum of Fine Arts with collections of paintings and sculptures ranging from the fifteenth to the twentieth century; Museum of Decorative Arts housing ceramics, furniture, paintings and engravings; National Customs Museum, dedicated to customs history in France; Museum of Natural History with zoological, mineralogical and paleontological collections; Museum of Contemporary Art, whose works take place in the former Lainé warehouse.

Finally, gourmets will not leave Bordeaux without having tasted the famous canelés, these delicious cupcakes scented with rum and vanilla that we will enjoy accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee...

At the end of June, the banks of the Garonne are jubilant at the time of one of the two flagship events of the city that are "Bordeaux celebrates the river" in odd years and "Bordeaux celebrates wine" in even years. On the program: concerts, shows, fireworks, as well as many animations!

To learn about the history of Bordeaux and its region, head to the Museum of Aquitaine, located on Cours Pasteur, in Gironde's capital city. Attached to it are the Jean Moulin Centre, the national centre for the French Resistance, and the Goupil Museum (a dynasty of international art publishers), accessible to students and researchers only.

The Museum of Aquitaine has some very rich collections, from Prehistory to the contemporary era. Among its masterpieces are the Venus of Laussel (- 25000 B.C.), the treasure of Pauilhac (- 3500 B.C.), Montaigne's cenotaph (late 16th century), "the Heretics", drawings by Auguste Rodin, etc.

There is a choice of tours: self-guided, with an audio-guide or guided with a commentary.

The Jean Moulin Centre, meanwhile, has a documentation centre about the Second World War, and a museum about the history of the Resistance, the Deportation and the Free French Forces.

Formerly the property of the Albret family and of King Henry IV, Vayres Castle, built in the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries, majestically overlooks the Dordogne. Besides its wonderful view of the famous river, the Vayres estate also boasts a park which has been awarded the Remarkable Garden label. The elegant French formal gardens, the medieval-style flower garden and mill walk make it an enchanting place for a leisurely stroll... Children and adults can also have fun by taking part in an outdoor riddle trail!

Medieval, Renaissance and classical in style, Vayres Castle, a listed Historic Monument, also has a range of attractions, with its guard room, grand drawing room, Henry IV drawing room, library and chapel of murmurs, which you can admire on a tour.

A festival of swashbuckling in July, as well as night-time performances by torchlight, are highlights of the summer calendar.

A masterpiece of Romanesque art, La Sauve-Majeure Abbey, founded in 1079, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Ways of St. James. Beloved by pilgrims, this former Benedictine abbey, a listed Historic Monument, retains some magnificent remains within its ruined church, as evidenced by the choir's remarkable historiated capitals. Beautifully kept, their carved details depict biblical, fantastical and plant motifs. Original sin, Daniel in the lions' den, Samson's life, the temptation of Christ, the sacrifice of Abraham, the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist and a battle of mythical creatures are among the narrative scenes you can admire at La Sauve-Majeure.

As well as the gems of the abbey church, you can also see traces of the chapter room with its low columns, a few remains of the scriptorium, and a wall with Gothic bays belonging to the refectory.

Before leaving, the bravest visitors will want to climb the 157 steps in the bell tower. From the top, there's a beautiful panoramic view of the abbey site, the village of La Sauve and the landscapes of Entre-deux-Mers!

In the college's old chapel, a stone museum with a collection of sculptures from the abbey rounds off the visit.

A pleasant and picturesque small town perched on the banks of the Dordogne… Come and discover the town of Bourg and the attractions that make it so charming! The citadel castle, with its horse-drawn carriage museum "Au temps des calèches", French formal gardens and terrace overlooking the lower town and surrounding landscape, the Moorish house built in the 18th and 19th centuries, the 18th-century Jurade mansion complete with bell tower, covered market and 19th-century washhouse, and the river harbour are some of the local heritage attractions you can see on your outing.

The famous Gironde cliff road runs for around ten kilometres between Bourg and Blaye. Dotted with stone houses and pretty, flower-adorned cave dwellings, this charming road also reveals wonderful views of the Gironde estuary!

Founded in 1270 by Lieutenant Roger de Leyburn, the fortified harbour town of Libourne, located at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Isle, enjoyed a rich history linked to the trade in wool, wine, salt and wood, which has left it with an interesting heritage. It's a nice place to explore, with its stopping place for boats, its docks, its Grand Port tower and its arcaded square, Place Abel Surchamp! The latter, both vast and elegant, is surrounded by ancient façades, among which stands the 15th-century town hall, which was extended in the late 19th century. On the second floor of this beautiful building is the Museum of Fine Arts, whose collections consist of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts.

To stock up on fresh produce, the town of Libourne has no fewer than three markets a week, which all take place on the big arcaded square on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings!

Full of charm, this magnificent polygonal, Gothic fortress is elegantly reflected in the waters of its wide moat. A place full of romance that one never ceases to admire, so harmonious does it look amid its lush green surroundings…

The birthplace of the illustrious Enlightenment philosopher, Charles Louis de Secondat aka Montesquieu, on 18 January 1689, La Brède Castle was regularly visited by the latter, who wrote part of his work The Spirit of the Laws there. Follow in the footsteps of Montesquieu with a guided tour of his library and his bedroom, maintained just as it was in the 18th century...

Nestled in a wooded area of about 150 hectares, this haven of peace can also be appreciated on a lovely walk through the French and English-style gardens, or in the quiet woods, places of serenity and tranquillity that once inspired the famous writer from La Brède...

With a surface area of 600 km², length of 75 kilometres and width of 12 kilometres at its mouth, the Gironde estuary is the biggest estuary in Western Europe!

Formed by the confluence of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne, this wild estuary full of remarkable wildlife stretches between marshes and wet meadows, the prestigious vineyards of the Médoc and limestone cliffs of Meschers-sur-Gironde. To add to the charm of the place, traditional quaint liftnet fishing cabins are dotted along the unspoilt banks of the estuary...

This is an exceptional natural environment where wild birds such as the Grey Heron, Little Egret and White Stork, and migratory fish, such as sturgeon, eel and lamprey, all have their place. The Gironde estuary can also boast of being the only estuary in the world where European sturgeon travel to breed!

To protect Bordeaux from sea invasions, Vauban, the famous military engineer to King Louis XIV, devised a defensive arsenal, with the Blaye Citadel, Fort Pâté and Fort Médoc, three places which are now UNESCO World Heritage sites...

To get from one side to the other, you have a choice of two ferries that provide a service between Le Verdon-sur-Mer and Royan, and between Blaye and Lamarque daily.

Perched at the heart of one of the most prestigious Bordelais vineyards, the famous village of Saint-Émilion, while of course being known for its great wines, also boasts an architectural heritage that's remarkable to say the least!

The charming medieval town, standing proudly on its rocky promontory, is a delight for lovers of old buildings, who can stroll to their hearts' content along the sloping, narrow streets dotted with old houses. Lovers of great views should be sure to take a walk up the King's Tower (Tour du Roy)! This imposing 13th-century keep indeed offers a lovely view of the roofs and vineyards of Saint-Émilion. Religious architecture enthusiasts, for their part, can admire the cloister of the collegiate church and its old enfeus (tomb niches), the unusual monolithic church dug out of the rock in the 11th century, or the Cordeliers Cloister with its elegant small columns. As for food-lovers and gourmets, they can enjoy a grand cru-rated wine or delicious macaroons made the traditional way since 1620!

Designed in the 17th century by the famous military architect Vauban as a true walled city to protect Bordeaux from sea invasions, the imposing Blaye Citadel stands proudly on a rocky promontory majestically overlooking the Gironde estuary. A listed Historic Monument, this place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Major Vauban Sites! The ramparts, fortified gates, barracks, prison and gunpowder magazine are evidence of the defensive system that visitors can see on a tour. A trip to see the Blaye fortifications is also a chance to admire magnificent views of the largest estuary in Western Europe! And to learn more about the history and heritage of Blaye, you can choose between the Museum of Art and History of the Pays Blayais, with varied collections, a guided tour of the citadel and its underground passages, or a guided tour on the little tourist train.

To stock up on fresh produce, head to Blaye market, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning on the Allées des Soupirs. A renowned theatre festival is held every year in late August-early September, at the heart of the Vauban citadel.

Nestling on the banks of the famous Arcachon Bay, the pleasant little seaside resort of Andernos-les-Bains delights holidaymakers who like swimming and sunbathing as well as oyster-loving gourmets.

Its famous pier, which stretches over 230 metres, is one of the longest in France and offers a superb view of the unique landscape of Arcachon Bay from the end. Its beautiful sandy beaches, sailing club, casino, shops, restaurants, and its oyster farm, which has a small oyster museum and offers fresh oyster tastings, are sure to delight you!

As you walk along the seafront, do not miss the ruins of the 4th-century Gallo-Roman villa, a listed Historic Monument at the foot of St. Eloi Church...

Built from the late 16th century onwards at the request of Jean-Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, a favourite of King Henry III and the first Duke of Épernon, Cadillac Castle still towers majestically over the Garonne and the fortified town of Cadillac... Captured and looted during the French Revolution, the building became a penitentiary for women between 1818 and 1890, where conditions were particularly harsh, until it became an education centre for girls in 1952. Now a Historic Monument open to the public, Cadillac Castle invites you to discover its history of grandeur and decadence.

On an independent or guided tour, admire the treasures that made this estate so splendid during the time of the dukes, such as the painted ceilings, monumental fireplaces and old tapestries that magnificently adorn the castle apartments!

Before leaving the property, be sure to pay a visit to the French formal garden, which is now a municipal park and sits elegantly alongside the town's fortifications.

Of the former Benedictine abbey of Saint-Nicolas de Blasimon, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the following parts remain today: a charming church which is a listed Historic Monument, a square tower and the remains of monastic buildings. When exploring this peaceful place, you are sure to be captivated by the church's magnificent Romanesque portal with six arches, adorned with numerous carved designs!

Known all over the world for its prestigious great wines, such as Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Sauternes, the Bordeaux vineyard, with its 117,200 hectares of vines, 8,000 châteaux and nearly 10,000 wine-growers, is also the biggest AOC vineyard in France! Comprising six main terroirs, the Médoc, Libournais, Sauternais, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers and Blayais-Bourgeais, which are in turn divided into several appellations such as Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Moulis-en-Médoc or Pauillac for the Médoc region, the Bordelais vineyard has no fewer than 57 different appellations! Red wines make up around 80% of the production and mainly come from the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. The rest of the production consists of dry and sweet white wines made from the Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grape varieties, as well as rosé wines from the same varieties as the red wines.

Many wine estates open to the public offer cellar tours and tastings. For instance, this is the case with Châteaux Siran, Margaux, Lanessan, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild and Loudenne in Médoc, or the Châteaux of Yquem and Filhot in Sauternes. It's also a chance for gourmet visitors to go from château en château, discovering the scenery and architectural attractions that have made this vast land so famous.

A big mountain biking trek combining wine and sports, La Médocaine takes place at the end of May every year, with thousands of participants in costume travelling along the Médoc roads in a party atmosphere!

Perched on a rocky outcrop, the village of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont proudly overlooks the vineyards of Bordeaux. The 15th and 16th-century castle, which now houses the town hall, has a terrace with an orientation table that offers a great view of the Garonne Valley, as well as the Pyrenees on a clear day!

In Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, besides Tastes Castle and its extensive, panoramic views, you can also discover a church known for its 12th-century portal, and an amazing geological site composed of oyster fossils dating back 22 million years...

The municipality of Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps, in Libournais, is home to an amazing example of Romanesque art: Saint-Pierre de Petit-Palais Church, dating from the 12th century. A listed Historic Monument, the latter retains a magnificent façade adorned with many carved motifs!

Saint-Macaire, Gironde, is a must for anyone looking to enjoy a place steeped in heritage. Indeed, this charming medieval town has narrow streets dotted with beautiful old houses. Remarkably, its arcaded square, named Place du Mercadiou, is surrounded by medieval houses with twin bay windows and Renaissance homes adorned with mullioned windows. A delightfully picturesque place that deserves some attention for a moment, if only to admire the magnificent façade of the former Henry IV coaching inn!

While the City of Saint-Macaire is particularly known for its Place du Mercadiou, it is also known for its Church of St. Saviour and St. Martin, which has beautiful murals within its walls! Dating back to the medieval period, specifically the 14th and 15th centuries, these adorn the vaults of the choir and illustrate the Apocalypse and the life of St. John. Right next to the church stands the former Benedictine priory of St. Saviour, of which the south wing and its Romanesque cloister colonnade remain.

Located south-east of Arcachon Bay, in the municipality of Le Teich, in the Gascon Landes Regional Nature Park, this protected natural area of 110 hectares is home to a large number of wild birds, who thrive in its salt marshes, lagoons, reed beds, meadows and woodlands. No fewer than 319 species, including 88 nesting, have been counted there! Migratory birds that stop by there include the Common Crane, Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Pied Avocet. The Grey Heron, Great Egret, White Stork, Black-backed Gull and Shelduck are among the species living there throughout the year.

Open to the public throughout the year, the bird sanctuary provides its visitors with a loop trail 6 km, walkable in 3 or 4 hours, dotted with observation huts, identification signs and elevated viewpoints to explore the site at your leisure while taking care to ensure peace and welfare for the birds. To admire the winged wildlife without disturbing it, binoculars or a telescope are essential. Guided and commented tours are offered during the school holidays.

A famous shrine in Aquitaine, the Verdelais Basilica, built in the 17th and 19th centuries, has the distinction of housing in its Baroque choir a miraculous polychrome wooden statue of Our Lady of Verdelais, dating from the 14th century. The building also contains a large number of votive offerings in thanks for miracles performed, as well as stained glass windows depicting historical scenes of the sanctuary. Coming out of the basilica, be sure to look up at the bell tower topped by an imposing statue of the Virgin in gilded copper!

In Verdelais, you can also visit the Museum of Religious Art, located in the former Celestine monastery, which displays painted votive offerings dedicated to Our Lady of Verdelais, model boats, cloaks of the Virgin and Child, as well as sacred gold and silver pieces, and liturgical vestments.

Within Verdelais cemetery, close to the Basilica, lies the tomb of the famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec...

Located in the heart of the Médoc Landes, Lake Hourtin-Carcans, measuring 5,667 hectares, is the largest freshwater lake in France! A preserved natural environment with wild marshes, sand dunes and pine forests, this huge body of water is perfect for outdoor activities such as sailing, swimming, water skiing, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing, kite surfing, paddle boating, or walking and biking along the trails and cycle paths that line the shores of the lake. Supervised in the summer, the beautiful sandy beaches of Carcans-Maubuisson and Hourtin will delight lovers of relaxation, and are also great for kids, who can enjoy the calm waters of the lake safely...

Awarded the Famille Plus label, the resort of Hourtin is especially enchanting for little ones, with its Children's Island, a 10-hectare leisure park designed for children aged 3 months to 12 years old!

Located in the municipality of Mazères between Bazas and Langon, in the heart of the Gironde countryside, the Roquetaillade estate consists of two fortresses classified as Historic Monuments: an old castle from the 12th century and a newer 14th-century castle inhabited by the same family for over 700 years. Flanked by an imposing keep and round towers, the latter was sumptuously restored by Viollet-le-Duc. It has a unique interior designed by the famous architect in the 19th century! The Dining Room, the Pink Room, the Green Room, the Grand Staircase, as well as the Flemish tapestries in the Grand Drawing Room and the Renaissance monumental fireplaces, are all gems to admire during a tour. The tour of the property then continues outside in the park filled with century-old trees, in which stands the charming Eastern-style chapel of St. Michael...

Opposite the castle fort, take a trip to the Métairie, an ecomuseum dedicated to rural life in the 19th century, with its old-fashioned interiors, old tools, 12th-century dovecote and bread oven, as well as rare breed farm animals.

Built in the 14th century for Pope Clement V, who came from the region, the medieval castle of Villandraut, flanked by a wide moat, round towers and a gatehouse, has retained some imposing ruins as evidence of its past as a splendid palace fortress. To discover the history and architecture of the place, you can choose between an independent or guided tour.

On 14 July, the fortress is particularly animated during its Feast of Fools: jousting, juggling, sonnets, a medieval market and fire show are sure to take you back to the Middle Ages!