Bike and wine #3

The Tourist Office of Bourg is labeled for "Tourism and handicap" since 2009, and had a renewal for its national brand "Quality tourism" in 2014. The welcoming agent are there to help you book or simply to advise you, there is also a boutique for souvenirs made by the local artists and craftsman.

The wash house is continuously supplied with water from this fountain located 2à meters away, at the edge of the cliff. This villa, of moorish style overlooks the village and the banks of the Dordogne. Built in the beginning if the XXth Century, the owner, wanted to enjoy his retirement in Bourg while keeping souvenirs from years of services in North Africa. Today, private property, its surprise the visitors when they see it from the port or the Sea Gate.

This pretty Washhouse dates back to 1828. It is built with stone of "Bourgeais" and it has two large basins. It is continuously supplied with water from a fountain located 20 meters away, at the edge of the cliff.

At the Port of Bourg, plunge into the rich history of the village between, fishing, navigation and trade. Close to the picnic areas, some illustrated informations are at your disposal.

Lost in the vines, the church of St Trojan is a little one, that is the reason why we call it chapel. The romanesque entrance gate carry the bell tower. Make a stop to see the details on it.

The site of the Moron, 92 hectares, is a wet zone sheltering numerous botanical and animal species. It is a natural space and environmentally sensitive area whose protection is essential for natural heritage. The wet zones are dying (urbanization, intensification of the agricultural practices, the drainage) and must be absolutely protected because they shelter more than 50 % of the animal species and more than 30 % of French botanical species. That's why the site is awarded Natura 2000 (European network of protection of the natural heritage) and in ZNIEFF of class 1 (natural zone of environmental interest regarding fauna and flora). Thanks to this classification, we manage to maintain the species in their optimal ecological conditions.

"Window onto the estuary" are a counterpart of the discovery itineraries. They present you the canton history, geography, environment, patrimony or culture and in a larger point of view, the estuary. With this "Window onto the estuary", you will discover the natural site of t"Le Moron" labelised Natura 2000.

St Michel de Marcamps church is a Romanesque church from the 12th century. Its furniture almost disappeared. Nevertheless, its stained glasses were recently redone. In a contemporary style, they embody the natural and cultural heritage of the village of Prignac et Marcamps. Nowadays it welcomes exhibitions as well as concerts.

The cave of Pair non Pair is decorated with parietal engravings representing horses, ibexes, cervids, mammoths and cattle dated Aurignacien (between 33 000 and 26 000 years before Christ). Moving testimony of the artistic awakening of the humanity, it is one of the most remarkable decorated caves of the beginning of the upper Palaeolithic. It was discovered near the valley of Moron in 1881 by an eminent local archaeologist, François Daleau. We owe this find thanks to a cow which clamped its hoof in a hole. In Lascaux, 60 years later, it was the dog which opened the way by falling in a hole... Infos +33 (0)5 57 68 33 40.

The western front (except the steeple) is classified Historical Monument since 1954. The church has buttresses adorned with decorated corbels as the indoor and outdoor capitals are.

The oldest part of this church is the front which is supporting a portal dating from the Renaissance time. The rose was set up in 1865, the two aisles are ribbed vaulted so as the church body is. The Saint Joseph altar is made of wood with ornemental apertures.

In Villeneuve, you will have the pontoon with the different names of the fauna of this region carved on plates situated on the pontoon.

Explore this narrow and picturesque road which goes from Bourg to La Roque de Thaualong the Dordogne to reveal the training of the Estuary of the Gironde. Discover pleasant flowery gardens of fishermen's ancient houses, remarkable houses nested in the heart of the cliff or even these famous plaices, curious huts perched above waters. Rare landscapes which mix at same time river, stone and vineyard taht the audio-guided route " Along the estuary" presents. Your route will be also punctuated with Windows on the estuary, kind of panels to understand the fauna and the flora that surround you.

In Furt, you will have illustrated and commented informations about flore and fauna along the Corniche road.

At the edge of the estuary, this Window of the Estuary, along the Corniche road, some curious blocs show you the natural heritage of the Estuary of the Gironde. Take the time to read !

Discover this splendid romanesque church, you can see the Virgin stone on the top. This church is built with the local stone called "pierre du Bourgeais".

This one presents you a compass rose, from the promontory which dominates the Dordogne, the Gironde and its estuary.

La Maison des Vins de Bourg, situated on the threshold of the old town facing the estuary, has a dual role: to welcome the general public and to serve as a veritable centre for the range of activities undertaken by the producers (SVCB) of this famous appellation. Products scratched "Côtes de Bourg" are in the underground cellar which offers a wide choice of wines. It is the unconditional passage of the wine lovers! The Wine Information Center welcomes you all year round: visit of the cellar and free tasting. In summer, every weekend, a wine grower presents his products and explain his job. Advises, information, documentations on wines and properties are available. Possibility of booking an appointment to visit properties.

Laurent Chassin welcomes you all year long in his wine storehouses to make you share his passion in the middle of a natural vineyard. Composed of about fifteen hectares in the Côtes de Bourg, the 40-year-old vineyard is constituted by Merlot, by Cabernet Sauvignon, by Frank Cabernet, by Malbec and by Small Verdot. Many of his customers are faithful to him for several decades, what is for him the most beautiful of the awards but it is also the obligation of a constant questioning to offer the best of his wine.

Opened everyday from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Infos alliancebourg.com Infos +33 5 57 94 07 07

Château Brulesécaille owes its name to the Latin "secare" which means cutting, a whole symbol in this wine-making place of Gironde where the Recapet family cuts the vineyard since 1924! In 1974, Pierre Recapet transmitted the domain to his daughter, Martine, and to his son-in-law Jacques Rodet. Both of them welcome you in their beautiful Girondist house, situated in Tauriac. At the heart of this renowned vineyard of the naming Côtes de Bourg, admire the ideal structure of this 26 hectare domain.

Château Haut-Macô is a family exploitation since 4 generations situated in the wine-producing region of the Côtes de Bourg, site favored for the culture of the vine. 49 hectares of vineyards give us an annual production about 200 000 bottles. The breeding is made in tanks and in barrels for 18 months, before being bottled in the wine estate by ourselves. Our objective is to obtain every year of representative wines of our soil by allying at the same time modern techniques and tradition. We try to develop wines where notion of balance and regularity guides us in our choices of production. So the respect of the fruit, the harmony and a logic of structure are the key and the qualitative identity of our wines in an environment-friendly frame.

At 40 km at the North of Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Dordogne, Château Fougas welcome you (by appointment) in this region called "small Girondist Switzerland". Set up in 1778, this Girondist house is one of the most former properties of the Côtes de Bourg. Until XVIIIth century, Fougas and its 17 hectares of vineyards were a part of lands of the priory of Bellegarde. Acquired in 1976 by Jean-Yves Bechet and his wife Michèle, Château Fougas, certified in organic farming since 2007, is hired from now in a conversion towards the biodynamie. Fascinated by their work, your hosts reserve you a warm welcome. There what consists the organic farming? The biodynamie? What are the various stages of the wine making?

At 5 minutes driving from the Wine Information Center, Château Lamothe is an authentic architectural house with a beautiful central round tower, surmounted by a clock. The wine storehouses were built at the end of the XVIIIth century. Your host will be Anne. In 1900, her great-grandfather François Pessonnier, wine grower in Lansac, purchases the Château Lamothe and his vineyard. Previously, from the middle of the XIXth century, the previous owner Pierre Charpentier had given a particular development to the wines of the domain by exporting them to the United States. The visit continues with a presentation of the soil and the 23 hectares of the vineyard, the discovery of the cuverie and the wine storehouses. Finich the guided tour with a tasting commented.

Former monastery Lazarite of the end of the Gallo-Roman period, the domain La Croix Davids established an major stage on the path of Santiago de Compostela. Belonging to the same family depuis1800, it benefits from one of the best points of view on the Côtes de Bourg, that faces the Médoc, on the left bank of the Estuary of the Gironde.

If the region of the Côtes de Bourg is considered as the sweetness of its climate and its period of sunshine, the influence of the quite close Gironde Estuary is widely responsible for it. Implanted on hillsides exposed well by the municipality of Lansac, the 10 hectares of the Castle Martinat are led since 1994 by Lucie and Stéphane Donze. They suggest you to discover their wines all year long during a visit-tasting (by appointment).

It is located on a hill of 69 m of altitude where we can enjoy an incredible view of the township of Bourg. Recently restored thanks to volunteers, it has today a great look and produces its own flour. The miller's house has been renovated since june 2010 and welcomes from March to October temporary exhibitions. The association "Les amis du moulin du Grand Puy" provides free windmill visits. Infos +33 (0)5 57 00 33 76.

Partner of the “Destination Vignobles” network. Free tasting and visit everyday on appointment.

In Teuillac, 35 km at the North of Bordeaux between the Citadels of Bourg and Blaye, the vineyards of the wine estate Plantier extends over 31 hectares all in one piece. The Pauvif family welcomes you to this country formerly populated with mills and qualified today as a "Small Girondist Switzerland" for its relaxed rhythm of life. By trailing round you in this vineyard of the Côtes de Bourg, share with the family Pauvif the memories of the creation of the vineyard VIEUX PLANTIER in the years 70/80 and of its development over time. Concerning cuvier and wine storehouse, discover modern, convenient installations to release the quintessence of the grape. At the end of this visit, a tasting is offered to you to perfect your knowledge of the wine. Château awarded "Vignoble et chais en Bordelais". Free visit and tasting from Monday to Saturday.

The actual holy water font of this church, which used to be a capitol of marble, was classified Historical Monument in 1908. The bell is from 1491 and is the oldest of the arrondissement. Inside the building, it can be found a Way of the Cross made of enamel, two wood statues representing St Laurent and St Vincent (end of the XVIIth century) and in the sacristy, golden metal monstrance offered by Napoleon the 3rd in 1862.

The château faced the Dordogne and the Garonne, it has an incredible view on the estuary of Gironde. In 1959, Pierre Saturny, decided to buy it. With help from his wife and his two sons they make sure they keep a good quality wine.

The romans put the first vines in the property. The Château dominates the Estuary of the Gironde, and you have an incredible view from the belvedere.

Verging on the estuary, curious block of rock will teach you the natural patrimony of the canton.

Belonging to the family Sinan-Braud since more than 5 generations, Château Sauman is a beautiful house of the XVIIIth century situated at 50 km from Bordeaux, in the heart of the Côtes de Bourg. Listen to the noise of the springs of drinking water in the park of the domain while admiring the 25 hectare vineyard. Claudine and Véronique welcome you with benevolence, taking time to tell you the terroir and to share with you their passion.

In Saint-Ciers-de-Canesse, between Bourg and Blaye, Château La Grolet is a beautiful property with told parts dated back from to the XVIIth century. It is also a 38 hectare domain made up of meadows, groves, plans of water and of terraces on which vineyards run. This bucolic landscape reminds that the Côtes de Bourg deserves their nickname of " small Girondist Switzerland ". By following the path lined, in the summer months, with rosebushes of a blazing red, you fall on an elegant building, flanked by a round tower topped with a bell tower in slate. It is there that Rachel and Gabriel welcome you. This wine growers' family for the XIXth century possesses two other castles, all managed according to a biodynamic initiative. After the tasting, pursue your way on the right bank of the Estuary of the Gironde

Château partner of the Destination vignobles network. Free visit and tasting from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 18.00 p.m.. Week-end on appointment. Infos +33 5 57 64 91 39 Infos www.chateauhautguiraud.com English speaking

At 800 meters of the right bank of the Estuary of the Gironde, Château Rousselle built from 1636, was in the XVIIth century one of the three " noble houses " of Saint-Ciers-de-Canesse classified Premier Cru Bourgeois. In 1999, Vincent Lemaitre buys the property and begins then renovation work until 2006. Thanks to him, Château Rousselle finds its respectability and obtains 8 golden medals and 2 knocks of Heart to the Hachette Guide. Visits are regularly programmed where will be evoked the history of the vineyard, the soil, the culture of the vineyard and the wine making. And if you fall in love with Château Rousselle, you can also stay in one of the three guest houses. Infos +33 (0)5 57 42 16 62 Infos chateaurousselle.com English, Spanish and Italian spoken

Close to the Citadel of Bourg, Château Mercier is a 25 hectare vineyard and a property of Chéty's family for thirteen generations. Philippe and Martine welcome you with their children, Isabelle and Christophe, in front of their house who has also two guest houses and a holiday cottage. Faithful to the tradition and to the savoir-faire heritate from their predecessors, the Chéty's family made for their vineyard the choice of the integrated farm management. In the vineyards where they invite you to follow them, note the presence of a small meteorological station and a machine to count the insects. The various stages of the traditional wine making are explained to you in the wine storehouse. In the tasting room, find out produces "Bienvenue à la ferme" and produces cooked by the family such as marmelade, juice and salt infused into wine.

Halfway between the Citadels of Bourg and Blaye on the right bank of the Estuary of the Gironde, Château De Rousselet is a domain of 12 hectares of vineyards on the municipality of Saint-Trojan. Emmanuel Sou runs this wine-making property in his family for five generations. This young dynamic wine grower leads you at first in his vineyards where he describes you the works realized in the respect for the nature. Pursue your visit in the wine storehouse where are revealed to you the secrets of the wine making and the bleding. Be allowed guide in the tasting of some vintage wines.

Wine growers since 1976 in the Côtes de Bourg, we always pursued our efforts to produce quality wines. Château Haut-Mousseau is the result of this relentless work. The qualitative development of the vineyard, a rigorous selection of our berries and a well-kept and rigorous work in the wine storehouse are our passion. Of 3 hectares in 1976, we have now 33 hectares.

On the hillsides over Bourg-sur-Gironde, at 40 km in the North of Bordeaux, discover Chateau de la Grave, a seigneurial house of the XVIth century with towers and turrets. Belonging to the same family since 1900, the domain is managed by Philippe and Valérie Bassereau today, who welcome you warmly to make you discover the wine grower estate. In the comfort of a guest houses, under the covered hall, in the park or in the heart of the vineyard, succumb to the charm and to the peace of mind of this place.

The vineyard is present since the Roman time. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sir Coutin, solicitor in Jonzac, inherits from a Côtes de Bourg wine-making property. He gets hooked and quickly the property is known as "Le Cru du Notaire" (as the "Vineyard of the Solicitor") then "Château le Clos du Notaire". Since 1974, Sylvette and Roland Charbonnier write in their turn the story of the Château le Clos du Notaire, around this mysterious Summer-house, reigning over the vineyard. Come to discover this mysterious Summer-house by walking in our vineyards. You can then taste red wines and rosé of the property, every year praised by the most famous wine tasters.

Overhanging the right bank of the Dordogne at the entrance of the Estuary of the Gironde, Château Rocques is a 15 hectare vineyard situated in Saint-Seurin-de-Bourg, at 2 km of the Citadel of Bourg. You are welcomed by Anja and Eric Feillon whose family is also an owner of the Castle Saint-Ignan in Saint-Gervais. During the visit, the secrets of the naming of Côtes de Bourg and Bordeaux Supérieur is revealed to you. In the wine storehouse of Château Rocques, discover the processes of wine making as well as the delicate moment of the blending, an art typically of Bordeaux. At the end of a wine tasting, pursue your way on the right bank of the Estuary of the Gironde up to the Citadel of Blaye, imagined by Vauban in the XVIIth century. Château partner of the "Destination Vignobles" network. Free visit (for individuals) and tasting everyday from 8.00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on appointment. Infos +33 5 57 68 42 82 Infos vignobles-feillon.fr English, Sapnish and Dutch spoken

Family property since 1930, the vineyards is located around thirty kilometres away from Bordeaux and since 15 years, in Organic production.

The Château Falfas is an historic monument built in 1612 with a chai from the same time. From the end of 1988, Falfas' Vineyards is grown in bio-dynamic, this agriculture respect and protect the environment.