Pauillac

Visit Pauillac, Aquitaine

The small town of Pauillac is on the Gironde estuary north of Bordeaux, in the Medoc region.

It has an international fame due to the wine produced in the region - the town of Pauillac itself is less well known.

Pauillac town

Fronting onto the Gironde estuary, the town of Pauillac consists of some quais along the water frontage, a broad 'boulevard' with a number of cafes just behind, and then the main town going up the hill behind that.

There are some cafes and shops, and some 19th century houses and shops in the characteristic 'charentais' type style.

Places of interest in the town include the large 19th century Church of Saint-Martin, a 19th century market hall and a substantial monument to those who died in the town following the bombardment of pauillac during WWII. In the main street as you enter the town from the quai area Pauillac has a 'museum of automated animals', and you can find an art gallery at L'Atelier Zinc (28 Grande Rue).

We suggest you visit the tourist office and ask for the leaflet 'Memoire de Pierres' (Memory of Stones) which suggests a route to follow when exploring, with notable landmarks explained.

Pauillac wine

Many of the notable highlights for visitors to Pauillac are related to the chateaux and wine estates.

Among the wine estates in the vicinity are Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and many others where you are also able to enjoy tasting the local wines and visiting the chateaux. The Pauillac Tourist Office can provide you with details of numerous other chateaux where you can do wine-tasting, and suggest tours that will best enable you to discover the Medoc region, along with various small museums that are scattered across the region.

The 18th century Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a listed Historic Monument (wines have been produced here since the 17th century); while Chateau Mouton-Rothschild also has a museum dedicated to wine production over the centuries. Another museum, this time of ornate glass, is found at Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.

Among the other chateau, those of Chateau Pontet-Carnet and Chateau Lynch-Bages are among the highlights.

Local highlights

Bages - the village that time forgot?

At Bages, just a couple of minutes from Pauillac (next to Chateau Cordeillan Bages) there is an entire small village that had fallen into dereliction and abandonment by the middle of the 20th century. It has now been restored and is dedicated to the wines and tastes of the Pauillac region. The picturesque centre of Bages is an open square surrounded by art and craft shops, and there are also a coffee shop and cafe.

See Aquitaine and Gironde (the region and department for Pauillac) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Pauillac

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Suggested places to visit near Pauillac, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Hourtin 24km; Carcans 27km; Montalivet 30km; Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc 34km; Lacanau 36km; Jonzac 37km; Talmont 39km; Bordeaux Waterfront 42km; Bordeaux 43km; Meschers-sur-Gironde 43km; Soulac-sur-Mer 45km;

Pauillac tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc du château Lanessan - remarkable garden (10km) : Cave Pair-non-Pair - national monument (26km) : Parcs et jardins du château de Beaulon - remarkable garden (26km) : Jardin du Fond de l’or - remarkable garden (42km) : Pey-Berland Tower - national monument (43km) : Jardins du château de Vayres - remarkable garden (48km) :

See more places and a map at places near Pauillac