Gironde places to visit and attractions
Below you can explore some of the most popular highlights and places of interest in the Gironde department of Aquitaine. See also our Gironde travel guide
Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure
The ruins of the Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure contain some very impressive examples of roman style architecture such as carved capital stones See Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure guide
Andernos-les-Bains
Andernos-les-Bains is a pleasant seaside town on the Bassin d'Arcachon in SW France. See Andernos-les-Bains guide
Arcachon
Arcachon is one of our favourite seaside resorts in France and has lots to explore. Recommended! See Arcachon guide
Arcachon Pereire beach
Arcachon's Pereire beach is a favourite with locals and holiday makers. See Arcachon Pereire beach guide
Arcachon town beach
The town beach of Arcachon is a long sandy beach with lots of facilities. See Arcachon town beach guide
Arcachon Ville d'Automne
The Ville d'Automne is the eastern part of Arcachon, around the port area and including the beaches of Eyrac and Aiguillon See Arcachon Ville d'Automne guide
Arcachon Ville d'Eté
Arcachon's 'summer town' is a very attractive sea side town next to long sandy beaches See Arcachon Ville d'Eté guide
Arcachon Ville d'Hiver
Visit the beautiful villas in the Ville d'Hiver of Arcachon. See Arcachon Ville d'Hiver guide
Arcachon Zoo
Arcachon zoo is home to over 800 animals including rhino, elephants and tigers. See Arcachon Zoo guide
Blaye
The town of Blaye is well known because of the extensive citadel and fortifications built here by Vauban in the 18th century See Blaye guide
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is an unmissable town, one of the most lively and interesting in France and with lots to see and museums to visit... See Bordeaux guide
Bordeaux Cathedral
Bordeaux cathedral is a gothic cathedral in the heart of Bordeaux's historic old town. See Bordeaux Cathedral guide
Bordeaux Waterfront
The waterfront in Bordeaux is among the highlights of a visit to this lovely city See Bordeaux Waterfront guide
Bordeaux-Chartrons
Chartrons is an attractive quarter of Bordeaux See Bordeaux-Chartrons guide
Cap Ferret
At the south-west of the Medoc peninsula, Cap Ferret is quite an upmarket resort with several places of interest nearby See Cap Ferret guide
Carcans
Although small, Carcans-Plage is one of our favourite beach resorts in the Medoc See Carcans guide
Dune de Pyla
The Dune de Pyla is the largest sand dune in Europe and a Grand Site of France See Dune de Pyla guide
Eynesse
A nice place to stroll down to the banks of the Dordogne river - although there is not much else in this tiny village See Eynesse guide
Hourtin
As well as its long beach, Hourtin also has the largest lake in France with lots of leisure activities See Hourtin guide
La Promenade Fleurie near Mimizan
The Promenade Fleurie on the Etang d'Aureilhan near to Mimizan is a lakeside walk which has been beautifully gardened and is a pleasure to visit. See La Promenade Fleurie near Mimizan guide
La Reole
Largely ignored by visitors because of its proximity to Bordeaux we found La Reole to be a very pleasant, traditional Gironde town to explore See La Reole guide
La Teste de Buch port ostreicole
The oyster port of La Teste de Buch with its small cabins and mix of oyster and pleasure boats is charming to visit. See La Teste de Buch port ostreicole guide
La Teste de Buch salt flats
The salt flats at La Teste de Buch have an attractive walk through the area. See La Teste de Buch salt flats guide
Lacanau
The resort of Lcanau Ocean is the most important coastal resort on the Medoc peninsula See Lacanau guide
Le Canon and l'Herbe
Canon and l'Herbe are very pretty traditional oyster fishing villages on the Bassin d'Arcachon See Le Canon and l'Herbe guide
Le Moulleau
Le Moulleau is a popular and attractive coastal and beach resort to the west of Arcachon See Le Moulleau guide
Le Verdon-sur-Mer
The small resort of Le Verdon-sur-Mer is quiet but has long sandy beaches See Le Verdon-sur-Mer guide
Les Bassins des Lumieres
The Bassins des Lumierès is the largest digital art installation in the world and is a fabulous immersive look at the works of major artists. See Les Bassins des Lumieres guide
Lesparre-Medoc
A small town in Medoc, at Lesparre-Medoc you can see the remains of a medieval tower See Lesparre-Medoc guide
Libourne
Not generally considered as a travel destination, we found the center of Libourne to be quite interesting to explore See Libourne guide
Margaux
The village and region here are known worldwide because of the prestigious wines from Chateau Margaux See Margaux guide
Monsegur
The bastide town of Monsegur, in the Dropt Valley, has a substantial part of its original fortifications intact See Monsegur guide
Montalivet
The resort of Montaliver has a 12 kilometre beach, and has been popular since the 19th century See Montalivet guide
Musée d'Aquitaine
The musée d'Aquitaine has an interesting collection relating to Bordeaux since prehistoric times. See Musée d'Aquitaine guide
Musée des Beaux Arts
The Musée des Beaux Arts of Bordeaux has an interesting collection of fine art including works by Renoir and Rubens See Musée des Beaux Arts guide
Parc Mauresque
The Parc Mauresque is a large parc and garden in the heart of the resort of Arcachon See Parc Mauresque guide
Pauillac
The small town of Pauillac is best known for the surrounding wine chateaux such as Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild See Pauillac guide
Pellegrue
Pellegrue is a very small village but well worth exploring when you are visiting this part of the Dropt Valley See Pellegrue guide
Port de Biganos
The port at Biganos is surrounded by pretty cabins in painted colours See Port de Biganos guide
Port de Larros
The Port de Larros is a traditional oyster village on the Bassin d'Arcachon See Port de Larros guide
Saint-Emilion
Saint-Emilion is an exceptionally scenic town, and most unusual in being listed as a UNESCO heritage site See Saint-Emilion guide
Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc
While Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc would not be considered a tourist destination, you might like to stop and admire the church when you are passing See Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc guide
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, on the Dordogne river west of Bergerac, has an attractive medieval centre with several houses of interest See Sainte-Foy-la-Grande guide
Sauveterre-de-Guyenne
The layout of the town of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne still follows its original medieval plan almost exactly See Sauveterre-de-Guyenne guide
Soulac-sur-Mer
Soulac-sur-Mer is a long established beach resort at the north of the Medoc peninsula See Soulac-sur-Mer guide
Vertheuil
In this tiny village you can see Vertheuil Abbey and also the ruins of an ancient castle See Vertheuil guideFor more information see the Gironde guide
Market towns & days in Gironde
all markets in morning unless otherwise stated
Ambares-et-Lagrave: Friday &
Andernos-les-Bains: Tuesday & Friday &
Arcachon: every day
Ares: Tuesday
Audenge: Tuesday
Bassens: Sunday
Bazas: Saturday
Begles: Wednesday
Blanquefort: Saturday
Blaye: Wednesday & Saturday
Bordeaux: Wednesday & Thursday & Sunday all day & Saturday & Monday all day & Friday
Branne: Thursday & Saturday
Bruges: Saturday
Cadillac: Saturday
Carbon-Blanc: Thursday
Carcans: Wednesday (high season only)
Castelnau-de-Medoc: Sunday
Castillon-la-Bataille: Monday
Cavignac: Thursday
Cenon: Wednesday
Cestas: Sunday
Coutras: Wednesday & Saturday
Creon: Wednesday
Eysines: Sunday
Gradignan: Saturday
Grignols: Wednesday
Gujan-Mestras: Wednesday
Hourtin: Saturday & Tuesday & Thursday (high season only)
Lacanau: Wednesday
Langon: Sunday & Friday
Lege-Cap-Ferret: every day except Thursday (high season only)
Leognan: Saturday
Tourist attractions to visit in Gironde
The following sites have received official "tourist classifications"...
Zoo or wildlife park
Parc zoologique de Bordeaux Pessac
Towns of Art and History
Bordeaux: See tourist guide
Secteur Sauvegardé (protected historical town centre)
Bordeaux: See tourist guide
Saint-Emilion: See tourist guide
Listed 'Remarkable Gardens'
Jardin du Fond de l’or
Jardins du château de Malle
Jardins du château de Mongenan
Jardins du château de Vayres
Parc du château de Grenade
Parc du château Lanessan
Religious Monuments
Collégiale et chapelle de la Trinité (Saint-Emilion)
Eglise de Saint Pierre (Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps)
National Monuments
Cadillac Chateau
Cave Pair-non-Pair
Pey-Berland Tower
Sauve-Majeure Abbey: See tourist guide
UNESCO world heritage sites
Bazas cathédrale St Jean Baptist (monuments on French pilgrim routes)
Blaye citadelle (Vauban fortifications): See tourist guide
Bordeaux basilique Saint-Michel (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Bordeaux basilique Saint-Seurin (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Bordeaux cathédrale Saint-André (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Bordeaux Port: See tourist guide
Cussac Fort Paté (Vauban fortifications)
Fort Médoc (Vauban fortifications)
La Sauve église St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes)
La Sauve Majeure abbaye (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Saint-Emilion: See tourist guide
Soulac-su-Mer basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-fin-des-Terres (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Grand Sites of France
Dune du Pilat: See tourist guide