Between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Gironde estuary to the east, you will find the Route des Châteaux (D2). From the north of the city of Bordeaux to the Pointe de Grave, the prestige of the Grands Crus Classés, a profusion of châteaux and a mosaic of spectacular architecture.
The Route des Chateaux, which crosses the Médoc, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful wine routes in Bordeaux. It will stop 60 km further north from Bordeaux to St Estèphe, after passing some of the most prestigious châteaux and appellations.
The wine-growing properties that dot the landscape are traditionally called "châteaux" in Bordeaux. Not all of them are in the usual sense of the term. Yet what great vineyards still possess, in the heart of the vineyards, beautiful old houses made of local blonde stone (Lime stone) that they open to visitors.
The Médoc vineyard includes 8 appellations: Médoc, Haut Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Moulis and Listrac. It includes the most prestigious of Bordeaux's Grands Crus Classés (1855 classification) as well as tasty Crus Bourgeois and Artisans.
Your itinerary and visits on the Bordeaux Wine Route "Route des Châteaux" tour.
The Médoc is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde, largest estuary in Europe. Classified as a Marine Natural Park, which is home to a dozen inhabited or wild islands, to be discovered from Pauillac or Verdon-sur-Mer during your visit on the Route des Châteaux. To the south, vast man-made forests protect the vines from the strong winds.
Due to this particular location, the Médoc terroir benefits from a temperate climate and deep gravelly soils whose unique combination is particularly conducive to the ripening of the vines.
Its exceptional terroir brings together the most prestigious of Bordeaux's Grands Crus Classés (Classification of 1855) and châteaux with the most unusual architecture. Almost exclusively devoted to the production of red wines which are usually a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot.
Always very colorful, these wines generally have a very full structure and a quite exceptional aromatic distinction, based on a tannic structure that is both powerful and harmonious, which gives them a very great ability to defy time.
How many great names with venerable accents are to be found on this Tourist Route!
Château Latour and its famous tower in the middle of the vineyards, Château Lafite-Rothschild with its underground cellar designed by the famous Catalan architect, Ricardo Bofill and Château Mouton Rothschild with its famous collection of at labels. But also Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Palmer, Cos Estournel, Château Margaux are unique and beautiful wine estates.
The Médoc wine route and its very picturesque D2 road is for wine lovers the equivalent of Route 66. Embark on the Wine Route of the Médoc for a wine trip for your holidays among the most beautiful castles of the Bordeaux vineyards and its world famous wines.
You can stop to some of them for wine tasting but we recommend to contact the château first in order to boon and schedule your visit. You can also contact a local wine tour company to set and organize a Medoc wine tour for you.
From Bordeaux on the way to Margaux, after passing Château Palmer, you will reach the famous Château Margaux. A visit to this house, which is part of the aristocracy of the Bordeaux wine industry, is a must. You will enjoy the 85-hectare estate, the Palladian architecture and of course the tastings. In Margaux, stopover at the church located near the famous Palladian-style Château Margaux.
Continuing your way north, the road passes through Saint-Julien which has many classified growths as esteemed as the Châteaux Lagrange, the "3 Léoville" (Las Cases, Poyferre, Barton), Beychevelle or Talbot. Roads and paths lined with roses lead to the heart of the vineyards from which emerge wineries and castles.
Then stop in Pauillac, the capital of the Médoc. From Latour, to Lafite Rothschild, the names of the castles are glorious there. If you only have to visit one of them, choose Château Mouton Rothschild: in addition to the magnificent cellars, it has a very fine collection of works of art relating to vines and wine.
The "Wine in Art" museum (inaugurated by André Malraux in 1962) of Château Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac Premier Cru Classé), which displays extremely rare pieces of 17th century German silverware, pourers, goblets and hanaps from the fabulous treasure trove of the kings of Naples, as well as medieval tapestries and Chinese, Japanese and Persian porcelain...
In the heart of the Pauillac vineyards, the restored old wine village of Bages offers an enchanting stopover with its chic bistro, Café Lavinal. It will be your perfect stop for a gourmet lunch.
Still in the series of out of category wines, the road continues further north towards Saint-Estèphe where you can visit the famous Château Montrose. In the commune of Saint-Estephe, the façade of the Cos d'Estournel has already astonished Stendhal: "This building, very elegant, of a brilliant light yellow color, is in truth not of any style; it is neither Greek nor Gothic, it is very cheerful and would rather be in the Asian style". Indeed, we owe the architecture to the "Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe", the name given to Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel because he exported his wine as far as India, he had Asian pagodas added to the roof of his castle as well as a door brought back from Zanzibar.
Continuing northwards, you cross the Moulis and Listrac appellations, rich in Crus Bourgeois. If you are a cyclist, there are many trails through vineyards and pine trees.
To visit the châteaux on the Wine Route and for further information, go to the Maisons du Vin of the appellations. Not only will you taste the best that France has to offer in terms of wine tasting, but the setting is magnificent: mythical châteaux and sumptuous residences to visit are on the program.
On West side, by the D101, the Lakes Route, you can go via Lacanau, stronghold of surfers, to Soulac and its superb church Notre-Dame de la Fin des Terres as far as the Verdon where a ferry takes you to Royan. From the Verdon, a regular ferry takes you to the Charente coast and Royan, after a pleasant mini-cruise. Don't miss: visit the Cordouan lighthouse, on watch over the estuary.
There are 100 kms of fine sandy beaches that will delight children. The beach of Lacanau is also famous for surfing, its powerful waves and several lakes are scattered in the region such as the Lake of Hourtin-Carcans, the largest in France.
National and international sporting events:
The Médocaine mountain bike race (May), the Lacanau Pro (the only French stage of the surfing world cup, in August), the Médoc Marathon (September).
The Médocaine mountain bike race (May), the Lacanau Pro (the only French stage of the surfing world cup, in August), the Médoc Marathon (September).
Things to do on the Bordeaux Wine Routes in the Médoc
La Winery (Arsac) offers nearly 1,200 references of French and foreign wines. Themed tastings, tasting sessions in the company of winegrowers, and a game of the place's flagship animation: find your oenological sign.
