Bordeaux Vineyards
The lower stretch of the Dordogne river is rightly celebrated for the wines produced in its fertile valley, but there is so much more to the area that a biking vacation should not miss. The rivers are broad, meandering and majestic, and the hinterland is richly forested. Between the vineyards, fields of sunflowers and maize jostle for space.
Man has left his mark on the area from prehistoric times, with notable cave paintings at several grottes along the river valley. Later, the Romans arrived and vestiges of their works are scattered across the region. The region's heyday, however, came in the 12th century when King Henry II of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine and gained the Bordeaux region for the English crown.
The marriage led to a rivalry between France and England for control of Aquitane and the enormous English territories in France that would last for three hundred years. From 1154 to 1453, Bordeaux prospered under English rule, whose love of the region's red wine — claret to the English — helped the region gain a worldwide reputation for quality wines. This was the golden era for Bordeaux, and as a result, the region boasts suberb medieval architecture in the form of chateaux, churches, abbeys and monasteries.
As far back as the third century BC, when Bordeaux was founded by the Romans, the region’s wines began enjoying a favourable reputation. The vineyards cover 520 square miles spread over the valleys of the Dordogne and Garonne river system. This treasure chest of viticulture contains some of the most glittering stars of the wine-lover’s firmament: St-Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac in the Libournais to the east, Graves and Sauternes in the Entre-Deux-Mers region to the south-east, and Pauillac, St-Julien and Margaux in the Medoc peninsular to the north-west. Nestled in these famous appelations are Chateaux bearing some of the most famous (and expensive) names to be found on a wine bottle — Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Lynch-Bages, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux, Yquem, Cheval-Blanc, Petrus… the list is endless!
Although there are some hills (no hills at all makes for less-than-inspiring landscapes!), we follow the rivers on predominantly easy cycling routes. Our cycling tour will take you on through some of the most famous vineyards in the world, but we will make sure you don't miss the other man-made and natural glories the region has to offer!
Tour highlights
- Sweeping vistas from the Château de Monbazillac
- Easy cycling through vineyards and charming villages
- Explore Ancient wine cellars in the tunnels under St Emilion
- Traffic-free roads along the lower Dordogne and Garonne rivers
- Wine tasting in prestigious Graves and Sauternes
Transfers
- Pick-ups from Bergerac airport and railway station.
- Return to Bordeaux airport and TGV station.
Fitness levels
Day 1
Learning about grape varieties, Pecharment
Transfers are from Bergerac train station and airport. Our hotel is in the countryside on the outskirts of the village of St-Julien-de-Crempse. Early arrivals might like to stretch their biking legs with a 9km excursion to the the vineyards of Pecharmant. The best Pecharmants stand comparison with St-Emilion, with which they share a similar blend of grape varieties (cépage) at a fraction of the cost. We visit one of the best Châteaux for a tasting and a tour of the vats and cellars. Those coming later will be able to stroll in the extensive grounds of the hotel, or take a swim before the first of many memorable dinners.
Day 2
Heading south, our first visit of the day is a stop in Bergerac for a coffee in the ancient port district on the river, with a chance to visit the impressive abbey-church or explore the medieval alleyways clustered around the old port area . Climbing away from the river we reach the hilltop village of Monbazillac, an ideal stop for a picnic lunch. We visit the elegant 16C Château de Monbazillac famed for its desert wine which accompanies the foie gras of the region so well, and before getting back on the bikes we have a chance to sample the golden nectar.
An exhilarating downhill stretch followed by a flat run through vineyards along the river valley brings us into the market town of Ste-Foy-La-Grande overlooking the Dordogne. This part of France was bitterly contested between the French and the English during the 100 Years War (1337-1453), and these medieval villages, called Bastides were built on a strict grid pattern around a central arcaded square, then enclosed within defensive walls. The square now makes a perfect place to stop for coffee and as a base for a quick wander around the old town. The day is rounded off by a ride along the river to Gensac where our Château hotel is waiting with a luxurious pool to relax in before a gourmet dinner.
Total distance: 57km / 36 miles
Day 3
Petanque by the Dordogne
We cross the Dordogne and continue downstream to the village of Moncaret in the Montravel wine area. The elegant white wines are made with Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grapes. Moncaret is also home to a beautiful 11th Century church and is the site of a Roman settlement. This has been excavated and we will visit the fascinating exhibition before lunch.
The afternoon is an easy run along the Dordogne, skirting the town of Castillon-La-Bataille, the scene of the last battle of the 100 Years War. Crossing the river we climb to the village of St-Vincent-de-Pertignas and to our hotel at the converted Maison Fort or fortified manor of the Chateau de Naujan. The hotel has its own vineyard and we can visit and sample the Bordeaux appellation wines, and of course appreciate them more fully with dinner.
Total distance: 45km/28 miles
Day 4
Arriving at Saint-Vincent
An easy day through the vines from the Garonne to the Dordogne. We are now entering the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards, as we arrive in the Libournais. A gentle climb through the Côtes-de-Castillon vineyards sees us into the ancient ramparts of St-Emilion. In addition to its fabulous wines, St-Emilion is one of the prettiest towns in South-West France. Within its ancient walls can be found the 13C Château du Roi and, notably, the Eglise Monolithe – a church, dating from the 8th Century, carved from a single block of rock. We lunch in St-Emilion, then have various options of tasting visits or a wine appreciation course.
The famous wines of the surrounding vineyards include Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone, the best vintages of which are legendary, with suitably stratospheric prices. We will visit a vineyard before returning to our hotel in St-Vincent to relax by the pool or stroll into the village before visiting a local restaurant for a very special dinner.
Total distance:40km:25 miles
Day 5
We head into the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region – although literally translated the name means ‘between two seas’ the seas in question are in fact the rivers Dordogne and Garonne.
The first part of today’s ride is almost wholly on the Roger LaPebie Cycleway, which is a converted railway track. This of course means that hills are not a problem, and navigation is a cinch! The first stop is the Abbaye de Sauve-Majeure. Classified a World Heritage Site in 1998 by UNESCO, the abbey was founded in 1079 and was once home to 300 monks.
Next to the Abbey is the Maison des Vins des Entre-Deux-Mers, which is a showcase for the white wines of the region.
After lunch we head south to cross the river Garonne into the Sauternes wine area. After a tasting at a vineyard specialising in this most highly regarded of desert wines, we head for our Château hotel overlooking the village of Sauternes. The elegant Château d’Arche produces its own dessert wine and was accorded Premier Cru status by the acreditations of 1855. We stroll into the village for a superb dinner gazing out into the vines.
Today’s distance: 52km / 33 miles
Day 6
Cellars of Château Figeac
Cycling northwards we are passing through the vineyards of the Graves region, home to the legendary Château Haut-Brion amongst the many great wines both red and white. We cycle through vines and forests on deserted roads, taking a tasting and visit at a winery of the Graves appelation. Graves has notable reds and a remarkably clear white, achieved by lowering the temperature in the early stages of fermentation so that all the impurities naturally filter out.
After lunch we rejoin the La Pebie cycleway, and make our way into Bordeaux itself to complete the week’s journey. Bordeaux has no shortage of attractions, from the beautifully restored 18th century Customs Houses lining the river to the sophisticated shopping along Rue Ste-Catherine. Our last dinner together will be at one of the many gourmet restaurants on which the city prides itself.
Distance covered today – 56km / 35 miles.
Day 7
After breakfast, another chance to walk around the city, maybe to buy a bottle or two, and to exchange contact details with new friends, before making our way to the station or the airport for the journey home. You may like to stay on for day or two to explore the city or take a tour of the Medoc peninsular – let us know and we can organise bookings for you.
2012 Dates & Prices
| Start Date | Price*† |
|---|---|
| 06 May | £1645 |
| 20 May | £1645 |
| 03 June | £1645 |
| 5 August | £1645 |
| 19 August | £1645 |
| 02 September | £1645 |
| 16 September | £1645 |
*Prices are per person based on 2 sharing. Single room supplement £425.
†A 5% discount will apply to all bookings of 6 persons or more.
Currency converter
All bookings are made in GBP. Other currencies are indicative only and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
More information
Currency converter © Textor Webmasters Ltd 1999-2009. All rates are indicative only.
“Thoroughly enjoyable – exceeded our expectations!”
Rosie Plummer, New South Wales.
“Dear Mike
“Just a note to tell you how very much we enjoyed our week in Bordeaux at the end September/early October. The route was gorgeous – very well chosen, and while the uphills were – er, uphill going! – the downhills were great fun! And then there was that lovely flat ride along the old railway line site, through the woods – so pretty. The accommodation was excellent, the food delicious, the wine-tasting and talks very informative and expertly managed! The historical bits were also tres interessant! We really enjoyed seeing those ancient little villages built on layer upon layer of historical sites (you can probably tell I am having trouble remembering their names! No, wait – Montcaret! And of course, St Emilion…)
“And there’s more!! We loved our guides, Alan and Roger, who were extremely thoughtful and managed to please just about everybody all the time, even though we were such a varied group; they prepared our bikes so well, took us to great little places for coffee and lunch, and were so helpful with the language and the luggage! They were also marvellous hosts at dinner. Great guys – they definitely deserve a raise!! One of the highlights was the evening we spent at the home of a chef and his wife who gave us a wine-tasting from their own little vineyard and then cooked dinner for us; they were so charming! This was when we were staying at Chateau Isabelle de Naujan.
“So an enormous thank you to all of you for the great organisation and the very efficient and friendly way you dealt with us; we will never forget our super holiday with you!”
Tim and Deb Atkinson, Cape Town, South Africa.
Le Manoir du Grand Vignoble, St-Julien-de-Crempse
This 17th Century manor house has been converted to a 3* hotel and restaurant, with an acclaimed equestrian centre. The extensive grounds feature a superb swimming pool and tennis courts.
Château de Sanse, Sainte-Radegonde
An 18th Century château, sympathetically converted into a light and airy 3*hotel, with a noted restaurant. The 12 acres of grounds include woods and vineyards and a lovely swimming pool on the terrace.
Château Isabeau de Naujan, Saint-Vincent-de-Pertignas
Fréderic, owner of the hotel, restored the 15th Century ruin inherited from his father to a comfortable 3* hotel; the family also produces a lovely Bordeaux Superior wine from the vines which surround the property, and are happy to show us round the winery. A pool has been built on the terrace behind the hotel from which there are sublime views across the valley to the village of Saint Vincent.
Château d’Arche, Sauternes.
An 18th Century Charterhouse, included in the 1855 classification for wines created under the edicts of Napoleon III, the Château still produces a prestigious desert wine. The hotel includes many of the original features, updated to the standards befitting a 4* hotel. The views across the Ciron to Sauternes village are dreamy, especially if the mists are rising from the stream.
Hotel Majestic, Bordeaux
In an 18th Century building in the heart of the historic sector of Bordeaux, the Majestic is ideally situated a minute from the Grand Theatre and the Esplanade de Quinconces, and a short stroll from the shopping streets of Ste-Catherine and the majestic riverside customs houses. The rooms in this traditional 3* hotel are comfortable with wi-fi and all other amenities.
Our leisure tours
