Bordeaux wine route – Médoc Châteaux circuit itinerary

You want to discover the largest châteaux of the Médoc while doing the Bordeaux wine route ? Here is my ideal tourist, gastronomic and wine circuit for a weekend in the Bordeaux vineyards.

Bordeaux wine route Itinerary

I share with you the itinerary with its Google Map and my advice for the stages and visits of my tourist circuit.

Bordeaux wine route - Which one to choose?

There is not a Bordeaux wine route but several wine routes! Indeed, the vineyards around Bordeaux represent 60 appellations and extend over more than 112 hectares.

Suddenly, it is impossible to discover all the vineyards and great castles in just 2 days.

For a weekend, you will have to choose an itinerary to discover one of the 5 main wine-growing regions of Bordeaux:

  • The Medoc by Castles Route ;
  • The region of Saint-Emilion by Saint Emilion and Pomerol wine route ;
  • The Blayais and the Bourgeais by the Coastal road of Garonne ;
  • Entre-deux-Mers by the Bordeaux wine routes in Entre-deux-Mers ;
  • Les Graves and Pessac-Léognan by the Graves and Sauternes route.

Bordeaux wine route - Route des Châteaux

For my 2 days in Bordeaux, I chose the castles route to discover the Médoc. In fact, the Medoc region includes not only the most prestigious Grands Crus Classés of Bordeaux but also must-see tourist sites and magnificent landscapes.

It is an ideal itinerary to enjoy a weekend combining wine, heritage and landscapes!

Medoc Castles Route - Appellations

To be more precise and for connoisseurs, here are the 8 appellations that we discover by following my circuit on the Medoc Castles Route :

  • Medoc,
  • Haut Medoc,
  • Margaux,
  • Pauillac,
  • Saint Estephe,
  • Saint Julien,
  • Moulis,
  • Listrac.

Medoc Châteaux Route - Classified Growths

My tour on this Bordeaux wine route allows you to discover, among other things, the first classified Grands Crus of the Médoc:

  • Lafite Rothschild castle
  • Chateau Latour
  • Château Margaux
  • Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

Medoc Castles Route - Tourism

On this Bordeaux wine route, the interest (after the vineyards) is to take advantage of the many tourist attractions:

  • Fort-Médoc in Cussac Fort Médoc listed by UNESCO under the Vauban Lock;
  • Cordouan Lighthouse in Verdon-sur-Mer which is the oldest lighthouse in Europe from the 16th century;
  • The charming and typical village of Bages;
  • Soulac sur mer for its magnificent villas from the Belle Epoque and its Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres Basilica;
  • Port Macau which dates from the Gallo-Roman period and its marshes, its port, its islands and its beautiful residences;

And on the natural side, the Médoc is also the Ocean and its large beautiful wild beaches, sublime lakes and the Gironde estuary. 

Bordeaux wine route - Itinerary

Between the ocean to the west and the Gironde estuary to the east, the Route of the Medoc Castles part of Bordeaux  and ends at the Pointe de Grave.

This wine route represents 131 kilometers which are easily covered in 2 days while visiting a few castles.

Bordeaux wine route - Map

To visualize my route of the Medoc Châteaux route, here is the map plotting my circuit that we did by car in 2 days.

Of course, if you have 3 or 4 days, this tourist circuit will be even more enjoyable. Indeed, you can visit more tourist sites, more castles and relax on the beaches or by a lake.

Click on "More options" inside the map below to switch to GPS mode

Bordeaux wine route - Stages

For my weekend on the Route des Châteaux du Médoc, I tried to vary the visits by alternating visits to wineries and villages and tourist sites. Here are the main stages of my itinerary:

  • Bordeaux
  • Agassac castle
  • Château Margaux
  • Cussac-fort-medoc
  • Beychevelle Castle
  • Chateau Latour
  • Bages-Pauillac
  • Night at Château La Tour Carnet
  • Château Mouton Rothschild
  • Lafite Rothschild castle
  • Saint Estèphe
  • Richard Lighthouse
  • The Verdon
  • Cordouan Lighthouse
  • Soulac-sur-Mer

Here is now, in more detail, the program of my 2 days road trip on the Bordeaux wine route:

Medoc Châteaux Route - Day 1

Bordeaux

My circuit on the route of the Medoc castles starts from the magnificent city of Bordeaux. I recommend that you take 1 day (before or after the wine route) to visit Bordeaux.

So, from Bordeaux, to follow my route, you will have to take the departmental 2 towards Pauillac.

Agassac castle

The first stage of my circuit is located 20 km from Bordeaux at Agassac castle. It is not a Grand Cru Classé but a good bourgeois cru that deserves the detours. For the guided tour, allow 45 minutes plus the time to spend in the store ...

See details on: https://www.agassac.com/oenotourisme/visites-guidees

route des chateaux du médoc on the bordeaux wine route

Margaux

By taking the direction of the village of Margaux on the Departmental 209, you will pass in front of magnificent estates and castles of great renown: Chateau SiranPrioryissan or, Cantenac Brown.

When you arrive in Margaux, go to the Maison du vin et du tourisme de Margaux (Place de la Trémoille). On site, we will provide you with information on the vineyards and wines around Margaux, in particular the discovery trails.

Otherwise, for visits, around Margaux you have the choice between Marquis de Terme castles,  Mons Tower, LacombeTower of Roc or the famous Château Margaux.

Château Margaux

Great name with the appellation of Premier Grand Cru (classification of 1855), the wines of this château are legendary and sought after all over the world.

on the Bordeaux wine route the chateau Margaux

But to visit the cellars, it is only by appointment and only from Monday to Friday excluding public holidays and August. Phone: +33 (0) 5 57 88 83 83

Cussac-fort-medoc

Cussac-sur-Medoc via arcins et The brand. We suggest you visit Fort Medoc, military complex, the work of the famous Vauban, the lock of the estuary built under Louis XIV

 Cussac-fort-medoc you will discover the fortified castle built by Vauban. You can also reach, by car, Blaye, located on the other side, by taking the ferry. To reach Blaye and its spectacular citadel, take the regular ferry shuttle by car, which leaves from the small port of Lamarque.

Beychevelle Castle

Here is my favorite: the Beychevelle Castle. I'm not talking about the wine which is exceptional (I don't know much about it because it is my husband the true connoisseur) but about the allure and elegance of the château itself.

Beychevelle castle on my tourist circuit in Gironde

If you plan to visit it, it is by appointment on 05 56 73 38 01 by email: visit@beychevelle.com.

Chateau Latour

The prestigious Chateau Latour is 10 km from the Chateau Beychevelle. It's a Premier Grand Cru Classe which since 1993 belongs to the Pinault family (via the Artémis group).

Difficult to visit because the visits are reserved in priority for the professionals and by appointment. But if you want to try your luck, here is their phone number: Tel: +33 5 56 73 19 80

Bages-Pauillac

Right next to Château Latour, a 5-minute drive away, is a must-see village for tourists visiting the Médoc: Bages.

Village of Bages in the Médoc

Here, everything is in harmony and pleasant to stroll: its pretty cobbled square, its somewhat vintage and "so Frenchy" shops, its gourmet restaurant, its wine cellar and its small bistro. It feels like a movie set!

Sleep at Château La Tour Carnet

Here is a good address to spend the night on the route of the Bordeaux wine route. It's about Chateau La Tour Carnet which is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc. Located in Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc near Bages, it is an old medieval fortress.

Sleep at Château La Tour Carnet stage of my tour on the Bordeaux wine route

Here you can spend the night in a magnificent suites with period furniture in this castle in the heart of the Médoc vineyards. Indeed, it is 311 hectares of vines that surround the park of the Château which is completely isolated in the middle of nature. A real joy !!!

See this castle on Booking


Medoc Châteaux Route - Day 2

Today, we will take the road by the D2 to pass in front of the famous Rothschild castles then we will join the D2E3 to continue on Saint Estèphe.

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

The international reputation of this estate is linked to the personality of the baron and his wife. But the reputation of its wines is linked only to the exceptional quality of this 1er Grand Cru Classé in 1885.

On the Bordeaux wine route, Château Mouton Rothschild

To visit it, you must send an appointment request by email on the official website of the Château: https://www.chateau-mouton-rothschild.com/contact?lang=fr#

Lafite Rothschild castle

1er Grand Cru Classé in Pauillac, you can visit this area only by appointment to request by email 2 weeks in advance on visits@lafite.com.

Saint Estèphe

From Château Lafite Rothschild, you can visit other châteaux such as the famous Château Montrose or Cos d'Estournel. In fact, 7 km away is Saint-Estèphe whose appellation extends over ten kilometers of hills and plateaus.

We find there five Grands Crus Classés  :

  • Château Cos D'Estournel (see photo below), 
  • Chateau Montrose, 
  • Château Calon ségur, 
  • Chateau Lafon-Rochet,
  • Chateau Cos Labory.

But this name also covers Raw Bourgeois “Exceptional” like the Château Tour de Pez or the Château Lilian Ladouys.

Château Cos D'Estournel on the Bordeaux wine route

Richard Lighthouse

To enjoy nature and magnificent views of the Gironde estuary, I recommend a short stop at the Phare de Richard.

STAGE OF MY TOURIST CIRCUIT ON THE BORDEAUX WINE ROUTE

If you have the courage to climb the 64 steps of the lighthouse, at the very top you will have a nice panorama of the squares along the dike.

The Verdon

The Verdon is located at the mouth of the estuary with on the bank opposite the Grave point where the Cordouan lighthouse is located. It is a special place where the waters of the estuary mix with the waters of the ocean.

Cordouan Lighthouse

To visit this lighthouse, you will have to park at Port-Médoc in Verdon sur Mer to take a maritime shuttle: Reservation at 05 56 09 62 93 or on  www.vedette-laboheme.com.

Cordouan Lighthouse in my itinerary

Cordouan lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Europe and the only lighthouse in the world that is in the open sea and still inhabited.

In front of the Grave point, on the other side of the Estuary is Royan. You can take the ferry to cross the estuary in 45 minutes and discover Royan.

Soulac-sur-Mer

To end the weekend in "holiday" mode, if you have time, go for a walk in Soulac just 7 km from Verdon sur Mer. With its elegant 19th and 20th century villas and its immense sandy beaches, this station is a perfect base for resting at the end of the tour.

Last stop on my Bordeaux wine route tour

Bordeaux wine route - Where to sleep?

At the end of the tour, why not choose accommodation in Soulac sur Mer?

A few meters from the beach, in the center of Soulac-sur-Mer, this accommodation is ideal for a relaxing holiday.

See this apartment in Soulac sur Mer


Why not continue by discovery of the Vendée

or another tourist circuit on the mythical roads of France:

Route of the Côte de Granit Rose in Brittany

Beaujolais wine route

Route of the sublime Corniche du Verdon

follow the Route of the Great Alps

Route des Crêtes des Vosges in Alsace

The Gorges du Tarn

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