The Médoc Bleu region is where to re-discover life's simple pleasures of fresh air, good fun and easy living, and like-minded people looking for the same! If you want to be by the sea, but Arcachon and Biarritz sound too big and busy, and Cap Ferret a bit 'chi-chi', the Médoc Bleu is definitely the place to come.

It's a natural outdoor playground dominated by the colours of blue (ocean & lakes), gold (dunes) and green (forest), and a heady salt- and pine-infused air - the fragrance of Aquitaine. It contains distinctive, charming sea-side towns such as Soulac-sur-Mer, and lively, family-friendly holiday resorts such as Montalivet-les-Bains and Lacanau-Océan, the location for some of our Mer & Golf villa collections. Golf, surfing, watersports, horse-riding and cycling feature prominently among the region's activities on offer, and fine wine-tasting in the Médoc Rouge is a short drive away, but you don't have to do any of these to enjoy it here!

Lac de Lacanau


Lacanau surfer


Golf du Médoc


Médoc château (Cos d'Estournel)

OFFICES DE TOURISME

Bassin d'Arcachon

Bordeaux

Carcans-Maubuisson

Hourtin

Lacanau-Ocean

Pauillac

Montalivet-les-Bains

Soulac

Guide to the Gironde coast

Gironde Departement Tourism Office


SELECTED ACTIVITES

Map of Gironde cycle trails

Cycling in Lacanau

Bike hire Carcans-Maubuisson

Medoc wine tours & tastings:
- General guide
- Chateau Maucaillou
- Chateau Giscours
- Chateau Lafite

Gironde golf courses and Médoc Golf Pass

Horse-riding in Lacanau

Sailing Lacanau

Sailing Carcans-Maubuisson

Soulac horse-riding, cycle tours, surfing

Surfing Lacanau

Here's a selection of the Médoc Bleu's places and sights to give a lasting flavour of this surprisingly distintive area:

• Panoramic views from Pointe de Grave, the Médoc's northern-most point - from the top of the dunes are panoramic views of the Gironde mouth, the resort of Royan on the opposite bank, le Verdon and, 5 miles out into the Atlantic, the lighthouse Phare de Cordouan. There's another lighthouse on the Pointe itself, and which has a small museum.

• Boat-trip to the Phare de Cordouan - the lighthouse is said to be the world's oldest still standing. It's stone structure dates back to the 16th century. It was updated in neo-classical style in the 18thC and once contained a royal apartment and chapel.

• Even if you're not a wine-buff, a tour of the Medoc's endless vineyards and baroque châteaux is an unforgettable experience. Pauillac on the Gironde coast is the place to start - this lovely market town and marina has a great market, some fine restaurants and an appealing, laid-back ambience. The tourst office there offers several possibilities for wine-tours whether it be by bike or organised tour, including the Route des Vins which sign-posts drivers past the major appelations and producers.

• City culture in Bordeaux - the big city is just over an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s boutique shopping, sight-seeing or museums. The town has been revitalised by its forward-thinking mayor who has overseen the new tram system, extensively pedestrianised the centre, and undertaken a big clean up of the city's many fine monuments and buildings. Walking around the 18th century old town centre (Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine the city’s commercial and maritime past.

• Bassin d'Arcachon. This popular and stylish area provides plenty of options for visitors. Ferries run from Arcachon to a host of destinations including Cap Ferret, a smart resort on the other side of the Bassin d’Arcachon and to the beautiful Banc d’Arguin, a sand-bank nature reserve. The Banc d’Arguin sits at the foot of the famous Dune du Pyla which at over 100 metres is the largest sand dune in Europe. A journey to the summit (try it without the staircase provided!) is a must; sunrise and sunset are the best times.

As well as the attractions listed here, the Médoc Bleu borders the Bassin d'Arcachon to the south, and the Pays des Vins inland - please browse away for more discoveries...

The Medoc Bleu is a destination that caters primarily for French tourists, so traditional French dishes dominate menus, and standards are good, even in quite modest-looking establishments. The Medoc is also home to its own particular produce - starting of course with...

• Fine wines: the Médoc Rouge, bordering the Gironde estuary a short drive east of the Médoc Bleu, is home to some of the world's greatest vineyards, the prestigious Grand Cru Classes, as well as smaller, newer but still quality producers in the northern part of the region. Seconds vins of the major chateaux are often more affordable and still very high quality. You'll also find Bordeaux's other regions (St Emilion, Graves, Sauternes, etc) well-represented on local menus.

• Not surprisingly, this is the land of fish and seafood. Arcachon oysters abound, obviously - even if oysters don't normally appeal, they taste quite amazing here. Also look out for local specialities such as anguilles a la medocaine (eels cooked in a wine and prune-based stock) and lamprioe a la bordelaise (lamprey wrapped in jambon de bayonne, cooked in red wine and shallots). The Gironde is also a major producer of sturgeon, for steaks and caviar.

• Sweet-toothed visitors to any local patisserie will spot the ubiquitous canelé, a delicious small Bordeaux cake made with egg yolks and a hint of rum, best when dark and crunchy on the outside, moist in. Impossible to eat less than two in a sitting - heaven!