The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Vivien-De-Blaye

quiet exit

Very beautiful Romanesque church from the 12th century.

go eat at the guinguette....

The Pair-non-Pair Cave is a decorated cave, discovered in 1881, containing artistic representations dating back more than 32,000 years before the present, attributed to the Aurignacian culture. Listed as a historical monument since 1900, the cave is the third decorated cave discovered, after Altamira and Chabot Cave. Its study established the antiquity of the parietal engravings and officially recognized the prehistoric art. The cave, located in the commune of Prignac-et-Marcamps, is open only for guided tours. Booking a tour time online is required. The reception area, museum space, and shop are open from June 1st to September 30th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. From October 1st to May 31st, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. Individual admission: €13 Free: Under 18s and 18-25s (European Union nationals and non-European legal residents in France)

The commune is the result of the merger of three parishes: Prignac (on the road to Blaye), Marcamps (further north, on the hillsides above the Moron Valley), and Cazelle (further south, descending towards the Dordogne). The three churches still exist. In addition, there is the former chapel of the priory of Lurzine, not far from the village of Prignac. During the French Revolution, the parish of Saint-Pierre de Prignac formed the commune of Prignac, and its annex, Saint-Michel de Marcamps, formed the commune of Marcamps. The parish of Saint-Félix de Cazelles and its annex, Sainte-Quitterie de Magrigne, formed the commune of Cazelles. In the year 12, the commune of Cazelles was annexed to that of Prignac, which became Prignac-et-Cazelles. In 1965, the commune of Marcamps was annexed to that of Prignac-et-Cazelles, which became Prignac-et-Marcamps.

The commune takes its name from its Latin name, Blacciacum. A Gallo-Roman settlement is attested by the discovery of the remains of three Gallo-Roman villas, dating from the 1st to the 5th century AD. These remains were found near the current site of the church, not far from the Gironde. During the medieval period, the village's center of activity seems to have shifted to the heights overlooking the river. This is evidenced in particular by a hoard of Merovingian coins discovered around 1850 at a place called Montuzet (Mont des Yeuses). The lower Plassac region, around the port, was heavily involved in river and maritime activity in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Merchants and ocean-going captains settled in beautiful stone residences. This river activity gradually declined in the 20th century.

Former railway from 1888, now an excellent smooth bike trail to the Gironde estuary.

A resort located on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, this historic town owes its prosperity to its geographical location. The ancient Roman road, which connected Saintes to Blaye, was in use for fourteen centuries. In the 12th and 13th centuries, it was used by pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. A hospital located near the road, run by monks, provided travelers with a rest. National Route 137 was known as the "Royal Route" (an imperial route under the Empire) and dates back to the reign of Charles VIII (1483-1498). Its creation led to the establishment of hotels, inns, and stagecoach services along the road. The name Étauliers is mentioned in 1730. The railway, now removed, dates from 1888.