The best walks and hikes around Villeneuve

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Attention ⚠️ to beginners!

hike from Villeneuve through the vineyards which takes you to the magnificent village of Plassac where you will follow the edge of the Gironde estuary flanked by a few carrelets (traditional fishing huts typical of the region) you will pass through the small port of Plassac to continue your journey through the village and approach the hillsides from where you will have a magnificent view of the estuary, the Médoc and the magnificent, hilly countryside which extends through the Blayais vineyards. the circuit will end where it began in one of the smallest villages in the upper Gironde, Villeneuve. a lot of road but almost no vehicle. only the hundred meters on the main road from Plassac to reach the riverside merits caution.

nice course with magnificent views of the Gironde

The Château de Thau is very old and known since the 12th century. It belongs to the defense line of the Côte Girondine. Set slightly back from the shore, it dominates the ebb and flow without showing itself, like a carpet behind thick groves. Here and there, the name of Thau comes and goes at the bend of a manuscript but it is at the beginning of the 1400s that historians find traces of the successive owners - the Math family, from 1400 to 1480, - the Sudre family 1540 , the Hague, then the President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, Louis de Grimard owned everything between 1680 and 1700… In 1700 we know the state of the place: “vast lower rooms, all well furnished and the walls decorated with vast series of tapestries”. Today, the Albert Schweitzer family owns and administers the estate which is the flagship of Gauriac. Facing the Médoc, a few steps from the Gironde estuary, 41 hectares of vineyards are planted with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 60% Merlot, on silty-limestone soil and extend over the Bourgeais region. The excellent geographical location allows the vineyard to benefit from favorable maturity criteria.

The small port of Plassac is typical of the esteys of the Gironde estuary. It is in the heart of the ancient village with a Gallo-Roman villa. A Terra Aventura route, combining hiking and discovery, allows you to get to know Plassac better. During your visit, you can also admire mosaics displayed in the alleys of the village: they were created by the inhabitants and by the Babylon Mosaic workshop-boutique. A stepped earthen dike made it possible to shape the current configuration of the port, making it possible to create 44 places reserved for pleasure craft. A rocky groyne protects the entrance to the port. 22 gangways provide access to the boats and boaters can benefit from a water tap, electrical outlets and a light point. https://www.bbte.fr/equipements-de-loisirs/port-de-plassac/

The archaeological space of the Gallo-Roman villas (in connection with the site plassac.gironde.fr, property of the Departmental Council of Gironde) and the adjacent museum, is managed by the association of Friends of Old Plassac. The site is on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, about 3 km south of Blaye. The remains correspond to the residential part of a villa (agricultural estate). The architectures of the first construction, built around 20-40 AD. J.C. and the second built at the very beginning of the 2nd century AD. were designed in harmony with the estuarine landscape. The third state of construction dates from the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries AD. This villa was decorated with polychrome mosaic floors from the Aquitaine school. March, April, September, October 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily May, June, July, August: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily The rest of the year, groups are received by reservation at the museum: 05 57 42 84 80 Full price ticket: €5 http://villagalloromaine-plassac.fr/le-musee