Over 600 kilometres, approximately 370 miles, of bicycle tracks criss-cross the Bordeaux region enabling you to discover the variety the area has to offer. Whether you prefer to cycle along the coast or pedal through the vineyards, seaside towns or small medieval villages, there is a path for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to picturesque cycle route around the region throughout the year, every September, concerts, events and competitions for the Festivale Ouvre la Voix take place along the Entre-Deux-Mers ‘voie verte’ cycle path.
The Festivale Ouvre la Voix (9-11 September 2011) is an annual screaming contest taking place during the harvest. This is a fun play on words, Festivale ‘Ouvre la voix’ – which literally translates as ‘Open the voice’, also means opening up the route/road/way (translation of the word ‘Voie’). And Ouvre la vie is a French expression meaning to let someone go first.
On Saturday 10th September at 5:45 pm in the tunnel of the Abbey of La Sauve Majeur there is a screaming contest followed by a picnic and a tasting of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wines. The grand finals for the screaming contest take place at the Aircampus of Latresne on Sunday at 3:30. Among the prizes is a children’s bike and of course wine.
There is a package price of 79,30€ per person which includes bike rental, lunch, the shuttle, entry to one of the concerts, breakfast, wine tasting at Château Grand Branet and a visit to the Abbey of La Sauve Majeur.
http://www.entredeuxmers.com/fetes-et-manifestations/festival-cyclo-musical-ouvre-la-voix-1.html
Some Suggested routes
- The Tour of Arcachon Bay in the shade of pine trees, alongside beaches and through small picturesque villages.
- The Biganos – Le Teich cycle track was opened at the beginning of 2008 to form a complete cycle network around the Bay of Arcachon.
- The famous Roger Lapébie cycle track on a disused railway line, alongside vineyards, passes through the foot of the La Sauve Majeure abbey and through a tunnel.
- The Mios-Bazas circuit beneath the pine trees at the heart of the Landes of Gascony Regional Nature Park boasts 62km of new surfacing.
- The multi-use trail and the cycle tracks of the winelands of the Médoc, the hilly Blaye-Etauliers and Bordeaux-Lacanau on the coast
Source : www.uk.tourisme-gironde.cg33.fr
Cycling Information
Bike and mountain bike hire points are open to all and are located in various towns and cities in the Gironde, both on the coast and further inland.
The map of cycle tracks in Gironde is available online at www.tourisme-gironde.fr
Bordeaux City
As Bordeaux city is quite flat cycling around the city is nice and easy. needs. Bordeaux city’s answer to our Boris bikes is the VCub cycle scheme with 1,500 cycles at 140 stations round town. You can join up for a day (€1) or a week (€5) either on-line at www.vcub.fr or at any of the 80 stations equipped with ticket machines which take credit cards. The first 30 minutes are free. Then it is €1 or €2 an hour, depending on which deal you’ve chosen.
Liberty Cycles Bordeaux – Cycle hire
104 crs de l’Yser – 33800 Bordeaux (France)
You can find all kinds of bikes in this Bordeaux shop: town bikes, hybrid and mountain bikes and bikes for children. Their English speaking team are on hand to provide you with advice and the best itineraries to discover Bordeaux and its surrounding area.
Just outside Bordeaux City
Oxy’jeune – Cycle Hire
17, Rue Armand Berlan – 33160 Saint Médard en Jalles (in the Médoc and not far from the airport)
www.oxyjeune.com Pricing (all taxes included) start from ½ day for an adult at €11 to a month at €166 with special rates for children and groups of 10 and over. Baby seats are also available to hire. Oxy’jeune can deliver bikes to wherever you need them for a delivery charge.
Listrac-Médoc
Winegrowers have joined forces to allow the region’s visitors to discover their wines. Winner of the Best of Wine Tourism 2009 competition, the itinerary encompasses four stages corresponding to the four châteaux of the Quatuor de Listrac. You cycle between Château Fourcas-Dupré, Château Fourcas-Hosten, Château Lestage and Château Fonréaud, each chateau presenting a different element of the wine making process in a fun and light hearted way, including how to make a wine barrel and a delicious lunch. A fun day out for a group of friends. Pauillac Office du Tourisme, tel. +33 (0)5 56 59 03 08, www.pauillac-medoc.com
Entre Deux Mers
This disused railway line has several old railway stations along the path which have been converted into cycle hire shops or refreshment stands. There is even an antique shop/café in the Latresne station.
Point Relais Vélo
Boulevard Victor Hugo – 33670 Créon
Tel : +33(0)5 57 34 30 95 / 06 61 99 21 73
http://creonstationvelos.free.fr
Créon Station Vélo stocks all types of bikes for adults and children, with mountain bikes and tandems available to hire. You can start from Créon and cycle in either direction towards Bordeaux or towards Sauveterre. They offer cycle route maps with differing levels of difficulty and there is a small Tourist Office beside the cycle track.
Pricing starts at €10 for a hybrid bike for half a day, €12 for a tandem for half a day and go up to €60 for a tandem for a week (all taxes included).
Entre-Deux-Mers Tourist Office, 4 rue Issartier 33580 Monsegur – +33 (0)5 56 61 82 73 www.entredeuxmers.com
Saint Emilion
If you are looking for a cycling wine tour with gentle hills this is the area to explore. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Saint Emilion is a gem.
Tourist Office of Saint Emilion
Place des Créneaux – 33330 Saint-Emilion
Tél. +33 (0)5 57 55 28 28
www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com
The tourist office rents bikes (adults & children): €12 per half day and €15 per day.
At the beach
Locabeach
www.locabeach.com – contact@locabeach.com
Locabeach has 3 different stores where you can hire a bike: in Arcachon, Cap Ferret and Le Moulleau. They are open every day during the summer season. Pricing from €7 for a basic bike for half a day to €49 for a hybrid or mountain bike for a week.
Dingo Velos
1, rue Grenier – Point France – 33120 Arcachon
Tél/Fax : 05.56.83.44.09
Dingo Velos offers a wide range of bikes for hire all year round with group rates available.
Further South
Tourist Office of Sauternais, Graves and Pays du Langon
11 allée Jean Jaurès – 33210 Langon
Tél : +33 (0)5 56 63 68 00
www.sauternais-graves-langon.com
The Tourist Office has 15 bikes to rent between May and October from €7 for half a day to €29 for 3 days.
Haute Gironde
Tourist Office of Saint Ciers sur Gironde
2, les Nouvelles Possessions – 33820 Braud et Saint Louis Tél : +33 5 57 32 88 88
Email : tourisme@cc-estuaire.fr
Some adult and child bikes are available for €5 per half day and €9 per day. You have to book in advance.
Château and Hotels with bikes available
CLOSE TO BORDEAUX
Château de Lantic – 15 min from Bordeaux
10 Route de Lartigue – 33650 Martillac FRANCE
Tél : +33 (0)5 56 72 58 68
www.chateau-de-lantic.com – contact@chateau-de-lantic.com
With bike tracks though the vineyards.
Les Sources de Caudalie Spa
Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte – 33650 Bordeaux-Martillac
Tél : +33 (0)5 57 83 83 83
Bikes are provided to go for a stroll in the forest or to visit the nearby wineries of Pessac Léognan and the Graves region.
Le Relais de Margaux
5, Route de l’Ile Vincent – BP 9 – 33460 Margaux
Tél : +33 (0)5 57 88 38 30
Cycle along the Garonne River through Margaux and discover the beautiful 18th century chateaux.
Le Relais de Franc Mayne
14, La Gomerie – 33330 Saint Emilion
Tél : + 33 (0)5 57 24 68 25
The Château Franc Mayne is just a stone’s throw from St Emilion and is set amongst its own vineyards. This Relais hotel has a natural water swimming pool and amazing limestone caves.
Château Grand Barrail hôtel Spa
Route de Libourne – D243
33 330 Saint-Emilion
Tél : +33 (0)5 57 55 37 00
www.grand-barrail.com – hotelgrandbarrail@hotels-emeraude.com
This impressive château nestled in vineyards is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World with a fine dining restaurant.
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