Page 189 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 17: Wine and Water 187

Tonnay-
Boutonne
Boutonne
St-Jean-
d’Angely
Bords Fenioux
Charente St-Savinien
St-Hilaire-de-
Villefranche
St-Porchaire
Soulignonne
Burie
Saintes
la Clisse
St-Sauvant
Above Picnicking in the shade beside Esplanade
Chaniers des Quinconces in Bordeaux, see p188
Pisany
Rétaud Cognac
Rioux Seugne PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Tesson
Pérignac
Start/finish: Bordeaux to Rochefort.
Pons
Seudre
Cozes Number of days: 2, allowing half a
Gémozac day to explore Bordeaux.
CHARENTE- Archiac
MARITIME Distance: 258 km (160 miles).
S a i n t o n g e
Mortagne-
sur-Gironde
St-Genis- Road conditions: The roads are in
St-Fort-sur- de-Saintonge
Gironde good condition. The route includes
Jonzac
St-Dizant- a ferry crossing from Lamarque to
Port de-Gua Blaye. Blaye can also be reached by
Maubert
road from Bourdeaux via Bourg.
St-Bonnet- ROUTE VERTE Mirambeau
sur-Gironde When to go: This is an all-season trip,
St-Yzans- but the vineyards look best as the
de-Médoc grapes mature in late summer.
Boisredon
Port des
Callonges St-Ciers- Montendre Opening hours: Most sights and
sur-Gironde
St-Estèphe museums generally open from 10am
Ch. Cos d’Estournel to 6pm. Smaller sights may close over
Ch. Mouton Reignac lunch from noon to 2pm. Confirm
Rothschild Montlieu-
Etauliers la-Garde times with the local tourist office.
PAUILLAC
Château Main market days: Bordeaux: daily,
Latour Bedenac
Château except Tue; Pauillac: Sat; Rochefort:
Beychevelle St-Savin
BLAYE Tue, Thu and Sat.
Cussac-
Fort Médoc Cavignac Shopping: Wine is the obvious item
Lamarque Pugnac
to buy on this tour. The first part of the
Bourg tour goes through many prestigious
MARGAUX châteaux, where visitors can taste and
Château Siran
Castelnau- Cantenac buy wines from the producers.
de-Médoc
Macau
Arsac St-André- Major festivals: Bordeaux: Fête le Vin,
de-Cubzac
Jun; Blaye: Wine Market, Mar; Pauillac:
Ambarès
et-Lagrave Dordogne Fête de l’Agneau et du Vin, May.
St-Médard-
en-Jalles
Blanquefort Vayres DAYTRIP OPTIONS
Martignas-
sur-Jalles Mérignac Wine enthusiasts can dedicate a day
BORDEAUX
to visit the famous wine châteaux of
Bordeaux- Pessac the Médoc peninsula north of
St-Jean- Mérignac Bègles
d’Illac Latresne Bordeaux. Families will have fun at
the Saintonge. For details, see p191.
Pierroton