The bastides of the South-West are veritable small towns and fortified villages. They were born between the XIIIe and the XIVe century thanks in particular to trade between Gascony and northern Europe. Eight in number in Gironde, these fortified medieval towns line the roads of the Bordeaux vineyards.
No risk of getting tired of it, the bastides each have their own specificities. Surrounded by fortifications, on the heights or by the river, you can approach them by boat, hike or bike.
Ramparts, covers and half-timbered houses make this farandole of country houses the favorite playground for visitors, young and old, from here and elsewhere.
Tasting the bastides of Gironde with the family
In Gironde, families are at the party for the discovery of the bastides. Here, there is something for all tastes and all ages. The younger ones will follow the Robin tracks, to conquer history and heritage. In Sauveterre-de Guyenne, with your game booklet (available at the Tourist Office), you will have to put on the costume of Edouard 1's squireer to fulfill the wishes of his majesty and solve various enigmas... In Pellegrue, Robin becomes a scout, to train you to conquer this small village of the XNUMXth century.e century.
For older children (and even very old children), a smartphone treasure hunt is looming. With the free app Terra Aventura, you set out to conquer small characters with strong characters and wacky stories, the Poï'z, who flush out through puzzles to solve. In Monségur, on the banks of the Dropt, an unusual traveler has just landed: Zéchopp, who has been looking for a place to set up his new business for a long time... It's done! In Créon, it's Ziclou in the countryside, and this geocaching test can only be done by bicycle, between the bastide and the Sauve-Majeure abbey.
Lively markets
À Creon, on Wednesday, it's the effervescence on the central square. A tradition since… 1315! The stalls overflow beyond the square, in the alleys and under the covers, the exchanges are going well with the local producers and artisans. It is one of the busiest markets in Entre-deux-Mers.
A little further, on the banks of the Garonne, it is on Saturday at Cadillac, that the market stretches from the ramparts to the castle, passing through the large stone hall.
On the banks of the Dordogne, Libourne, on Sunday morning, the smells of salting mixed with those of macaroons assail your nostrils.
And on Saturday, place at the one you elected "favorite market of the French" in 2014, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande. The oldest and largest of the bastides is adorned with a thousand colors, the alleys come alive. Local products are in the spotlight and the producers are happy to share their know-how. Suffice to say that there is no shortage of tastings!
Every day its market in the bastides...
- Tuesday: Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, Libourne
- Wednesday: Créon, Pellegrue, Blasimon (night and gourmet market only in summer)
- Friday: Monségur, Libourne
- Saturday: Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Cadillac, Créon
- Sunday: Libourne
A dramatic turn of events in the bastides!
We dive into the heart of the Belle Époque with theatrical tours of Entre-deux-Mers, which make you relive the stories of the past through anecdotes told by historical figures, in the very places where they took place.
In Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, who came to visit his mother at Château Malromé, tells you local anecdotes under the covers of the square. In the bastide town of Monségur, Augustine, the winegrower's daughter, with her outspoken tongue, bursts into Ruet du Soleil spreading the progressive ideas of her cousin, the communard Louise Michel!
