Blanquefort

Blanquefort lies on the left bank of the Garonne, just north of Bordeaux, where the vineyards of the Médoc begin in earnest. The town takes its name from the Blanche Fortis — the 'white fort' — a ruined English-era medieval fortress that once controlled the route into Bordeaux along the river. The substantial remains of its rectangular keep and 180-metre enclosure wall still stand in the town centre and are freely accessible. Beside the fortress, the Parc de Majolan offers a peaceful walled garden with a maze-like grotto, rare trees and a small lake. The surrounding area is wine country — Château Saint Ahon, a Cru Bourgeois estate, sits at the town's edge and welcomes visitors for tastings. It is a quiet, unhurried place just far enough from Bordeaux to feel genuinely local.

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Things to Do

• •Explore the ruins of the medieval fortress of Blanquefort — the keep and enclosure wall are freely accessible
• •Wander through the Parc de Majolan with its grotto, rare trees and ornamental lake
• •Visit Château Saint Ahon for a tasting of Cru Bourgeois Médoc wines on the estate
• •Cycle north along the Garonne estuary through the beginning of the Médoc wine route
• •Take the tram from Blanquefort into central Bordeaux to explore the UNESCO-listed city

Nearby Attractions

• Bordeaux — the UNESCO world heritage city is directly accessible by tram from Blanquefort
• Château Margaux — one of Bordeaux's five Premiers Crus Classés, set in a grand neoclassical estate
• Château Pichon Baron — a famous Médoc château with moated towers and excellent guided tours
• Lamarque — a small Médoc village with a well-preserved castle and a ferry crossing to Blaye
• Blaye Citadelle — a Vauban-designed fortress on the right bank of the Gironde estuary